20 Things You Somehow Missed In Batman Returns

20. Max Shreck’s Photo Wall

This is a beautiful little in-joke that is seen fleetingly throughout the movie. Surrounding a portrait of Christopher Walken’s “odious” tycoon, Max Shreck and his son, Andrew Bryniarski’s Chip Shreck hung inside the billionaire’s lavish conference room are plenty of framed photographs of Shreck alongside notable public figures and celebrities.

Early on in the film, we lean over the shoulder of Michelle Pfeiffer’s mousy “executive assistant”, Selina Kyle as she tidies up after a meeting and we catch a glimpse of Shreck having posed for photos with the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr., Elvis Presley and (future Mr. Freeze) Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It’s a fascinating insight into the real world crossing over into the high-fantasy world of Gotham City, but it also serves a background story purpose; this is a man with connections who could easily give Gotham’s own “to the manor born” philanthropist, Bruce Wayne a run for his money.

Shreck makes the point more explicitly later in the film when he brazenly asks Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne: “Do you think you can go 15 rounds with Mohammed Shreck?” Bruce, of course, is not even fazed by this, but just regards Shreck as being rather odd.