The Batman (soundtrack)

The Batman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score to the film of the same name composed by Michael Giacchino. The soundtrack was released by WaterTower Music on February 25, 2022, a week ahead of the release of the film.

Background
Director Matt Reeves announced that Michael Giacchino would be composing the score for The Batman in October 2019. Giacchino has frequently collaborated with Reeves; he previously scored for Cloverfield (2008), Let Me In (2010), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). Later that month, Giacchino said he had already finished writing the main theme for the film because he was so excited to do so; because this music was written much earlier in the production than is usual for a film, Giacchino and Reeves were able to use it in promotional materials. Giacchino said he felt total freedom to write the music that he wanted for the film, agreeing with Reeves that this was their vision of Batman similar to how different comic book and graphic novel authors and artists over the years had been able to create different takes on the character.

Giacchino recorded the score at Abbey Road Studios in London, and completed it in October 2021. Giacchino's main theme was released as a single on January 21, 2022, followed by his theme for the Riddler which was released as a single on February 4, and his Catwoman theme was released as the third and final single on February 17. WaterTower Music's YouTube upload of the main theme garnered 2.3 million views, which became the label's highest streaming engagement for pre-release from a score album. The full soundtrack album was released on February 25.

Track listing
All music is composed by Michael Giacchino. "Sonata in Darkness" was performed by Gloria Cheng.

Additional music
"Something in the Way" by Nirvana, which was used in the promotional material, is featured twice toward the beginning and ending of the film. "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert, "Piano Concerto No. 5" by Ludwig van Beethoven, "Frisk" by Patrick Topping and Kevin Saunderson, "Tesla" by Corvad, "Hot 44" by Baauer, "Troop" and "Darkroom" by Peggy Gou, "Dido's Lament" by Henry Purcell, "Requiem" by Gabriel Fauré, "I Have But One Heart" by Al Martino, and "Volare" by Dean Martin are also featured in the film. "Ave Maria" is featured four times in the film, and was performed by the Tiffin Boys' Choir, who also performed "Dido's Lament". Paul Dano, who portrays the Riddler in the film, also later performs the song during Batman's interrogation with the Riddler. Swedish DJ and producer Alesso also produced a track for the film titled "Dark".

Reception
The soundtrack has received positive reception from critics and general audiences alike. Jon Burlingame of Variety referred to the score as "the symphonic equivalent of Reeves’ film, suggesting the haunted figure behind the mask amid the grim maelstrom of Gotham crime." Marcy Donelson of AllMusic gave the soundtrack a 4/5, calling it "dark, lurking, and often eerily sparse" as a result of its rock and orchestral instrumentation. Valerie Ettenhofer of /Film praised the score, saying "it's been a long time since a superhero movie score felt this epic."