Batman

Theatrical release poster

Jim Lee

***Batman*** (also known as ***Batman: Under the Hood***) is a neo-noir superhero crime drama thriller film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Directed by Gareth Evans, the film is the fifth installment in the DC Cinematic Universe and the first entry in the *Caped Crusader film series*. It stars Keanu Reeves as Bruce Wayne/Batman, alongside Bryan Cranston, Naomie Harris, T.C. Carson, Alice Braga, Donal Logue, Willem Dafoe, and Shia LaBeouf. The film follows Batman, who has been fighting crime in Gotham City for almost a decade, facing off against the criminal underworld amidst the rising threat of a lethal vigilante known as "Red Hood".

Development of *Batman* began in 2013, following the release of Superman, with DC Films wanting to craft a film with a more tenured version of the character. Due to his work on *The Raid* (2011) and his background in action choreography, Evans was hired to direct the film in September 2013. The film draws inspiration from films like *Se7en* (1995) and *Heat* (1995) while containing elements of comics like Year Three, *Batman: Under the Hood,* and *Gotham Central*. The film, which was principally shot in New York and Chicago, relied heavily on traditional stunts and miniature effects, with minimal computer-generated imagery as well as featuring extensive fight choreography.

*Batman* was released theatrically on October 24, 2014 to critical acclaim from critics who praised the film's action sequences, cinematography, performances, direction, and emotional weight. The film grossed $774 million against against a production budget of $175 million, making it the third highest-grossing film of 2014. Its success launched a subseries within the DC Cinematic Universe focusing on the Batfamily and Gotham City, beginning with the police procedural television series *Gotham Central* (2017). Three sequels to the film have been released: *Batman: A Gathering of Shadows* (2016), *Batman: Last Knight in Gotham* (2023), and *Nightwing* (2024).

## Plot

The film opens with a flashback of Batman meeting Jason Todd as the youth is attempting to steal the Batmobile. Years later, Batman, with the help of Nightwing, works to stop an escalating gang war between Black Mask and the Penguin. He frequently visits the Joker in Arkham Asylum, guilty about being unable to prevent Jason Todd's murder and Barbara Gordon from being paralyzed by him. The Joker relishes in the visits, taunting Batman for his inability to kill him, remarking that Batman "needs him". Meanwhile, Black Mask's top lieutenant is brutally murdered which GCPD Lt. Harvey Bullock attributes to the Penguin's goons but detectives Crispus Allen and Renee Montoya decide to investigate further. Batman investigates the murder, venturing to the Iceberg Lounge to confront the Penguin. After a tense confrontation with the Penguin, Batman discovers Selina Kyle has returned to Gotham City but she affirms she is retired, playfully suggesting that he try it. The next morning, Bruce attends a Wayne Enterprises board meeting with Lucius Fox and the other board members where he rejects a proposed with Daggett Industries. Lucius commends Bruce's choice, citing several discrepancies with their books as well as CEO Roland Daggett's alleged ties to the Penguin. Elsewhere, Dick Grayson visits Barbara Gordon in her brownstone on Gotham's East Side where he expresses a desire to rekindle their strained relationship but she rebuffs him. Barbara reveals that she cannot be emotionally invested in their relationship, due to her role as Oracle. Enraged, Dick storms out, noticing he is being followed by a young boy. That night, Batman meets Commissioner James Gordon atop the GCPD Building where he is informed of a suspected arms deal between Black Mask and mysterious figure called "the Broker" is happening in Tricorner. Batman tells Gordon he will investigate and Gordon urges him to end the gang war. Nightwing meets Batman in Tricorner and the two intercept the arms deal. However, the arms deal is attacked by a masked vigilante who brutally tears through Black Mask's men before engaging Batman and Nightwing while Black Mask flees. The vigilante incapacitates Nightwing and confronts Batman, matching him in martial arts skills before landing a knife strike between the plating of the Batsuit. Revealing his name as "Red Hood", the vigilante escapes, leaving the wounded Batman and unconscious Nightwing surrounded by corpses.

In Arkham, chief psychologist Hugo Strange interviews the Joker in an attempt to determine if he can use him as a subject in his experimental procedures. The Joker reveals that he knows what Strange does to his patients, prompting Strange to callously ask why Harley Quinn hasn't come to break him out. This angers the Joker and he attempts to attack Strange, prompting the guards to restrain him. Back in the Batcave, a wounded Bruce reviews the footage from cowl alongside Dick and Alfred while also communicating via comlink with Barbara. Both Dick and Alfred notice that Red Hood seem to know Batman's every move and even the weakness in his armor, however, Bruce doesn't disclose that he felt there was something familiar about him or that he suspects a possible connection with the Joker. Despite Alfred advising him against it, Bruce leaves to attend a charity event for Wayne Enterprises out of obligation but Dick accompanies him to quell Alfred's worry. At the charity event, Bruce delivers a speech that announces his plan to construct affordable housing in impoverished areas of Gotham while also revealing he's given the GCPD a generous grant. After his speech, Bruce tells Dick to mingle as he attempts to leave, intent on interrogating the Joker in Arkham. Dick then notices the young boy that was following him attempting to crash the event and goes to confront him. Bruce, on his way out, notices Selina attending the event and approaches her. She tells him that his money won't fix Gotham's problems, remarking that "for every good cop, there are 50 bad ones" and that Bruce should've recognized his privilege long ago. In response, he asks her why came back to Gotham and she reveals there is no place for her but Gotham. Bruce tells her that they are no different before departing. Outside, Dick escorts the young man out who reveals that he knows Dick is Nightwing. Although initially alarmed, Dick agrees when the young man tells him that their appearance is not dissimilar, prompting Dick to ask the young man's name which he reveals is Tim Drake. At the Iceberg Lounge, the Penguin is greeted in his office by Red Hood who is revealed to be working with him. Penguin berates Red Hood for his failed attempt on Black Mask's life, causing Red Hood to divulge that he has successfully dismantled most of Black Mask's criminal enterprises, effectively stopping his cash flow. He reminds Penguin of their "deal" and tells him if he doesn't deliver, he will take him down next. Back at Arkham, Hugo Strange has the Joker relocated from his cell in Extreme Isolation to his private laboratory. During the relocation, one of the Arkham guards attempts to drug the Joker which allows to overpower and kill the guards, making his escape from Arkham Island by hiding amongst the corpses.

Batman arrives on Arkham Island after the Joker's escape, meeting with Allen and Montoya. The two brief Batman on the situation and allow him to investigate the crime scene and using the forensic scanner in the lenses of his cowl discovers cloth fibers on one of the guards' corpses, recognizing it as the same cloth found in the lounge seat in the casino of the Iceberg Lounge. At the old Sionis Mill, Black Mask decides to leave Gotham, fearing that he will lose the turf war with the Penguin. As he prepares to leave, he discovers the corpses of his guards before Red Hood attacks the mill, killing his remaining men before taking Black Mask hostage. While subduing Black Mask, he learns from a news broadcast that the Joker has once again escaped Arkham. Elsewhere at the Iceberg Lounge, Joker infiltrates the club and singlehandedly kills all of the Penguin's men which prompts the latter to retreat to his office. Joker pursues Penguin to his office where he interrogates him, with Penguin revealing that he allied with Red Hood to take down Black Mask in exchange for Penguin using his connections to deliver Joker to him.; "killing two birds with one stone". Finding this amusing, Joker almost decides to spare Penguin but changes his mind upon seeing the "No Clowns Allowed" sign, slashing the latter's throat open. Shortly after, Batman arrives on the scene with the GCPD and angrily observes the carnage left in the clown's wake. Jim Gordon joins Batman at the scene, informing him that Penguin and 19 bystanders have been admitted to Elliot Memorial Hospital in critical condition before expressing fear over whether the Joker will come for Barbara again. Batman reassures him he won't let that happen while Lt. Bullock approaches them both, telling Batman that they now have "two lunatics" to worry about. Back at Wayne Manor, Alfred gives the young Tim Drake dinner and after offers him a place to sleep in one of the manor's many bedrooms. As Alfred shows Tim to his room, the young boy asks him if he thinks Bruce can truly save the city. Alfred ponders the question but doesn't answer before allowing the boy to settle into his room. He then descends into the Batcave where he finds Dick sitting at the Batcomputer, reviewing the footage from Bruce's cowl. Dick scrubs the footage and discovers the name "Red Hood" which sends him on a search through the database, discovering its significance as the Joker's other known alias. Alfred tells Dick that the Joker has always been Bruce's greatest challenge and his biggest regret, remarking that when he killed Jason Tood, he succeeded in murdering a part of Bruce. Dick callously remarks that he shouldn't have put a kid in harm's way which causes Alfred to respond that "Batman needs a Robin" before departing the Batcave. Fearing he has upset Alfred as he leaves, Dick apologizes, telling Alfred that Tim revealed to him he was there the night his parents died. Remembering Alfred's mention of Jason Todd, Dick researches his death. At Wayne Enterprises, Lucius Fox surveys the smartphones powered by WayneTech to aid Batman in finding the Joker. Subsequently, the Joker is spotted near Amusement Mile which prompts the GCPD to mobilize. Lt. Bullock urges Batman to "kill the bastard" before the latter races off in the Batmobile. Speeding to get to the Joker, Batman unknowingly springs a trap which explodes and cripples the Batmobile. Batman emerges and is confronted by the Joker, engaging in a brutal fist fight which culminates in Joker gaining the upper hand by smashing crowbar against Batman's head, cracking his cowl. Batman blacks out but not before being seemingly rescued by Red Hood.

Bruce awakens in the Joker's old hideout, an abandoned toy factory, with no cowl or ultilty belt as he is restrained to a chair. He witnesses Red Hood savagely beating the Joker, who just laughs in response to his forceful strikes. Bruce tells Red Hood that he knows who he is and urges him to stop as Red Hood finally unmasks, revealing himself as Jason Todd. Jason reveals that he forgave Bruce for his murder but tells him he cannot forgive him for allowing the Joker to live. Bruce admits he constantly thinks about and killing the Joker but refuses because he knows once he kills, he will not. Jason tells Bruce that his way works but Bruce reveals that he knew Jason allied with the Penguin, asking him if teaming with criminals and murdering for them is what he taught him. Outside, the GCPD arrives and sets up a perimeter with Gordon and Bullock taking point while Nightwing races from Wayne Manor to help Bruce. Joker taunts Jason as Bruce desperately attempts to break through to him. Jason seems to relent, releasing Bruce's restraints while still holding him as gunpoint. He tells Bruce he has rigged the factory with explosives, brandishing the detonator as he gives Bruce an ultimatum: kill him, saving the life of a sociopathic murderer or kill the Joker and truly save Gotham. Bruce again refuses, explaining that their code is what separates them from men like Joker, almost breaking through to Jason but Joker, who escaped his binds, attacks Jason. The three engage in a grueling fight which culminates with Joker stealing the detonator and pressing it. The resulting explosion almost levels the block as Gordon, Bullock, and even Nightwing look on in horror. The Joker, who survived but is badly wounded, is pulled from the rubble while a heavily wounded Bruce escapes the scene with Nightwing's help. Bringing him back to the Batcave, Bruce slips into a two-week coma and awakens with Selina at his side. She comforts him about Jason's death, rescinding her previous word about Gotham as she asks Bruce to live a life without Batman with her. He doesn't decline but simply tells her, "One day, Cat", remarking that until then he belongs to Gotham. The two come into the study where Alfred and Dick finally introduce them to Tim Drake, with Bruce agreeing to take the young boy under his wing. He looks to the sky, seeing the Bat-Signal and despite his injuries, descends into the Batcave.

In the film's post-credits scene, a wounded Jason Todd is seen in an airport, boarding a plane to Biyala.

## Cast

* Keanu Reeves as Bruce Wayne/Batman
* Shia LaBeouf as Jason Todd/Red Hood
* Willem Dafoe as Joker
* Naomie Harris as Selina Kyle
* Ernie Hudson as Lucius Fox
* Leo Howard as Dick Grayson/Nightwing
* Bryan Cranston as Commissioner James Gordon
* Donal Logue as Lt. Harvey Bullock
* T.C. Carson as Crispus Allen
* Alice Braga as Renee Montoya
* Shailene Woodley as Barbara Gordon
* BIll Nighy as Alfred Pennyworth
* Aiden Granger as Tim Drake
* Michael Wincott as Roman Sionis/Black Mask
* Ray Winstone as Oswald Copplebot/the Penguin
* Sean Harris as Hugo Strange
* John Hannah as Roland Daggett