Michael Keatonhas had one of the most incredible comebacks in film history.Keaton first drew acclaim in the 1980s thanks to his breakout comedic performances in films likeMr. MomandGung Hobefore earning more substantial fame after his recurring collaborations withTim Burton. Keaton’s star power may have somewhat diluted in the early 21st century, but he earned a major comeback thanks to a series of acclaimed dramatic roles. Now, venturing into the directorial space, it seems like there isn’t anything Keaton can’t do.
Keaton has returned to many of his most iconic roles in recent years,with a memorable role as Bruce Wayne inThe Flashand a highly anticipated performance inthis year’s legacy sequelBeetlejuice Beetlejuice. While he certainly has a number of iconic films on his resume, some of Keaton’s projects are more enjoyable than others.These are Michael Keaton’s most rewatchable movies, well-known and celebrated efforts that fans will undoubtedly want to revisit.
10‘Night Shift’ (1982)
Directed by Ron Howard
The first of many recurringcollaborations with directorRon Howard,Night Shiftwas the film that launched Keaton’s film career. He was certainly facing tremendous expectations, as he co-starred alongsideHenry Winkler, who had become a media icon thanks to his role as “The Fonz” in the classic comedy seriesHappy Days. However, Keaton outstaged his famous co-star with an uproarious performance as a night-time morgue employee who starts an illicit business.
Night Shiftis a perfect showcase for Keaton’s acting sensibilities, as the film has a dark sense of humor that could have easily been misperceived as offensive. Nonetheless, Keaton delivers a scene-stealing, jovial performance that reflects the film’s humorous intentions. He also shares great chemistry with Winkler, allowing the absurdist comedy to serve as an earnest portrayal of friendship between coworkers.
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9‘Johnny Dangerously’ (1984)
Directed by Amy Heckerling
Johnny Dangerouslyis a spoof movie that was ahead of its time, as the comic portrayal of gangster cinema may have had a bigger impact on audiences after the success ofGoodfellasandThe Sopranos. Nevertheless,Amy Heckerling’s satirical interpretation ofa “rise and fall” crime storysucceeds thanks to Keaton’s memorable performance as the titular character. He plays a comically aloof man who surprisingly gets swept up in a dangerous mafia scheme.
Keaton’s winning performance infusesJohnny Dangerouslywith more modern sensibilities, making it seem fresh and even topical.
Johnny Dangerouslyis a throwback to an older generation of comedy, featuring many puns, slapstick gags, and hilarious cutaways. There was a risk that a film this steeped in the past could have come off as irrelevant; however, Keaton’s winning performance infuses the story with more modern sensibilities, making it seem fresh and even topical. 21st-century spoof films like theScary Moviefranchise aren’t crafted with the same love of the genre that madeJohnny Dangerouslysuch a fun cult classic.
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8‘Beetlejuice’ (1988)
Directed by Tim Burton
Beetlejuicewouldn’t have worked without Keaton.Burton’s bizarre adventure film is spooky, silly, and surprisingly heartfelt at points, making it unclear if it was intended for adults or children. Thankfully, Keaton’s incredible performance as the titular ghost helps makeBeetlejuiceappropriate for audiences of all ages. It’s a bizarre, occasionally malevolent role that’s impossible to look away from.
Although the film was a hit upon its initial release, bolstering Burton’s fame as an auteur filmmaker,Beetlejuicegrew anoutstanding legacy within other media.The film is constantly referenced in other shows and films and inspired an animated television series, a Tony Award-winning musical, several video games, and one of the best gags onCommunity. Keaton’s return to one of his most iconic roles in this year’sBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceis one of 2024’s most anticipated films.
Beetlejuice
7‘Clean and Sober’ (1988)
Directed by Glenn Gordon Caron
Clean and Soberis not always an easy film to watch,as it examines the cycle of denial and guilt that many alcoholics go through while attempting to get sober. This makes it all the more impressive that Keaton took on the role;Clean and Soberisn’t just an affectionate character drama butan illuminating and potentially instructive film that may help shed lighton this aspect of the human condition.
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6‘Batman’ (1989)
Prior to the release of the 1989 filmBatman, most audiences associatedBob Kane’s masked vigilante character with the comical tone of theAdam Westtelevision series from the 1960s. However,Batmantook the source material seriously, turning the beloved DC comic book mythology into a stylized neo-noir thriller.Jack Nicholson’s performance as the Jokermay have been a scene stealer, but Keaton helped capture the enigmatic element that made Batman such an iconic screen hero.
Keaton balances both aspects of the character in a way that no other actor did.Robert Pattinsoncertainly looked intimidating in the Bat-suit inThe Batman, andChristian Balecaptured the tortured psyche of Bruce Wayne inChristopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knighttrilogy. However, Keaton combined both personas into a transcendent performance that fully respected the character’s vast literary history,making Burton’s take on the Caped Crusader more enjoyableand the closest thing he can be to relatable.
5‘Batman Returns’ (1992)
Batman Returnsis one of the most ambitious superhero sequels ever made and the darkest entry in the franchise at the time of its release. The 1992 film features Keaton’s return as Batman as he attempts to thwart an evil plot by the Penguin (Danny Devito) andMax Shreck (Christopher Walken)while developing a complex romantic relationship with Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer). Darkly funny, genuinely disturbing, and surprisingly sexy,Batman Returnsis a bold reinvention of the character’s mythology that speaks to the dark side of the source material.
Keaton is at his best inBatman Returns, as the sequel gives him more room to explore the incredible burden that Batman is put under as he attempts to balance his personal and professional obligations. Unfortunately, both Keaton and Burton left the franchise, which was essentially rebooted with 1995’sBatman Forever. Nonetheless,Batman Returnsat least allowed them to go out on a high note.
Batman Returns
4‘The Paper’ (1994)
The Paperis an underrated gem that celebratesthe power of good journalismand the importance of thoughtful writing.Keaton stars as an overworked newspaper editor who attempts to keep his staff afloat during a city-wide crisis. His mission becomes more stressful when the paper’s managing editor (Glenn Close) threatens to make major cuts to the content and staff.The Paperhas an impressive ensemble cast that also includesMarisa Tomei,Robert Duvall,andRandy Quaidamong others, but Keaton is front and center with a dynamic performance that gives the film focus.
While there are certainly some moments of absurdist comedy,The Paperaddresses serious concerns about the importance of journalistic integrity and the danger of critical oversight.It’s an old-fashioned crowd-pleaser that is more enjoyable on a rewatch, resting upon Keaton’s inherently charismatic personality and certainly ranking among his finest collaborations with Howard.
3‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ (2020)
Directed by Aaron Sorkin
The Trial of the Chicago 7shows Keaton’s unparalleled ability to be a scene-stealerin a film that already has a stacked cast.Aaron Sorkin’s Academy Award-nominated historical drama chronicles the story of the Chicago Seven, a group of anti-Vietnam War protestors who were arrested for a demonstration held outside the Democratic National Convention in 1968. Keaton co-starred as Ramsey Clark, the United States Attorney General who offered guidance to the protestors in the lead-up to the critical court proceedings.
The Trial of the Chicago 7has a brilliant screenplay, and Keaton does a great job at delivering Sorkin’s infamously snappy dialogue.He’s both a figure of authority and a character whose belief in civic duties speaks to the film’s themes. It’s thanks to the energy that Keaton puts into his performance thatThe Trial of the Chicago 7feels like a lived-in portrayal of historyand not a turgid historical recreation.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
2‘Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)’ (2014)
Directed by Alejando González Inarritu
Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)allowed Keaton to give his most vulnerable and introspective performance.Alejandro González Inarritu’sBest Picture-winning masterpiecefollows the attempted comeback of actor Riggan Thompson, who’s trying to launch a career on Broadway after starring in many superhero films as the character Birdman. Given Keaton’s history as Batman, the film feels semi-autobiographical in more ways than one.
Profoundly hilarious and deeply heartbreaking,Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)makes more than a few jokes at the expense of the current state of Hollywood while dealing with universal themes about the lengths artists will go to perfect their craft. Keaton’s brilliant performance earned him the first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor of his career, and it couldn’t have been more earned.Keaton is the beating heart ofBirdman, making up for the plot’s often pretentious tone with a remarkably honest and raw approach.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
1‘Spotlight’ (2015)
Directed by Tom McCarthy
Spotlighttells a powerful true story about theBoston Globereporters who reported on the Catholic Church scandal, which implicated many priests in the systemic abuse of children.Spotlightearned praise for its sensitive depiction of the victims,showing the procedural methodsthat theBoston Globestaff went through in their research of the case. Keaton stars as Robby Robinson, the editor-at-large whose belief in the story resulted in the development of global headlines that held the church responsible.
Keaton shows the urgency and diligence that made Robinson a great editor. While he certainly understood how important it was for the story to be published in a timely manner, he also realized that the piece’s accuracy had to be above reproach.Mark RuffaloandRachel McAdamsreceived Academy Award nominations for their performances, but Keaton’s work was unfortunately overlooked. Alas,Spotlightremains a success and a love letter to journalistic integrity and the power of a great story.
