Bruce Wayne has spent two years fighting crime as Batman in rainy Gotham. He investigates a killer called the Riddler, who murders city leaders and leaves clues for Batman. The trail links corrupt police, politicians, gang boss Carmine Falcone, and Bruce’s own family. The story plays as a dark detective mystery, and Batman must choose between vengeance and giving the city hope. Selina Kyle joins Batman while searching for her missing roommate, Annika, and the people who hurt her. Selina calls Gotham’s leaders “white, privileged assholes” and says the Riddler is right to target them. Zoë Kravitz said she saw Selina and Annika’s bond as romantic and played Selina as bisexual. Selina’s search gives her revenge story a queer element. Batman and Selina also share a romantic spark.
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Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Batman.
Woke representation / casting
Selina calls Annika “baby” and rushes to find her after she is taken. Kravitz said she played their bond as romantic and viewed Selina as bisexual. Selina also kisses Batman, so the film gives a major character a bisexual reading.
17%
Woke political dialogue
Selina calls Gotham’s leaders “white, privileged assholes” and names the mayor, police commissioner, district attorney, and Waynes. She says the Riddler is right to go after them. Kravitz said including the white privilege reference was important to her.
25%
Identity-driven story themes
Selina’s search for Annika gives her personal revenge story a queer element. Kravitz said she viewed their bond as romantic. Selina also kisses Batman and asks him to leave Gotham with her.
16%
Western institutional / cultural critique
Selina tells Bruce that Gotham protects its wealthy white leaders. The Riddler’s case uncovers corruption in the police, the mayor’s office, the district attorney’s office, and a Wayne-funded city program. Reeves said Selina’s challenge shows how Bruce’s wealth separates him from people who struggle.
8%
Woke character or canon changes
The movie casts Jeffrey Wright, a black actor, as Jim Gordon, who is usually white in comics. It casts biracial Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, who is also often drawn as white. Both characters have major roles in Batman’s case and Selina’s story.
39%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Several small X accounts and Reddit users called the film woke over Selina’s line and the casting of Gordon and Catwoman. TMZ and ScreenGeek covered the complaints, and the Washington Examiner published an opinion piece about anti-white wokeness in the film. The complaints became a release-week talking point, though no organized campaign followed. Right-leaning praise that the film was not woke was approval, not backlash.
63%
Creator track record context
Reeves has a saved score of 47 and a low public profile on political or activist topics. Craig scores 31, with no activist pattern listed. Tolan scores 54 and links her casting work to diversity, while Bevan scores 44 and supports inclusive casting. The other saved producer scores range from 21 to 74.
42%
Production
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