Catwoman seems to possess supernatural abilities in Batman Returns, but several details in the film clarify whether or not Selina Kyle has superpowers. Tim Burton’s 1989 superhero film Batman was a pop culture sensation in addition to being highly financially successful, so it’s no surprise that Burton was approached for a sequel. Desiring more creative control than he’d had in the first film, Burton made Batman Returns into a far darker movie than its predecessor, becoming controversial for its violent and sexual content. One key character in Batman Returns, Catwoman, is depicted rather differently from her comic counterpart, including the apparent addition of superpowers.

Starting as an underappreciated administrative assistant, Selina Kyle becomes Catwoman after her boss, Max Shreck, pushes her out of a window to silence her discovery of his unscrupulous activities. Seemingly brought back to life by alley cats, Selina crafts a costume for herself and becomes a morally gray criminal who desires revenge on Shreck. Catwoman’s activities quickly put her at odds with both Batman and The Penguin.

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Throughout Batman Returns, Catwoman's athletic abilities seem far-fetched, given her simple office job, but even more curiously, she survives fatal scenarios throughout the film, which she explains as “nine lives.” Though she appears to have superpowers, Catwoman is a normal human in Batman Returns, like her comic counterpart. Mostly due to luck, Catwoman endures what could have easily been fatal injuries at various points.

Catwoman during the final confrontation with Schreck in Batman Returns

Selina Kyle’s fall from Shreck’s building is slowed by multiple awnings, leaving her unconscious for only a few minutes before the alley cats revive her. Selina survives two more falls, once by landing in a pile of sand and another by landing in a bed of flowers. At the end of the film, Shreck fires a revolver at Catwoman four times, with three of the shots grazing her limbs and the fourth missing her. Catwoman’s “eighth” death happened when The Penguin’s generator exploded, but Catwoman escaped during the chaos. While surviving many of these scenarios seems far-fetched at times, they’re not out of place among most action movies.

As with all of Burton’s films, Batman Returns has an eerie and surreal tone and aesthetic, so while Catwoman doesn’t have any superpowers, the film frames her as a seemingly supernatural figure. Like her comic counterpart, Catwoman is highly intelligent and athletic, with skills that rival even the highly-trained Batman. Just as the film subtly shows that she has no powers, Batman Returns also cleverly hides Selina Kyle’s talents before her transformation.

Selina Kyle’s athleticism is foreshadowed by her line about besting an ex-boyfriend at racquetball and deleted dialogue revealing that she took multiple martial arts and self-defense classes. Her intelligence is highlighted by her discovery of Shreck’s power plant scam, which led to her attempted murder. These skills, combined with an almost improbable amount of luck, gave Catwoman the appearance of being an undead, supernaturally-powered being, which fit Burton’s sensibilities quite well. While Catwoman lacked superpowers, Batman Returns cleverly blurred the line between luck and the supernatural in her scenes, making for a creepy and unsettling character.

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