Batman Forever is one of the most quotable Batman movies ever. From the Riddler’s “spank me!” and “joygasm!”, to Two-Face’s “let’s start this party with a bang” – the movie is loaded with instantly quotable dialogue and fun lines.
Heck, a Batman Forever quote even provided the name for this blog!
But what are the best Batman Forever quotes? What are the stand out pieces of dialogue from the movie?
Below are the top nine quotes from Batman Forever. Alongside each quote I have included a little explanation as to why they are great!
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A change in tone
Batman Forever was a movie which looked to change the tone of the Batman movies and that meant introducing some playful dialogue to open the movie.
The quote
Alfred: “Can I persuade you to take a sandwich with you, sir?”
Batman: “I’ll get drive-thru.”
Why this exchange rocked
This exchange between Alfred and Batman was the first piece of dialogue heard in Batman Forever. Not only were these lines fun, but they also made it clear this was a lighter Batman movie – this dialogue certainly wouldn’t have opened Batman (1989) or Batman Returns (1992).
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Catty woman
An exchange between Batman and Dr. Chase Meridian gets very heated when the good doctor mentions Batman’s ex.
The quote
Dr. Chase Meridian: “You like strong women. I’ve done my homework. Or do I need skin-tight vinyl and a whip?”
Why this line rocked
This is a great line because it provides Batman Forever with the opportunity to make a quick nod to the past (i.e. Catwoman), without having to dwell on the events of the previous Batman movie, Batman Returns.
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The call back to the ‘60s
As mentioned above, following two very dark Batman movies, Batman Forever took a step closer to the light and in doing so the film couldn’t help but make reference to the lightest era of Batman – the 1960s!
The quote
Robin: “Holey rusted metal, Batman!”
Batman: “Huh?”
Robin: “The ground, it’s all metal. It’s full of holes, you know. Holey.”
Why this exchange rocked
For almost all of Batman Forever, the character of Robin was handled very seriously – nothing like the easily excitable Robin who had appeared in the ‘60s Batman television show or Batman: The Movie (1966). By including the above exchange between Batman and Robin – complete with Robin’s famous use of the word “holey” – Batman Forever was able to acknowledge the past with a wink, while ensuring audiences understood this was not their daddy’s Robin.
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Confidence
If you want to be the best Batman movie villain you need to be able to talk the talk. This means being extremely confident and demonstrating you are not afraid of anyone.
The quote
The Riddler: “Riddle me this, riddle me that. Who’s afraid of the big, black bat?”
Why this line rocked
The Riddler was a whacky, cerebral villain who specialised in brain over brawn. With this simple line he demonstrated he was not intimidated by Batman, even if he wasn’t a physical match for the Caped Crusader.
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Overconfidence
There can be a little thing called overconfidence, you know.
The quote
The Riddler: “Soon my little ‘Box’ will be on countless TVs around the world. Feeding me credit card numbers, bank codes, sexual fantasies, and little white lies. Into my head they’ll go. Victory is inevitable.”
Why this line rocked
The Riddler was so confident with his plan to take over Gotham that he presumed his victory was a foregone conclusion. It wasn’t and it was his confidence (and bravado) that was his downfall.
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Outsmarting the world’s greatest detective
Before the Riddler’s downfall the Prince of Puzzles did manage to deduce Bruce Wayne’s biggest secret.
The quote
The Riddler: “Riddle me this, what sort of a man has bats on the brain? Go ahead, you can say it.”
Two-Face: “You’re a genius.”
Why this exchange rocked
Batman is known as the world’s greatest detective, yet the Riddler managed to outsmart him and in the process became “the cleverest carbon-based lifeform” in Gotham.
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Namechecking
Dick Grayson needs a codename, but what could it be?
The quote
Dick Grayson: “I need a name! Batboy. Nightwing. I dunno. What do you think? What’s a good sidekick name?”
Why this line rocked
Batman Forever was nothing if not playful. This line – which included the mention of the name, Nightwing – was a great way for the movie to reference a codename Dick Grayson had used in the comics.
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A friend in need
As the movie begins to wrap up, it’s time for a connection that we have all been waiting for.
The quote
Two-Face: “Yes, of course you’re right, Bruce. Emotions are always the enemy of true justice. Thank you, you’ve always been a good friend.”
Why this line rocked
Early into the movie, it is established that Batman has a connection to Two-Face. At the very end of the movie, in this one simple line, it is made clear that Bruce Wayne has a connection to Harvey Dent.
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Making a choice
How do you demonstrate that the Batman movies are ready to move forward in a new direction? You make a statement.
The quote
Batman – “Poor Edward. I had to save them both. You see, I’m both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Not because I have to be, now, because I choose to be.”
Why this line rocked
After much soul-searching and brooding, Bruce Wayne is finally able to accept his life choice to be Batman. This choice signalled to the audience that the Batman movie series was also taking steps to make Batman more of a Caped Crusader than a Dark Knight.
I’ve discussed Bruce Wayne’s ‘choice’ in much greater detail in my post ‘Why is Batman forever?’. If you want to know more about this important line from the movie, please follow the link.
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Don’t quote me
OK, so those are the ten best lines from Batman Forever, and now for some of my favourite fun quotes from the movie.
First up this one from Two-Face which demonstrates his decisiveness:
Two-Face: “You have broken into our hideout. You have violated the sanctuary of our lair. For this we should crush your bones into powder. However, you do pose a very interesting proposition. Therefore, heads we accept, and tails, we blow your damned head off!”
Then this gem from Alfred, when he’s carrying a tray full of food, trying to convince Dick Grayson to stay at Wayne Manor:
Alfred: “Is the young master leaving? Pity. I’ll just toss this away then. Perhaps the dogs are hungry.”
And finally, a Riddler line to end on, which summed up the spirited tone of the entire movie:
The Riddler: “Tell the fat lady, she’s on in five.”
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What is your favourite quote from Batman Forever? Is it one of the lines listed above, or do you have a different line you would like to share?
Whatever your favourite line, feel free to quote it in the comments section below.
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