10 Movies Franchises That Went From 5 Stars To 1 Star

2. Batman

5 Star: Batman 1 Star: Batman And Robin BATMAN! Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-not anymore. In 1989 Tim Burton's Batman effectively locked away the Adam West TV show as a part of the character's past. The new Batman was a brooder, residing in a Gotham that put emphasis on the 'Goth' and definitely not camp. The film was a massive hit and cemented the Dark Knight as D.C.'s biggest money-spinner. Ultimately it was Burton's own Burton-ness that led to the series' downfall. Given free-reign on Batman Returns, he delivered something rather un-family-friendly; the gothic design was amped up, the female anti-hero was clothed in tight leather and the villain was a total psychopath without the Joker's sense of humour. Parents complained and the franchise veered towards the bright, vibrant lights of Joel Schumacher. In the hands of Schumacher, who cared little for the source, the series became a total pastiche, embracing and updating rather than distancing itself from the camp legacy. Batman Forever kept some of the central elements of Burton's original film (although not, sadly, Billy Dee Williams), but by Batman And Robin everything had lost its focus. Everything felt fake, with sets clearly sets and actors phoning in their performances to the point they might as well have not have even bothered turning up. Some fans like to theorise that Schumacher's films are actually movies in the world of Burton's Batman, but that can't distract from how bad they are.