History Film / Batman1989

* PantsPositiveSafety: The Joker pulls a revolver with a ridiculously long barrel out of his TrouserSpace to shoot down the Batwing. Then again, it isn't like it would fit in any holster.

* PantsPositiveSafety: The Joker pulls a revolver with a ridiculously long barrel out of his TrouserSpace to shoot down the Batwing.

* WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys: True of every incarnation of Franchise/{{Batman}}, but Creator/JackNicholson's Joker is the trope namer. Sadly, we never get to see the second part of this. The Joker turns to his goons and says, "Well, don't just stand there -- go ''ask'' him!!" Used again later on when Batman uses the Batwing to steal all his poison-filled balloons, causing the Joker to scream why nobody told him he had one of those things... [[HypocriticalHumor only to later shoot it down with a four foot long revolver]].

* WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys: True of every incarnation of Franchise/{{Batman}}, but Creator/JackNicholson's Joker is the trope namer. Sadly, we never get to see the second part of this. The Joker turns to his goons and says, "Well, don't just stand there -- go ''ask'' him!!"

* OriginStory: Infamously gave a solid one to ''ComicBook/TheJoker'', since all other sources treat his origin as a total mystery.

-->'''Bob''': Let him go, or I'll do Gordon!

* LateArrivalSpoiler: Bruce Wayne is Batman. This isn't revealed until over halfway into the film, but unless you've never been exposed to any ''Batman''-related media at all, you know this one before it begins.

* TheArtifact: The Joker's quip about putting his face on the one dollar bill. This was originally meant to set up a funny little detail in the parade scene, in which the money he would toss to the crowd would indeed have his face printed on them. This gag was cut from the film, though it was still included in both the novelization and comic book.

The universe of this film was featured in ''Series/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths2019'' as Earth-89, with a cameo by Robert Wuhl as Alexander Knox. In 2023, Michael Keaton returned to play this version of Batman once again in the ''Film/{{The Flash|2023}}'' movie set in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse, which focuses on TheMultiverse.

--->'''Joker:''' Your pals, uh, they're not bad people. Maybe we, uh, oughtta give them a couple of days to think it over. ''(shakes head)'' No? ''(gasps in shock at the corpse)'' [[StatingTheSimpleSolution Grease 'em now?]] Well...okay. You are a vicious bastard Rotelli. ''(tightens Rotelli's tie)'' I'm glad you're dead! ''([[LaughingMad laughs maniacally at own joke]])'' "I'm glad you're dead!" Hee hee hee!

'''Joker:''' ''(absolutely serious)'' Do I ''look'' like I'm joking?

--->'''Knox''': You know why they're so odd? Because they can afford to be.

'''Vicki:''' Well, I mean let's face it, you're not exactly...normal. Are you?\\
'''Batman:''' ''(confronts her)'' It's [[CrapsackWorld not exactly a normal world]], is it?

-->'''Batman''': The poison only works if the components are mixed. Hairspray won't do it alone...but hairspray mixed with lipstick and perfume will be toxic and traceable.

-->'''Knox''': ''*referring to a samurai-style armor*'' Where did this come from?\\
'''Vicki''': I have no idea.\\
'''Bruce''': It's Japanese.\\
'''Knox''': And how do you know?\\
'''Bruce''': ''*{{beat}}*'' ...'Cause I bought it in Japan.

-->'''The Joker:''' And now comes the part where I relieve you, the little people, of the burden of your failed and useless lives. But as my plastic surgeon always said, "If you gotta go, go with a ''smile''!"

-->'''Knox:''' ''(to Vicki)'' What do you suppose something like this does to a kid?

-->'''Jack:''' ''(warning)'' We've been ratted out here, boys. Watch it.

** Averted with Jack Napier. Bruce Wayne reviews Napier's personal history and learns that he was a complete psycho even before he made it to ''junior high''. At best, Bruce muses that he might have a ''Darwinian'' excuse ("He had a head full of bad wiring, I guess...").
--->'''Bruce Wayne''': (reading profile) ''"Jack Napier, assault with a deadly weapon, age fifteen. Results of psychological profile: Violent mood swings, highly intelligent, emotionally unstable. Aptitudes include science, chemistry, and art."''

* {{Hypocrite}}: Downplayed, but during the scene in Vicky's apartment, Joker chastises Bruce Wayne for his relationship with Vicky Vale depsite his own pursuit of her ("Never rub another man's rhubarb!"). Yet, Jack was doing this at the beginning of the movie with Alicia and Carl Grissom. Then again, Joker ''could'' be speaking from personal experience and learned his own lesson after Grissom's UriahGambit.

--> Joker (to Vicki Vale): We're like Literature/BeautyAndTheBeast. 'Course, if anyone else calls you "Beast," I'll rip their lungs out!

-->'''Bruce:''' ''(whispers to Joker)'' [[IKnowYourTrueName I know who you are.]]

-->'''The Joker:''' "We've got a flying mouse to kill, and I want to clean my claws!"\\
'''The Joker:''' "And where is the Batman? He's at home...WASHIN' HIS TIGHTS!"\\
'''Grissom:''' "Your life won't be worth SPIT!!!"

-->'''The Joker''': Tell me something, my friend. You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?\\
'''Bruce''': ''[{{beat}}]'' What?\\
'''The Joker''': I always ask that of ''all'' my prey. ''[beat]'' I just like the sound of it. ''[shoots him as Vicki screams]''

-->'''The Joker:''' You set me up over a woman. '''''A woman!''''' ''(darkly)'' [[{{Irony}} You must]] [[YoureInsane be insane.]]

--->'''Jack Napier''': We've been ratted out here, boys. Watch it.

'''Joker:''' *confused laughter* Huh? What are you talking about?\\

'''Joker:''' *scared* Come on Bat-brain, I was a kid when I killed your parents. When I say I made you, you gotta say you made me! How childish can you get? [''puts on glasses''] [[YouWouldntHitAGuyWithGlasses You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses on]], would ya? Huh?
---> [''Batman does'']

--> ''bis sunto! latent!''\\
''bis sunto, pacto''\\
''parati solo!''\\
''hic sunto: latent!''\\
\\
''adsunto more''\\
''portent magno!''
-->Which translates to:

let them be here; they are hiding\\
\\

-->'''The Joker:''' Now, you fellows have said some pretty mean things, some of which ''were'' true, under that fiend Boss Grissom. He ''was'' a thief and a terrorist. But on the other hand, he had a tremendous singing voice. He's dead now, and he's left me in charge.

-->'''Batman''': I want you to do me a favor. I want you to tell all your friends about me.\\
'''Mugger''': ''[terrified]'' What are you?\\
'''Batman''': ...I'm Batman. ''[throws the mugger to the rooftop]''

---> '''Joker:''' Bob? Gun.\\
'''Bob:''' ''(unquestioningly hands his boss his gun, not realizing Joker's in a killing mood; Joker casually pops a bullet in his chest)''

'''Jack:''' ''(DeathGlare)'' I didn't ''ask.'' ''(glances at her hand on his shoulder as if to say, "Hands off the merchandise!")''

--> '''Bob''': She's ''[Vicki]'' dating some guy named Wayne.\\
'''Joker''': ''[smug]'' [[{{Jerkass}} She's about to trade up.]]

** "Where've you been spending your nights?" Eckhardt knows about Jack's affair with Alicia (and it's implid he informs Grissom off-screen before the Boss' first scene).

* NearMisses: Inverted. Batman (in the Batwing) strafes the Joker who just stands in the middle of the street with his arms out, taunting him. Batman opens fire with everything he's got, but he just shoots the ground on either side. Even the ''missiles'' miss. Joker then fires one shot from his long-barreled revolver and Down Goes the Batwing!

* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: [[spoiler:Based on his parting comment in the alley scene ("Where've you been spending your nights?"), it's strongly implied it was Eckhardt who informed Grissom about the affair between Jack and Alicia (and also as retaliation for the alley confrontation). This simple act sets off a chain of events that not only ends up transforming Jack into the Joker, but also gets both men (and Alicia) killed (by Jack both pre and post-chemical dip) and ultimately breaks the Mob's strangehold on Gotham.]]

** The post-chemical dip Joker killing Grissom and then purging his lieutenants. Yes, it grants Joker full control over all organized crime in Gotham...but once he dies, the underworld's grip on Gotham is broken for good. That means Joker, ironically more than Batman, is responsible for the collapse of organized crime in Gotham by the film's end.

* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: [[spoiler:Based on his parting comment in the alley scene ("Where've you been spending your nights?"), it's strongly implied Eckhardt was the one who informed Grissom about the affair between Jack and Alicia. This simple act sets off a chain of events that not only ends up transforming Napier into the Joker, but also ends gets both men (and Alicia) killed (by Napier both pre and post-chemical dip) and ultimately breaks the Mob's strangehold on Gotham.]]

* GeorgeLucasAlteredEdition: The 30th anniversary 4K remaster changes the ring of the film to be a cool blue and updates many of the sound effects to be more realistic.

* GeorgeLucasAlteredEditiond: The 30th anniversary 4K remaster changes the ring of the film to be a cool blue and updates many of the sound effects to be more realistic.

Just like with "ComicBook/Superman78" before it. DC started publishing a ''ComicBook/Batman89'' series in 2021, featuring the continuing adventures of the versions of the characters as seen post-''Returns'', while [[CanonDiscontinuity ignoring]] ''Forever'' & ''Batman & Robin''.