Batman (1989)

Tim Burton's seminal *Batman* (1989) redefined the superhero genre for a generation, plunging audiences into a dark, art-deco vision of Gotham City. The film powerfully presents its core narrative: "The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker, who has seized control of Gotham's underworld." Michael Keaton delivers a nuanced performance as the tormented Bruce Wayne, a man driven by trauma, while Jack Nicholson's iconic portrayal of the Joker is a masterful blend of theatricality and chilling menace, a performance that captivated critics and audiences alike and set a high bar for superhero villains. *Batman (1989)* unequivocally belongs on a list of "Best Tim Burton Movies" because it is a definitive showcase of his unique directorial vision and thematic preoccupations, amplified on a blockbuster scale. Burton's signature gothic aesthetic permeates every frame, from Anton Furst's Oscar-winning production design of a sprawling, nightmarish Gotham to the detailed, expressive character designs. The film masterfully explores themes of isolation, the grotesque, and the tragic hero – a common thread in Burton's work – through Bruce Wayne's lonely crusade and the Joker's anarchic outsider status. Furthermore, it features a quintessential Danny Elfman score, a frequent Burton collaborator, which perfectly encapsulates the film's brooding atmosphere and epic scope, solidifying the movie not just as a superhero landmark, but as a pure, unmistakable Tim Burton masterpiece.