The most recent in a long line of actors portraying Catwoman, Zoë Kravitz was hugely praised for her performance as the DC anti-hero in Batman Returns. Although the same character, the two depictions have noticeable differences, thanks to the tone and direction of each movie.
Batman Returns was given a gothic fantasy twist by Tim Burton whereas The Batman is a neo-noir mystery from Matt Reeves that is more grounded in reality. As a result, differences between the two Catwoman do not just lie in their design but also within their origin stories, characteristics, and relationships. Either way, both Catwomen are legendary and beloved in their own right.
Selina Kyle's Day Job
Everyone knows that Catwoman is a cat burglar by night but when asked what Selina Kyle's occupation is during the day, there is a moment of pause. Her day job seems to vary from source to source, and this is one of the notable differences between Pfeiffer and Kravitz's characters.
Pfeiffer's Selina is an overworked and underappreciated secretary to Max Shreck. She has a difficult time standing up for herself until she becomes Catwoman. Meanwhile, Kravitz's Selina works as a nightclub waitress at the Iceberg Lounge and also deals drugs on the side.
Costumes
Catwoman's costumes in live-action have come in all kinds of memorable designs, and this of course applies to Kravitz and Pfeiffer. The costume not only is fitting within the aesthetics of their respective movies but it reflects the personality of each Catwoman.
Kravitz's costume is simplistic but practical, befitting of a Selina just starting her journey as a masked criminal. Meanwhile, viewers are treated to watching Pfeiffer's Selina craft her now-iconic stitched leather ensemble after her attempted murder. It may not be as practical as Kravitz's costume but there's no questioning its staple in both the Batman franchise and Burton's movie history.
Pfeiffer's Catwoman Is More Catlike
The tones and genres of the movies ultimately reflect how their characters are designed and portrayed. Batman Returns is more of a Burtonesque gothic fantastical tale than a superhero movie, while The Batman is a neo-noir detective film.
As a result, Pfeiffer's Catwoman is noticeably more catlike not only in her costume but in her mannerisms. No one can forget how Pfeiffer's Catwoman nearly devoured Penguin's pet bird and shamelessly gave herself a tongue bath. While the only noticeable catlike feature of Kravitz's Catwoman is the cat ear flaps on her mask, it is worth noting that according to NME, Kravitz did observe cats in order to perfect Selina's fighting style.
Pfeiffer's Catwoman Isn't Really A Cat Burglar
One key factor in Catwoman's character is that she is an accomplished cat burglar. And even though she is only really starting out as her masked alter ego, Kravitz's Catwoman already shows a significant amount of thievery skills throughout The Batman, from effortlessly sneaking out into the night to cracking open a safe.
Pfeiffer's Catwoman, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be interested in stealing at all. While she can break into buildings with the skill of a cat burglar, she seems more interested in wreaking havoc and having fun with her new abilities.
Relationship With The Penguin
Another famous Batman foe that Batman Returns and The Batman share is Oswald Cobblepot, better known as The Penguin. Danny DeVito and Colin Farrell's takes on the character are noticeably different in many ways, and this includes their relationship with Catwoman.
In Batman Returns, Penguin and Catwoman team up to take out Batman, only for their relationship to crumble when Penguin makes unwanted advances toward her. In The Batman, Oz Cobblepot is Selina's employer for both her waitressing and drug-dealing jobs. However, he almost caught her stealing his money just before the movie's climactic car chase scene.
Relationship With Batman
The relationship between Batman and Catwoman is iconic in comic book history. It varies from lowkey sexual tension to a full-blown romance across various Batman movies and shows, but the feelings are always there no matter how subtle.
The Batman sees instant chemistry and the start of a potential romance between Robert Pattinson's Batman and Kravitz's Catwoman, even though they part ways in the movie's finale. In Batman Returns, however, Michael Keaton's Batman and Pfeiffer's Catwoman are most definitely rivals but not without flirtatious banter and sexual undertones.
Relationship With Bruce Wayne
Batman and Bruce Wayne could almost count as separate characters, and the same could possibly be said about Catwoman and Selina Kyle. This is particularly apparent in The Batman and Batman Returns, and how it affects their relationships with each other.
In Batman Returns, Bruce and Selina begin a ionate romance, but their relationship is strained when they ultimately discover each other's secret identities. Meanwhile, Kravitz's Catwoman has no idea that Batman is Bruce Wayne. In fact, she openly insults Bruce Wayne in front of him, saying that the Riddler was right to "go after these creeps."
Pfeiffer's Catwoman Succeeded In Her Murder For Vengeance
One similarity between The Batman and Batman Returns is that Catwoman is on a quest for murderous revenge. Pfeiffer's Catwoman is after Max Shreck, her boss who pushed her out the window to her death, while Kravitz's Catwoman is out for revenge on Carmine Falcone, who is revealed to be her father who abandoned her mother.
The one key difference here is that in The Batman, Batman managed to stop Selina from murdering Falcone. (This is later done by the Riddler in cold blood.) However, Pfeiffer's Catwoman succeeds in murdering Shreck by electrocution, despite Batman's effort to convince her otherwise.
Kravitz's Catwoman Isn't A Villain
Although she is more of an anti-hero these days, Catwoman has always been renowned as an adversary to Batman. However, in The Batman, Selina isn't depicted as a villain in any way at all. Her motives for her actions are her love for Annika and her hatred for Falcone. In fact, she can easily be considered the deuteragonist of the movie.
And Pfeiffer's Catwoman is more of a tragic anti-heroine than a villain, but she does show a villainous side. She wishes to take out Batman and willingly takes part in Penguin's plans to frame the Dark Knight as a result.
Kravitz's Catwoman Is Never Called "Catwoman"
Perhaps one of the most simple yet surprising differences between Kravitz and Pfeiffer is that Kravitz's Selina is never called her Catwoman once, not by her or any of the characters. While she lives a double life as a masked criminal, the focus is purely on Selina Kyle rather than her feline alter ego.
Yet in Batman Returns, it is very difficult not to forget one of the most iconic lines in the movie. After rescuing a woman from a petty criminal, Catwoman shrugs off her thanks followed by the legendary quote: "I am Catwoman. Hear me roar!"
