With several Catwoman depictions throughout the years, the question “Which is the best one?” comes to mind. In 2012, Anne Hathaway portrayed Selina Kyle “Catwoman” in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises; a toned down version of the villain. In 2014, audiences were introduced to a teenage version of Catwoman in the TV series, Gotham, an innovative direction for a character that’s always been portrayed in an adult light. In 2022, audiences were introduced to the latest incarnation of the character in The Batman, with Zoë Kravitz portraying a noir characterization of Catwoman that is neither a villain nor hero, but instead, a woman forced to act while caught in dire circumstances.
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But there’s a version that continues to live in audiences minds since her introduction in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns; Michelle Pfeiffer’s Selina Kyle “Catwoman.” Pfeiffer delivers a nuanced performance through her tragic antihero that honors the comics, Burton’s filmmaking style, and any viewers wanting more than a cartoony, cliché villain.
Femme Fatale
Warner Bros.
Catwoman is a Femme Fatale of sorts, bringing tragedy to all the men surrounding her, but that’s not to say these men aren’t villains in their own right. Oswald Cobblepot “Penguin” sexualizes Catwoman at any given moment during their alliance; Max Shreck is the reason why Selena transforms into Catwoman to begin with, and even the Gotham citizens Catwoman strikes down are criminals on the verge of victimizing a woman. Selena is simply the byproduct of misogyny from both criminals to influential men.
Strategic
Catwoman is strategic in her every move. From joining forces with The Penguin to defeat Batman, using her allure to manipulate Batman, to calculating every one of her nine lives to claim her revenge against Shreck; Catwoman has strategizing down to a tee.
Mental Breakdown
A tell-tale sign of an engaging villain origin story is a devastating breakdown, be it physical or psychological; in Catwoman’s case, it’s both. First, it’s her physical deterioration caused by Shreck murdering her before being resuscitated by a swarm of cats. Second, it’s Selina’s mental deconstruction upon realizing her professional and personal endeavors are seemingly unattainable; she hits an all-time low in every conceivable way. Selina Kyle represents any individual that must go into shambles before their renaissance. In Selina’s case, the end outcome is taking control of her life by becoming Catwoman.
Nine Lives
The most apparent distinction between Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman and other incarnations is her nine lives, which facilitate her plans. Catwoman is determined to get revenge on Max Shreck while taking down Batman in the process. To do so, she joins forces with The Penguin, forming a turbulent and short-lived alliance when she rejects his sexual advances, leading The Penguin to murder her. During Catwoman’s first encounter with Batman, their rooftop battle ends with him accidentally pushing her off a rooftop and killing her. Max Shreck manages two kill Catwoman an additional four times before she can finally enact her revenge through a final kiss of death to Shreck. Selina’s multiple lives provide auxiliary to her ultimate success.
Descension - The Metaphor to Every Catwoman Death
Every one of Catwoman’s deaths occur in a downward fashion; from being thrown out of an office window, being pushed off a rooftop, falling through a greenhouse glass ceiling (a metaphor in and of itself), and nearly descending to her knees as Shreck claims some of her remaining lives, Catwoman’s deaths involve her plummeting again and again. This is metaphorical of Selina Kyle’s overall downward spiral throughout the entire film.
At the beginning of Batman Returns, Selina’s quality of life is declining in every regard; Shreck undervalues her work; her mother belittles her through passive-aggressive voicemails, and her boyfriend breaks up with her shortly before the holidays; Selina’s only consistent support system is her cats. Selina remains divided even when empowered as Catwoman; while finally having control over her life, it interferes with her developing relationship with Bruce Wayne, who on his end, sidelines Selina when tending to his Batman alter-ego. Ultimately, through each of her interactions with Shreck, Wayne, and Penguin, Selina continues to succumb to men in power.
Tragic Anti-hero
Catwoman is a tragic anti-hero on every level. She is driven by her need for revenge, and notably feeling liberated in her own skin. Nevertheless, Catwoman extends her need for equality to anyone needing the same, specifically women. In her first appearance as Catwoman, she saves a woman on the verge of assault by a degenerate. Next, she liberates the Ice Princess after she’s abducted by The Penguin, despite the Ice Princess’ importance to The Penguin’s plan against Batman. Lastly, Catwoman abandons her plot against Batman upon discovering he’s Bruce Wayne, realizing he genuinely loves her, but her nihilistic outlook on life will always impose on their relationship. That is perhaps what defines Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman the best of all other versions; Catwoman is a tragic anti-hero with justifiable desires and reactions, while being another victim of society’s cruelest individuals.
