Batman

Batman is currently streaming in Australia on HBO Max, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV, and it earns its premise rather than just borrowing genre trappings. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 8,648 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Michael Keaton's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Available now on HBO Max — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Batman keeps coming up in conversation. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Batman through its more ambitious moments. Having witnessed his parents' brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a costumed hero who strikes fear into the hearts of villains. But when a deformed madman known as 'The Joker' seizes control of Gotham's criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis ever while protecting both his identity and his love interest, reporter Vicki Vale. The human element stays intact thanks to Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson, who anchor every scene. It hit screens in 1989. The rules of Batman's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Batman is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Michael Keaton grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.