The Batman has a smaller production budget than one might think. The latest entry in the Batman franchise sees Robert Pattinson don the cape and will see him do battle with The Riddler (Paul Dano) and will cross paths with other famous villains Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) and The Penguin (Colin Farrell). The film was originally set for release in June 2021 but due to many delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, the film finally settled on a March 4, 2022 release date.
The latest trailer for the film shown at DC FanDome showcased a film that would highlight a very expansive Gotham City. The Batman will mark the first solo introduction of the hero to a generation of audiences since Batman Begins back in 2005, so anticipation is high for this new take on the character that appears to mix the tactical realism of Nolan's films with the stylized production design of Burton and Schumacher's take on the character. While there are five films based on DC Comics being released in 2022, The Batman is likely the one Warner Bros. has the most faith in as Batman has been a consistent box office winner for the studio.
Related: The Batman's Gotham Compared To Nolan's & Burton's Versions
It appears now that The Batman will have a much easier time turning a profit than other recent entries in the franchise due to its low production budget. According to Deadline, The Batman has a budget of $100 million. There is no confirmation from Warner Bros. about the film's budget.
It is unclear if the $100 million was the film's original budget, or if that factors in the cost of production delay the film had due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as added safety cost because of COVID-like on-set testing. It is reported that Jurassic World: Dominion spent about $3 million on COVID testing. $3 million is also the reported salary Robert Pattinson received to star in the film, helping suggest how Warner Bros. kept the budget so low compared to other superhero films.
The Batman is the lowest a main series Batman film has cost since Batman Forever which cost $100 million in 1995. Christoper Nolan's Batman films budgets went up with each film with The Dark Knight Rises carrying a $250 million budget. In recent years the DC films have carried large production budgets, with Man of Steel, Wonder Woman 1984, Aquaman, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League all carrying production budgets over $200 million. At $100 million The Batman has the same budget as Shazam!, which is reported to have cost somewhere between $80 to $100 million. The Batman does carry a higher budget than Birds of Prey ($80 million) and Joker ($55 million) yet those were smaller-scale films, so The Batman coming in on the low side of things hints the film could be a less fantastical action spectacle like past entries of the franchise and go for a more cerebral gritty action story.
Source: Deadline
