Claim: Jim Carrey has worked with people.

Batman Forever is a 1995 American superhero film directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Tim Burton , based on the DC Comics character Batman . It is the third installment of the initial Batman film series , with Val Kilmer replacing Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman . The film stars Chris O'Donnell , Nicole Kidman , Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey . The plot focuses on Batman trying to stop Two-Face -LRB- Jones -RRB- and the Riddler -LRB- Carrey -RRB- in their villainous scheme to extract confidential information from all the minds in Gotham City and use it to learn Batman 's identity and bring the city under their control . He gains allegiance from a love interest -- psychiatrist Dr. Chase Meridian -LRB- Kidman -RRB- and a young , orphaned circus acrobat named Dick Grayson -LRB- O'Donnell -RRB- , who becomes his sidekick Robin .   Batman Forevers tone is significantly different from the previous installments , becoming more family-friendly since Warner Bros. believed that the previous Batman film , Batman Returns -LRB- 1992 -RRB- , failed to outgross its predecessor due to parent complaints about the film 's violence and dark overtones . Schumacher eschewed the dark , dystopian atmosphere of Burton 's films by drawing inspiration from the Batman comic book of the Dick Sprang era , as well as the 1960s television series . Keaton chose not to reprise the role due to Burton stepping down as director . William Baldwin and Ethan Hawke were initially considered for Keaton 's replacement before Kilmer joined the cast . Coincidentally , Baldwin later starred as Batman in the DC Animated film , Justice League : Crisis on Two Earths .   The film was released on June 16 , 1995 , receiving mixed reviews , but was a financial success . Batman Forever grossed over $ 336 million worldwide and became the sixth-highest-grossing film worldwide of 1995 .