Film
Batman Returns
1992
USA
Near mint minus; rolled
Tim Burton
Christopher Walken, Danny DeVito, Jan Hooks, Michael Gough, Michael Keaton, Michael Murphy, Michelle Pfeiffer
“While She Craves a Romance She can Sink Her Claws Into, He Plots a Fowl Reign of Destruction.”
Tim Burton’s dark and visually extravagant return to Gotham is captured in this striking original UK Quad poster for “Batman Returns”. John Alvin’s dramatic design brings together the film’s three unforgettable central characters: Michael Keaton’s brooding Batman, Michelle Pfeiffer’s seductive and dangerous Catwoman, and Danny DeVito’s grotesque Penguin.
The icy blue-and-black palette perfectly complements Burton’s gothic interpretation of Gotham City, while Catwoman’s vivid red lips form a compelling focal point. An army of penguins gathers beneath the principal portraits, providing a wonderfully surreal reference to the Penguin’s subterranean lair and sinister plans.
Released in 1992, the film also stars Christopher Walken and features Danny Elfman’s atmospheric score. This 30 × 40-inch British cinema poster is presented rolled and remains in superb condition, retaining its impressive colours and exceptionally clean appearance. With John Alvin’s memorable design and tremendous visual impact, it makes a superb display piece for collectors of Batman, Tim Burton and classic comic book superhero cinema.
Trivia: Danny DeVito was advised by friend Jack Nicholson, aware of his own financial success with Batman (1989), to take the role of the Penguin.
…more detailVintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +
“In the sewers of Gotham City to the rooftops of the Gotham City, the Penguin (Danny DeVito) wants to know from where he came. Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) plans to kill rich man of Gotham Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) but as he battles with millionaire Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) both ladies’ men have their own secrets. Bruce Wayne is back as Batman trying to stop the penguin; Max is helping Penguin steal Gotham City while Selina Kyle/Catwoman tries to help Penguin not knowing her man murder target also her murder is helping him but all four men have their goals taking Gotham from crime-winning Gotham City assassination for two men and more money to be Gotham City’s number one rich man.”
The 1989 “Batman” film was seen as a gothic art-deco nightmare of a superhero movie. The sequel, “Batman Returns” released in 1992, is the picture that we believed we were seeing in 1989. The film was sold mostly on the strength of its scene-stealing villains and Michael Keaton‘s performance as Batman. The picture has been dubbed an atrocity by critics, who believe it threw Batman on film into an eight-year sleep. It was regarded as a gothic nightmare of a superhero film at the time of its debut.
Bruce Wayne is caught up in a crazy jumble of egos in “Batman Returns”. Selina Kyle recognizes the pure cruel id that comes with enormous power but no true accountability. Bruce Wayne sees the horrific aspect of being abandoned and choosing an unrighteous path in the Penguin. Selina, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, is a one-of-a-kind interpretation of the character. Batman, as played by Michael Keaton, is essentially a reacting figure to the events of each scene. To the tune of a wonderful, undervalued, and dramatically relevant track, the film’s conclusion comes to a head.
“Batman Returns” is an odd, ambitious character study encased in the framework of a Tim Burton superhero film. The hero of “Batman Returns” is just as flawed, but he’s permitted to acknowledge and be shocked by his own peculiarity.
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Mint
A poster that has never been used or displayed and may show the most minor signs of age and wear. The poster should have no holes or tears.
Near Mint
A generally unused poster with fresh, saturated colors. May have minimal tears at folds. Has no significant holes, no paper loss, may have minor tears along edges, may have fine pin holes.
Very Fine
A poster with bright colour and crisp overall appearance. It may have very general signs of use including slight fold separation and fold wear. It may have pin holes or very minor tears. This is the highest grade allowed for a poster that has been restored either on linen or on paper.
Fine
A poster with good colors and overall clean appearance. It may have minor tears small paper loss and minor stains. It may have some fold seperation.
Good
An average poster with overall fresh color. May have tears, minor paper loss, minor hazing. Paper may be brittle due to age, may have minor stains. May have a small amount of writing in an unobtrusive place. May have medium or major restoration.
Fair
A poster with faded colors and brittle paper, showing significant signs of use. May have tears and paper loss. May have tape, writing, stains in image area. In need of restoration or had major restoration.
Poor
A poster that is worn, torn, and/or damaged. May have staining, cracking, dry rot, and/or large tears. May be heavily soiled, may have pieces missing. In need of major restoration.
All photographs and images used on our site are photographs of the actual poster/item you are buying, we do not use stock photographs.
LOBBY CARD
11 x 14″ printed on heavy stock paper. Used as display in theatre lobbies. Originally made in sets of eight. Some sets have a title card, which contains credits and artwork, essentially a mini-poster. The remaining seven cards are coloured photographic credits and poster artwork showing different scenes from the movie.
WINDOW CARD
14 x 22″ printed on heavy stock paper with the top 4-6 inches usually left blank for the local cinema owner to fill in the cinema and the date it was due to play. Largely discontinued during the 1970’s.
HALF SHEET
22 x 28″ printed on heavy stock paper. The image displayed is normally a smaller version of the main poster, although some do have different artworks and sometimes come in two versions.
INSERT
14 x 36″ printed on heavy stock paper. Inserts usually have the same artwork as a one sheet. Popular with collectors since they are smaller and easier to frame. Normally come tri folded or rolled.
STYLE Y/FORTY BY SIXTY
40 x 60″ printed on heavy stock paper. Rare since they were primarily used for major motion pictures only. Designed to be used outside the theatre, on an easel, normally at a drive-in movie theatre.
ONE-SHEET
27 x 41″ printed on paper. This is the most common size of poster, intended to be displayed in a glass “marquee” case. It is the most sought after size by collectors. Since the 1980’s most posters are sent to the theatre rolled and maybe slightly smaller measuring 27″ by 40″ and with the advent of backlit light boxes a growing number of modern movie posters are available double-sided and the more traditional single-sided.
THREE-SHEET
41 x 81″ printed on paper. These were printed on two or three separate sheets designed to overlap, few survive. Used for larger advertising spaces, normally posted on walls, perfect for huge movie theatres the drive-in, where people could see them from a distance. From the 1970’s on, three-sheets were sometimes printed in one piece and issued as “international” versions to be used abroad.
BRITISH QUAD
30 x 40″ Most common poster size used in the UK. British Quads are horizontal and may have different artwork to the US one sheet. Like a US one sheet they normally come in two versions. Like a US one sheet they are usually supplied single-sided or more commonly now as a double sided poster.
BRITISH ONE-SHEET
27 X 40″, printed on paper. Very rarely used size.
ITALIAN LOCANDINA
13 x 28″ six inches shorter than the US insert, very nice size to frame. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.
ITALIAN PHOTOBUSTA
18 x 26″ Glossy, high quality, used as lobby cards in Italy. Size may vary, either vertical or horizontal format. There are also double Photobusta or mini Photobusta.
2-FOGLIO (DUE)
(DUE): 39 x 55″ This is the standard poster size used in Italy. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.
4-FOGLIO
(QUATTRO) 55 x 79″ Very large Italian poster printed in two pieces, often contains very beautiful artwork.
FRENCH
47 x 63″ (GRANDE) or 24 x 33″ (PETITE) French movie posters normally come with different artwork to either the US or the UK. Like the Italian’s some of the artwork is extrememly beautiful.
