Batman’s masterpiece is returning to theaters in 4K

Today we are inundated with comic book #content, but there were simpler times. Forty years ago, the possibility of a Batman movie was a pipe dream; there was extreme doubt that anyone would care, let alone that a superhero blockbuster could spawn a franchise. But in 1989, Tim Burton did the thing: Batman became a mainstream success. And when it was time to do a sequel, Burton swerved, cashing his blank-check cred to deliver the truly odd and macabre Batman Returns.

The Dark Knight would grace screens many, many, many times in the years to come, but as much as I love Christopher Nolan’s Bat-flicks, Batman and Batman Returns remain eternal thanks to the stamp of a filmmaker with a vision as graphic as the pencilers and colorists who owned Batman before him.

Now, both movies are coming back to theaters, with deluxe treatment fitting of their legacies as pop classics. Or, I guess you could say: Batman Returns returns.

On Friday, Dolby and Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group announced that Burton’s two Batman films will return to 160 Dolby Cinema at AMC Theatres locations for a one-night engagement on Aug. 25. They’ll both feature Dolby Vision picture and immersive Dolby Atmos sound. Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne will never look more smug. You will see the pores on Jack Nicholson’s painted Joker face. Just imagine how the black goo dripping down Danny DaVito’s face as he’s cackling as The Penguin when projected on a giant screen in high-definition.

“I hadn’t watched these films since I made them,” Burton said in a statement, “and seeing them again with this level of clarity, beauty, color, and sound felt really new and exciting.”

There’s a deeper historical resonance here, especially with Batman Returns. When the sequel hit theaters in 1992, it wasn’t just another blockbuster follow-up — it was a technological milestone. Batman Returns became the first feature film ever released in Dolby Digital, considered a clearer, crisper leap beyond analog surround. The 2025 upgrade stands to improve the experience yet again. Longtime fans who still missed the original runs of these movies back in the day have never heard the Batwing scream across the sky quite like this.

Tickets for the summer event are now on sale.