View source for Batman and Harley Quinn

{{short description|2017 film directed by Sam Liu}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Batman and Harley Quinn
| image          = Batman_and_Harley_Quinn_movie_poster.jpeg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| native_name    = <!-- {{Infobox name module|language|title}} or {{Infobox name module|title}} -->
| director       = [[Sam Liu]]
| producer       = 
| writer         = 
| screenplay     = [[Bruce Timm]]<br/>Jim Krieg
| story          = Bruce Timm
| based_on       = {{Based on |[[Batman]]|[[Bill Finger]] and [[Bob Kane]]}}<br>{{Based on|[[Harley Quinn]]|[[Paul Dini]] and [[Bruce Timm]]}}
<!-- {{Based on|title of the original work|creator of the original work|additional creator(s), if necessary}} -->| starring       = {{Plainlist|
*[[Kevin Conroy]]
*[[Melissa Rauch]]
}}<!-- Per home video release billing block -->
| music          = Michael McCuistion<br/>Lolita Ritmanis<br/>Kristopher Carter
| cinematography = 
| editing        = Christopher D. Lozinski
| studio         = [[Warner Bros. Animation]]<br />[[DC Entertainment]]<br/>[[DR Movie]] {{small|(Animation services)}}
| distributor    = [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment]]
| released       = {{Film date|2017|7|21|[[San Diego Comic-Con]]|2017|8|14}}
| runtime        = 74 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = 
| gross          = $6,448<ref name="Box Office Mojo">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr3042726405/|title=Batman and Harley Quinn|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=July 16, 2022}}</ref>
}}
'''''Batman and Harley Quinn''''' is a 2017 American [[animation|animated]] [[superhero film]] produced by [[Warner Bros. Animation]] and distributed by [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment]]. It is the 30th film of the [[DC Universe Animated Original Movies]], and is directed by [[Sam Liu]] and written by Jim Krieg and [[Bruce Timm]]. It premiered on July 21, 2017 at [[San Diego Comic-Con]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.comic-con.org/toucan/world-premiere-of-batman-and-harley-quinn-comic-con-international |title=World Premiere of Batman and Harley Quinn at Comic-Con International {{!}} Comic-Con International: San Diego |access-date=September 6, 2017 |archive-date=September 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033958/https://www.comic-con.org/toucan/world-premiere-of-batman-and-harley-quinn-comic-con-international |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was released into participating theaters for one night only on August 14, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kennedy|first1=Michael|title=Batman & Harley Quinn Animated Movie Gets One-Day Theatrical Release|url=http://screenrant.com/batman-harley-quinn-movie-theatrical-release/|website=Screen Rant|date=June 23, 2017|access-date=August 3, 2017}}</ref> The film was released on digital on August 15, 2017 and on DVD and Blu-ray on August 29.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://screenrant.com/batman-harley-quinn-release-date-dvd-blu-ray-features/ |title=Batman and Harley Quinn Release Date & DVD/Blu-ray Features Revealed |last=Hayman |first=Amanda |date=May 30, 2017 |website=Screen Rant |access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref>

==Plot==
[[Batman]] (Bruce Wayne) and [[Dick Grayson|Nightwing]] (Dick Grayson) discover that [[Poison Ivy (character)|Poison Ivy]] (Pamela Isley) and [[Floronic Man]] (Jason Woodrue) have teamed up and stolen information from [[S.T.A.R. Labs]] about "Bio-Restorative Project" and [[Swamp Thing]] (Alec Holland). Much to their reluctance, they decide to look for [[Harley Quinn]] (Harleen Quinzel; Poison Ivy's best friend and the [[Joker (character)|Joker]]'s usual sidekick and girlfriend) to find out where the duo is hiding; however, Harley has gone off the grid since getting paroled. Batman leaves finding Harley to Nightwing while he figures out what the criminal duo are up to.

At [[A.R.G.U.S.]] HQ, Batman asks Sarge Steel about the kidnapping of a scientist named Dr. Harold Goldblum, who has a background in chemistry, botany, and biological warfare. However, Sarge says they do not have any viable leads.

Nightwing finds Harley working as a waitress at the Superbabes restaurant, where waitresses are dressed as superheroes and supervillains. Tailing her, Nightwing asks where he can find Ivy, and Harley says she is done with superheroes and supervillains and wants to live a normal life. Nightwing asks her why she is in skimpy outfits for minimum wage instead of using her psychiatric training. He angers her saying she has not reported to her parole officer in months, and that he could drag her to jail. They fight, until she knocks him out with a weak dose of Joker Gas.

Meanwhile, Sarge shows Batman the home of Goldblum (where he was kidnapped), and Batman finds evidence that Floronic Man had been there.

Nightwing wakes up and finds he has been tied to a bed. Harley shows him a pile of rejection letters, and that her criminal past prevents her from getting rehired as a psychiatrist. Eventually, the two sleep together.

Ivy is kissing Goldblum every six hours to control him with her pheromones. The criminal duo complain about humanity's negative environmental impact, and Floronic Man says once their virus is activated every person on the planet "will have a vested interest in going green".

Nightwing and Harley are tickling each other – until Batman walks in on them – with the result being that Harley decides to help. Batman has concluded the criminal duo are using Goldblum to replicate the process that turned Holland into Swamp Thing, but a virus version that will turn everyone into plant hybrids.

Harley leads them to a popular hangout for henchmen, where she gets the location of Ivy from one of her old minions, Shrubby. The trio head to [[Monument Point (Arrowverse location)|Blüdhaven]], where Ivy is saddened to see her friend helping Batman. Woodrue fatally wounds Goldblum to keep him quiet before he and Ivy escape as their lab catches fire. However, the dying Goldblum reveals that the duo is heading to Wainwright Swamp in [[Louisiana]], where the correct chemicals are.

Contacting A.R.G.U.S., Batman, Nightwing and Harley head after them to convince Ivy to stop her mad plans, since they have the potential to kill all life on Earth. Harley resorts to crying to convince Ivy, who is finally swayed by their relationship. Swamp Thing appears, informing Woodrue that he would threaten the Green with his concoction. However, he will not interfere. Batman and Nightwing wonder how to stop Woodrue until Harley points out he is a plant and asks if they have a match. Grateful, they both kiss her on the cheek and Batman sets Woodrue on fire.

In a post-credits scene, Harleen Quinzel now has a reality television game show, "Ask Dr. Quinzel", where contestants run an elaborate obstacle course to win a year of professional therapy.

==Voice cast==
* [[Kevin Conroy]] as [[Batman|Batman / Bruce Wayne]]
* [[Melissa Rauch]] as [[Harley Quinn|Harley Quinn / Dr. Harleen Quinzel]] 
* [[Loren Lester]] as [[Dick Grayson|Nightwing / Dick Grayson]]
* [[Paget Brewster]] as [[Poison Ivy (character)|Poison Ivy / Pamela Isley]]
* [[Kevin Michael Richardson]] as [[Floronic Man|Floronic Man / Jason Woodrue]]
* [[John DiMaggio]] as [[Sarge Steel]], [[Swamp Thing|Swamp Thing / Alec Holland]]
* [[Eric Bauza]] as Wesley
* [[Robin Atkin Downes]] as Charles "Rhino" Daly
* [[Trevor Devall]] as Bobby Liebowitz
* [[Rob Paulsen]] as Dr. Harold Goldblum, Min and Max
* [[Mindy Sterling]] as Project Supervisor
* [[Bruce Timm]] as [[Booster Gold|Booster Gold / Michael J. Carter]] (uncredited)

==Production==
The director is [[Sam Liu]], who has directed prior DC animated films. The film is an original story written by [[Bruce Timm]] partnered with Jim Krieg.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/batman-and-harley-quinn/48854/batman-and-harley-quinn-animated-movie-pressing-ahead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421214052/http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/batman-and-harley-quinn/48854/batman-and-harley-quinn-animated-movie-pressing-ahead |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 21, 2017 |title=Batman And Harley Quinn animated movie pressing ahead |last=Howard |first=Kirsten |date=April 20, 2017 |website=Den Of Geek |access-date=May 28, 2017 }}</ref> [[Kevin Conroy]] voices Batman and [[Loren Lester]] voices Nightwing, both of whom voiced those same roles in ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' and in ''[[The New Batman Adventures]]''. It is designed in the classic style similar to ''The New Batman Adventures'', with Bruce Timm stating that the film is essentially a "''[[48 Hrs.]]''"-style antics version of Batman and Harley Quinn teaming up. Notably, the film is much more comedic than the original series, with co-writer Jim Krieg stating "This is kind of a strange, red-headed nephew of ''Batman: The Animated Series'', but don't show it to your kids thinking that it's ''Batman: The Animated Series'', it is its own thing, kind of extrapolated."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QpTNl2wkaU |title=BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN Official Trailer Teaser + Featurette (2017) DC Superhero Animated Movie HD |via=YouTube |date=April 5, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref>

The score was composed by Michael McCuistion, Kristopher Carter and Lolita Ritmanis, which was released on CD by WaterTower Records as an exclusive with FYE.<ref>{{cite web |last=Harvey |first=James |url=http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/2017/10/press-details-artwork-batman-harley-quinn-batman/ |title=Press Details, Artwork For 'Batman And Harley Quinn,' 'Batman vs. Two-Face' Soundtracks |date=October 3, 2017 |publisher=World's Finest Online}}</ref>

The animation was outsourced to [[DR Movie]] in South Korea.

==Tie-in media==
On July 31, a five-issue prequel miniseries called ''Harley Quinn and Batman'' was released on a bi-weekly basis via digital download. Written by [[Ty Templeton]] and drawn by [[Rick Burchett]], the plot follows Harley as she looks to separate herself from the Joker and become a full-fledged supervillain in her own right. Afterwards, a seven-issue miniseries (which shares the same title as the film) was released on a weekly basis (also via digital download) starting on October 23. This serves as an anthology series that takes place after the events of the film and was worked on by various writers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/batman-harley-quinn-movie-comic-prequel/|title=Harley Quinn & Batman Prequel Comic Revealed|first=Andrew|last=Dyce|date=July 15, 2017|publisher=Screen Rant}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-animated-batman-and-harley-quinn-movie-is-getting-i-1796645402|title=The Animated Batman and Harley Quinn Movie is Getting its Own Comic Series|first=James|last=Whitbrook|date=July 5, 2017|publisher=IO9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/batman-and-harley-quinn-gets-a-comic-book-prequel-and-sequel/|title=BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN GETS A COMIC BOOK PREQUEL…AND SEQUEL.|first=Eric|last=Diaz|date=July 5, 2017|publisher=The Nerdist}}</ref> Both miniseries were collected into a trade paperback which was released on March 7, 2019.

===Publications===
*''Batman and Harley Quinn'' (2018-03-07, hard cover, ISBN 1-4012-7957-0/978-1-4012-7957-8)<ref>[http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/batman-and-harley-quinn-2017/batman-and-harley-quinn BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN]</ref> 
*''Batman and Harley Quinn'' (2019-03-06, soft cover, ISBN 1-4012-8899-5/978-1-4012-8899-0)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/batman-and-harley-quinn-2017/batman-and-harley-quinn-0 |title=BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN |access-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420231014/https://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/batman-and-harley-quinn-2017/batman-and-harley-quinn-0 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Release ==
Due to the financial success of ''[[Batman: The Killing Joke (film)|The Killing Joke]]'', the film was released in theaters for one night only through [[Fathom Events]] in the United States on August 14, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2017/06/30/batman-and-harley-quinn-is-coming-totheatersfor-one-night-only |title=Batman and Harley Quinn is coming to Theaters... for One Night Only |date=June 30, 2017 |website=DC Comics |access-date=July 12, 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The next week, a combo set with a [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] copy, a [[DVD]] copy, and a digital copy was released.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Batman-and-Harley-Quinn-Blu-ray/163544/ |title=Batman & Harley Quinn Blu-ray |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

''Batman and Harley Quinn''{{'}}s theatrical release grossed $32,671 in Australia and $6,420 in the Netherlands, bringing its international total to $39,091. The film earned $971,323 from domestic DVD sales and $1,182,647 from domestic Blu-ray sales, bringing its total domestic home video earnings to $2,153,970.<ref name="The Numbers">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Batman-and-Harley-Quinn#tab=summary|title=Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)|website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref>

==Reception==

The film received praise for some of the voice cast and throwbacks to past Batman media, but was criticized for its script, tone, and raunchy humor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/batman-and-harley-quinn-gives-a-big-middle-finger-to-th-1797949316 |title=Batman and Harley Quinn Gives a Big Middle Finger To the Beloved Antivillain |date=August 17, 2017 |publisher=Gizmodo |access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Schwerdtfeger |first=Conner |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1684039/harley-quinn-deserves-better-than-the-laughably-bad-batman-and-harley-quinn-animated-movie |title=Harley Quinn Deserves Better Than The Laughably Bad Batman And Harley Quinn Animated Movie |publisher=Cinemablend.com |date=August 14, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Julian |last=Roman |url=https://movieweb.com/batman-and-harley-quinn-movie-review-2017/ |title=Batman and Harley Quinn Review: A Campy, Sex-Fueled 90s Nostalgia Trip |publisher=Movieweb.com |date=August 30, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref> On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 50% based on 12 reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_and_harley_quinn|title=Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref>

[[Collider (website)|Collider]] criticized the film's inconsistent tone, as well as its lack of resolution.<ref>{{cite web|last=Trumbore |first=Dave |url=http://collider.com/batman-and-harley-quinn-review/#bluray-bonus-features |title=Batman and Harley Quinn Review: An Insulting Waste of Time |publisher=Collider |date=August 30, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref> Tyler Smith of ''Battleship Pretension'' criticized the more explicit sexual elements, writing, "As ''Batman and Harley Quinn'' attempts to incorporate more explicit sexuality – what could be considered 'adult content' – into the story, the film takes on the tone of a couple of 13-year-olds constantly high-fiving each other as they take turns writing risqué Harley Quinn fan fiction. I'm not exactly sure what the filmmakers were trying to achieve by treating the audience to gratuitous upskirt shots of Harley, but it certainly wasn't an attempt to make her a more well-rounded character. In fact, it's actually pretty dehumanizing."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://battleshippretension.com/batman-and-harley-quinn-atonal-mess-by-tyler-smith/ |title=Batman and Harley Quinn: Atonal Mess |first=Tyler |last=Smith |work=Battleship Pretension |date=July 31, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref>

[[IGN]]'s review of the film was more positive, citing the throwback elements, aesthetics and fight choreography, but commented that the film is "self-indulgent" in its humor and "unbalanced between comedy and drama".<ref>{{cite web|last=Marnell |first=Blair |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/16/batman-and-harley-quinn-review |title=Batman and Harley Quinn Review |publisher=IGN |date=August 16, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*DC page: [http://www.dccomics.com/movies/batman-and-harley-quinn-2017 movie]
*{{IMDb title|6556890}}
*[http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/dcuam/batmanandharleyquinn/ ''Batman and Harley Quinn''] at The World's Finest
*[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_and_harley_quinn/ ''Batman and Harley Quinn''] on [[Rotten Tomatoes]]

{{DC Animated Universe}}
{{Batman in popular media}}
{{Harley Quinn}}
{{DC Comics animated films}}

[[Category:2017 comedy films]]
[[Category:American direct-to-video films]]
[[Category:2010s English-language films]]
[[Category:2010s animated superhero films]]
[[Category:2010s American animated films]]
[[Category:2017 direct-to-video films]]
[[Category:American action comedy films]]
[[Category:American animated action films]]
[[Category:Animated Batman films]]
[[Category:American animated comedy films]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Paul Dini]]
[[Category:Harley Quinn in other media]]
[[Category:DC Universe Animated Original Movies]]
[[Category:Poison Ivy (character) in other media]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Animation animated films]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:Films set in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Films set in 2005]]
[[Category:Films directed by Sam Liu]]
[[Category:Animated superhero comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language action comedy films]]