The review embargo for The Batman has lifted, and if you were hoping the movie would be as good as it looked in the trailers, you won't be disappointed. As per usual, we're going to start with the trades as, while they're usually quite harsh on superhero movies, they're 100% on board with Matt Reeves' vision for the Caped Crusader.
The Hollywood Reporter describes it as "a soulful nocturne of corruption and chaos," adding that "this glowering study in crime and punishment is meticulously crafted, vividly inhabited storytelling with a coherent, thought-through vision, and that makes for muscular entertainment." Variety echoes those sentiments by saying The Batman is a "grounded, frequently brutal and nearly three-hour film noir [that] registers among the best of the genre." Deadline concludes by promising "this is a Batman you have never seen before," and The Wrap declares the movie "not only delivers the goods, it also embodies many of the reasons why that investment can feel so rewarding."
IGN awards The Batman a rare 10/10 score and wraps up with, "Matt Reeves’ violent, thrilling, darkly beautiful take on The Batman more than justifies its place in the franchise’s canon." Digital Spy goes with 5* and concluded its review by noting, "The Batman is an enthralling, chilling and fresh new take on the iconic DC hero that'll leave you desperate for another visit to this impeccably-crafted world." USA Today was similarly impressed, explaining that "Pattinson’s main man holds down a revamped Gotham that feels distinctively gritty with its blueprint of madness and mayhem, a place you would never want to live in but still would love to revisit as soon as possible."
Even our superhero-hating pals at The Playlist go with an A- score and the promise that The Batman "should tell audiences that other superhero movies are possible, and yet more, they can be had outside the formulaic tentpoles filling theaters today." CBR says the movie is a "comic fan's dream" and Screen Rant calls it "a worthy addition to the live-action DC slate."
In terms of negative reviews, the only one we can (currently) find comes from Bleeding Cool, who writes: The Batman "[features] terrible pacing, a much too long runtime, a story that seems to think it's being original while it isn't, and a combination of a score and cinematography that leads to an uncomfortable viewing experience."
In our review, we ended with: "Delivering the definitive take on the World’s Greatest Detective, The Batman is a sweeping, cinematic masterpiece that’s both DC’s best film and one of the most captivating, relentless, and unforgettable comic book movies ever made." Mark Cassidy also shared his take on Fear HQ and writes, "Matt Reeves has crafted a bleak, brutal new vision of Gotham City and its tormented protector, and Robert Pattinson fully commits to a more cerebral incarnation of The Dark Knight who might be just as unhinged as the villains he opposes."
The Batman arrives in theaters on March 4.