THE BATMAN Ending Explained Along With THAT Big Tease - SPOILERS Follow

THE BATMAN Ending Explained Along With THAT Big Tease - SPOILERS Follow

With The Batman hours away from arriving in theaters for Thursday night previews, we're breaking down the film's ending and explaining what that sinister tease could mean for the DC franchise's future.

Feature Opinion
By HamiltonParker - Mar 03, 2022 12:03 PM EST
Filed Under: The Batman

The Batman sees the World's Greatest Detective face-off against The Riddler in a battle of wits with the fate of Gotham City on the line. After succeeding in his plan to kill Carmine Falcone, Edward Nashton allows himself to be captured by the police and is sent to Arkham State Hospital. 

We learn that he hoped to work with Batman, perceiving himself to be a fellow vigilante. The Dark Knight's mission of vengeance inspired The Riddler, and while he's distraught by the hero's rejection, Nashton has one final trick up his sleeve that Batman must overcome if he hopes to save his city.

In this article, we explain the film's ending and take a closer look at that massive Arkham tease...
 

The Final Riddle

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The Riddler has recruited followers through social media (we're assuming they're meant to be incels) and placed car bombs around the city to flood Gotham. The explosions do indeed lay waste to downtown, and those recruits all take aim at Bella Reál, Gotham's new mayor. 

Batman leaps into action to stop them, and despite the odds being stacked against him, the hero - with some help from Catwoman - manages to save Reál and take the "Riddlers" down.

From there, Batman does what he can to help the innocents caught up in the madness, stepping into the light and no longer the creature fueled by vengeance we met at the start of the movie...
 

A Bright Future For Batman

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The Caped Crusader realises that in order to protect Gotham City, he can no longer be a symbol of vengeance. Instead, he should inspire those who live there and give them hope, a decision that obviously lays the groundwork for a Batman more in line with the comic books. 

Gotham now needs saving more than ever, and this is something of a happy ending for Bruce Wayne. Unfortunately, Batman's future with Catwoman doesn't look quite as bright because she leaves the city. Following the trauma she went through in this movie, Selina Kyle decides to head to Blüdhaven for a fresh start, and deems Batman's home to be beyond saving at this point. 

He disagrees and declines her offer to follow suit; instead, she goes one way and he goes the other, though the door is definitely left open to them one day crossing paths again. 
 

Making Friends In Arkham Asylum

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The Riddler is thoroughly dejected after his plan fails, but it's not all bad news because he's making friends in Arkham. A creepy voice coming from the cell next door soothes Edward and congratulates him for a job well done after the madness he inflicted upon Gotham City. 

We never get to see this mysterious character in all his glory, but it's actor Barry Keoghan, who is indeed playing The Joker. A glimpse of a twisted smile (we wonder where he got those scars?), the white face, and green hair are all barely visible, and it sounds like he has a plan to get out of the confines of this hospital with The Riddler by his side. With that, a terrifying laugh rings out within Arkham.

It's unclear whether The Batman 2 will pit the Dark Knight against The Joker and The Riddler, but Matt Reeves blatantly has plans to do something big with the Clown Prince of Crime! 
 

What Comes Next?

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That's a big question, and we have some solid ideas. 

Following the death of Carmine Falcone, the stage has been set for The Penguin to take his place as Gotham City's crimelord. That's going to be covered in the spinoff series heading to HBO Max, of course, and he'll no doubt be pivotal to the next big screen chapter as well. Batman, meanwhile, is looking to step out of the shadows, which probably means more Bruce Wayne.

While we have no doubt The Joker and The Riddler will return, another likely villain for this franchise looks to be Hush. A reporter with the last name of Elliot was killed by Falcone at the apparent behest of Thomas Wayne, and it seems likely he was the father of Tommy Elliot, a villain you may know as Hush.

It's possible "Edward Nashton" is, in fact, Tommy, hence why he covers his face that way. He even flashes the word "Hush" on screen during one of his messages, but what if The Riddler was actually taking orders from that mysterious big bad? That'd make for one heck of a story in this trilogy...
 

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CaptainDC
CaptainDC - 3/3/2022, 12:38 PM
Loved this movie... the ATTENTION TO DETAIL throughout was incredible.

My initial gut reaction leaving the movie was confusing because there's so much to process. But the longer you sit with it... the better it gets.

Matt Reeves's delivered a masterpiece. Can't wait for the future.
BestAtWhatIDo
BestAtWhatIDo - 3/3/2022, 12:41 PM
@CaptainDC - I felt exactly the same. I was exhausted coming out, but digesting each moment has made me love the movie more and more.
Cbmfilmjunkie
Cbmfilmjunkie - 3/3/2022, 4:16 PM
@CaptainDC - This.

The more i was able to sit and ponder and digest the more I said, HOLY SHIT.

What an incredible film. A game changer.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/3/2022, 8:54 PM
@CaptainDC - its better the second time too.
Godzilla2000Zer
Godzilla2000Zer - 3/3/2022, 12:38 PM
This movie is still amazing
CaptainDC
CaptainDC - 3/3/2022, 12:39 PM
Loved this movie... the ATTENTION TO DETAIL throughout was incredible.

My initial gut reaction leaving the movie was confusing because there's so much to process. But the longer you sit with it... the better it gets.

This is truly a superhero movie unlike anything we've ever seen before. The movie reminded me a lot of Se7en. My mind is still blown.

Matt Reeves's delivered a masterpiece. Can't wait for the future.
MCUKnight11
MCUKnight11 - 3/3/2022, 12:45 PM
I saw it last night. A true treat for any Batman fan. It's apparent that Reeves is as much as a fan as any of us and took inspiration from many interpretations and crafted his own Batman story worthy of standing alongside the best contemporaries like TDK, Arkham, Animated, etc. Can't wait to see how this trilogy progresses.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 3/3/2022, 12:48 PM
So if Riddler knew Batman was Bruce Wayne and he wanted Batman to join him, why did he send that bomb to his house to kill him?
soberchimera
soberchimera - 3/3/2022, 12:54 PM
@soberchimera - Also, was a bit disappointed that Riddler wasn’t present for the finale, I get that he was there “in spirit”, bit it would have been fun for Batman to figure out which was the REAL Riddler.
CaptainDC
CaptainDC - 3/3/2022, 1:00 PM
@soberchimera - The Batman-Riddler face-to-face scene held so much tension because Bruce wasn't sure if Ridder knew he was Batman.

Once Riddler made it clear that he didn't know Bruce Wayne was Batman, the flipped switch that this whole end plan this wasn't about distracting him from his bigger plan.
DrThomasWayne
DrThomasWayne - 3/3/2022, 1:00 PM
@soberchimera - but Riddler didn’t know he was Bruce Wayne…
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 3/3/2022, 1:01 PM
@soberchimera

Riddler doesn’t know BW is Batman.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 3/3/2022, 1:01 PM
@CaptainDC

My second favorite scene in the movie next to the Batmobile chase sequence.
CaptainDC
CaptainDC - 3/3/2022, 1:08 PM
@regularmovieguy - I'd make the argument one of the best car chase scenes in recent history... we got Batman full force (with intent to bash) chasing down Penguin in a Maserati at night in the rain heading into incoming traffic on the highway surrounded by 18 wheelers... my god, beautiful
soberchimera
soberchimera - 3/3/2022, 2:42 PM
@DrThomasWayne - Eh, I got the impression he did especially the way he was emphasizing the name.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/3/2022, 8:58 PM
@soberchimera - he was targeting Alfred. I agree he knew that Batman is Bruce. its obvious. he proceeds immediately to say "everyone wants to unmask you" but implies he WILL NOT. he knew Bats wouldnt be in Wayne Tower that night. Bats is on the streets, in the shadows at night. every night. He was targeting Alfred and knew he would get the letter, open it. BOOM.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/3/2022, 8:59 PM
@regularmovieguy - he literaly says after really annunciating BRRRRUUCCCEEE WAYYYYYNNEEE 3 times, "everyone wants to unmask you". he knew it was him, he just had no desire to unmask him. He knew Bats wouldnt be in Wayne Tower at night because Bats is Bats at night, he wanted to kill Alfred, thus really hurting Bruce.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 3/3/2022, 9:38 PM
@McMurdo

I don’t think he did. He wanted to kill Bruce Wayne. And he was upset that he wasn’t able to…

That was at least my takeaway. Seeing it again on Tuesday.
Saintsinnister
Saintsinnister - 3/4/2022, 4:34 AM
@regularmovieguy - You’re right. It was a tense scene for both the audience and Batman. for 80% of the scene we’re convinced he knows Bruce is Batman, and if Batman reacted in any way he would have given himself away. But then Riddler revealed that they as a team failed to kill Bruce, making Batman realize he has no clue.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 3/4/2022, 10:11 AM
@McMurdo - Interesting theory, but Riddler would have had to have had ESP to know for certain that Alfred would open a letter addressed to Bruce Wayne.
Man0fSteelers
Man0fSteelers - 3/3/2022, 12:49 PM
Went last night at 630p with the wife. We loved it. Probably the best bat movie to date. Definitely not for kids imo. Hopefully we can still get super powered rogues in the future. Would love to see a clayface hush batman film tied to this universe.
DrThomasWayne
DrThomasWayne - 3/3/2022, 1:04 PM
@Waddles - I really hope that’s the case too! I agree they could make it work, despite how grounded and gritty it is, how they made Gotham could totally make those characters a believable part of the world
BestAtWhatIDo
BestAtWhatIDo - 3/3/2022, 2:34 PM
@DrThomasWayne - I could see them all working in the horror movie tone that Reeves established. There was definitely some outlandish stuff in the movie, but it had a very tactile, lived in feel. It's like how Star Wars is "grounded" compared to Flash Gordon.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/3/2022, 9:01 PM
@Waddles - easily anyone saying otherwise didnt see the film. Its PULP to the max.
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 3/4/2022, 3:14 AM
@Waddles - in fairness though, ‘gritty’ really IS the best descriptor here
noahthegrand
noahthegrand - 3/3/2022, 12:51 PM
Saw it last night. Loved it. Best depiction of Gotham
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 3/3/2022, 1:00 PM
That prosthetic work on Keoghan’s eyeline. 👀

Feel like he’s going to be a menace.
MikeHoncho
MikeHoncho - 3/3/2022, 1:03 PM
Loved the movie. 4/5 for me. It was a good 15 minutes too long that could have been shortened by eliminating some of the areas that got too artsy with extended cinematography or lingering stares that felt like they lasted forever. But that's just me. Otherwise loved the cast and the story.
CaptainDC
CaptainDC - 3/3/2022, 1:05 PM
@MikeHoncho - re: my comments above, the more you sleep on this movie the more you realize those extra "15 minutes" actually were valuable. There's a lot of hidden details throughout this movie that make it special. It's tough to pick in our first sitting when we're all focused on the core plot

After taking my time with this and reading online there's so much more to this movie.
Nunyabiz
Nunyabiz - 3/3/2022, 1:10 PM
Had to google the word incel. I guess I am just old.
dragon316
dragon316 - 3/3/2022, 2:05 PM
@Nunyabiz - had to do samething first time found out such word exist thought it was another made up text word people talking in text could mean anything to anyone
noahthegrand
noahthegrand - 3/3/2022, 1:31 PM
To anyone who got a good view of Unnamed Arkham Prisoner, I was sitting in the front row so it was even more difficult to get a look at him then just him being behind bars and glass. Can anyone try to describe him?
1stDalek
1stDalek - 3/3/2022, 3:53 PM
@noahthegrand - It's hard to describe him given how much they hid his face & how intense the orange light is in that scene, so it's hard to tell if he had the trademark white skin and green hair. He had messy hair pointing up and seemed to have a scared face, probably chemical burns, think of the final Gotham Joker with a full head of hair.



I was a bit surprised, didn't expect them to have a firm idea on how this Joker would look yet.
r4dagast
r4dagast - 3/4/2022, 6:42 AM
@noahthegrand - From what I can recall he was VERY inspired by the Arkham games, looked to me like he had actual white skin instead of face paint, hair was green very messy and wasn’t a thick full head of hair.
MovieMonster
MovieMonster - 3/3/2022, 1:42 PM
I saw it on Tuesday and I thought the movie was really good, great even. I liked it better than The Dark Knight Rises and it's probably the third best Batman movie after The Dark Knight and Batman Begins. The movie is gorgeous to look at and the sound work is incredible. My seat started to shake when the Batmobile was revving up.

The Riddler was a creepy villain. He was pretty much a mix between the Zodiac Killer and Jigsaw and seemed like the kind of crazy villain that would exist in real life. Zoe was great as Selina Kyle and so was Rob as Batman. He has a lot of screen presence anytime he's in the suit. Colin Farrell was also great as the Penguin. He had one scene that was meant to be funny and I thought it worked.

This movie is surprisingly well paced. It did not feel like 3 hours to me, it felt closer to 2.5 hours. This probably comes from the fact that I was invested from the very first scene and was instantly drawn into the world. If you can get into the story, the time will fly.

I just hope this new series isn't afraid to get weird. Give me villains like Man-Bat, Poison Ivy, and Mr. Freeze. Don't rush to Joker just yet, build him up over time. There are so many rogues that Reeves and WB can explore.
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