Batman has evolved over 60 years, with Batman: The Movie released in 1966, but he became a true pop culture force when Michael Keaton first donned the cape in 1989’s Batman. Since then, a distinguished lineup of actors has stepped into the role—but the late Val Kilmer stands out among them. Taking on Batman is daunting enough; following Keaton’s defining performance is an even greater challenge. Yet Kilmer rose to the occasion, exceeding expectations in Batman Forever, where The Dark Knight faces off against Gotham’s chaos in the form of Harvey “Two-Face” Dent (Tommy Lee Jones) and the Riddler (Jim Carrey).
Director Joel Schumacher trades Tim Burton’s shadowy Gothic world for a neon-drenched Gotham, filled with flamboyant henchmen and larger-than-life villainy. Amid the spectacle, Jones and Carrey deliver wildly theatrical performances—making Kilmer’s restrained, grounded take on Batman not just effective, but essential to keeping the film anchored.
Joel Schumacher’s Gotham Creates the Need for a Grounded Batman
When taking on the role of Batman, it’s no secret that Bruce Wayne is a key part of that job description. Val Kilmer’s grasp on the dual identity of the daytime billionaire and nighttime crime-fighter is impressive, as it is underrated. From the opening sequence between The Dark Knight and Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), it’s clear that Batman has the luxury of being cheeky and almost comical, stating, “Bats aren’t rodents.” Batman has time for jokes, while Bruce Wayne lives in a painful reality.
In Batman Forever, even more so than other Batman films, the script calls for a rivalry-like relationship between Bruce and the bat. Dr. Meridian, on her own volition, tells Bruce Wayne, “I’ve met someone… You could say he just kind of dropped out of the sky and bang!” She’s rejecting Bruce Wayne because she has feelings for Batman. That’s a lot to unpack, but it also goes to show how important the contrast is between the two characters.
Bruce Wayne and Batman’s Dual Identity Drives the Story
As if a pink and black, zebra-clad politician wasn’t enough, throw in a mind-manipulating disgruntled employee of Wayne Enterprises, and audiences are given a dynamic duo of villainous proportions. Jones and Carrey swing for the fences, both in their individual performances and in scenes together. From the moment the Riddler infiltrates Two-Face’s lair, it’s a battle of script vs. improvisation. “Harvey, I don’t think it’s me you want to kill. That’s just too easy for someone as powerful as you…and you,” the Riddler quips. With characters this animated and flamboyant, there is no room for Batman to be over-the-top.
The closest that Val Kilmer comes to being outlandish is the infamous smiling Batman scene, which has since turned into a viral meme. Kudos to both Kilmer and Joel Schumacher for never allowing Batman to become a caricature of himself. It’s an underappreciated aspect of the role, and Kilmer deserves mountains of credit for his attention to detail.
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Val Kilmer’s Batman and Robin Dynamic Adds Emotional Depth to ‘Batman Forever’
Batman Forever is one of only a handful of films that feature both Dick Grayson (Chris O’Donnell) and Bruce Wayne working in tandem. Kilmer’s chemistry with O’Donnell is near-perfect. Unlike George Clooney, who plays the mean, overbearing older brother archetype in Batman & Robin, Kilmer is much more relaxed and caring. However, it’s not until Dick confronts Bruce, stating, “You can’t understand. Your family wasn’t killed by a maniac,” that the two realize they have more in common than either thought. Those are important teaching moments throughout the film, where Bruce Wayne must step up to be the father figure he never had. Val Kilmer seizes those lines in the script. “Until one terrible morning, you wake up and realize that revenge has become your whole life,” Wayne preaches to Grayson.
Kilmer’s reserved, tortured, and traumatized performance is as good as it gets when referencing Batman actors. He incorporated a subtle playfulness behind the mask, which Bruce Wayne isn’t capable of. Through both contrast and chemistry with his castmates, Val Kilmer brought a tremendous amount of depth to the character, and is easily the greatest version of Batman that audiences will ever see.
