Director Tim Burton breathed new life into a comic book classic in 1989's "Batman". Matching Michael Keaton's Batman against Jack Nicholson's Joker, Burton paved the way for a multitude of quality action hero movies as well as creating a Batman franchise that has lasted for decades. Based on Bob Kane's iconic character, screenwriters Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren chronicle the birth of both
the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime.
Produced by Peter Guber and Jon Peters, the film broke box office records in 1989 bringing in 251 million. Kim Basinger played Bruce Wayne's love interest Vikki Vale and Billy Dee Williams was cast as Harvey Dent, a role later played by Tommy Lee Jones in 1995's "
Batman Forever" and Aaron Eckhart in 2008's "
The Dark Knight"
