Matt Reeves’ The Batman was filmed in many places around the globe to create a new version of Gotham and used real-life locations to capture the right look. This new take on the Dark Knight introduced audiences to Robert Pattinson’s Batman and the environment he lives in.
Along with bringing characters like Penguin, Catwoman, and others from DC Comics to life, the movie truly made Gotham City feel like a character itself. One of the best ways the movie achieved this was by filming in real locations.
Over the years, filmmakers have faced the challenge of giving Gotham a unique look. In the comics, Gotham is usually shown as being in New Jersey, but it’s often influenced by cities like New York and Chicago for its visual style.
Tim Burton mostly used England, Christopher Nolan filmed in Chicago, and Zack Snyder chose Detroit for his version of Gotham. For The Batman, Matt Reeves mainly filmed in the UK and Chicago to capture the cold, gothic, and older feel of Gotham.
While The Batman did try to film in real locations, iconic spots like the Batcave and Wayne Tower were built on studio sets. When filming on location, the cast and crew spent most of their time in the UK for the main Gotham scenes.
The filming in Chicago was handled mostly by a second-unit crew for exterior shots, while different parts of the UK stood in for Gotham. Here are the real-life locations used for filming The Batman to create the city.
Gotham Cemetery – Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool, England
The other location used to film parts of Gotham’s cemetery was Anfield Cemetery, located in Liverpool, England. This cemetery was established in 1863 and was used for filming the motorcycle chase between Batman and Catwoman.
Batcave Entrance – Kingsway Tram Tunnel, Southampton Row, London, England
The entrance to the Batcave in The Batman was filmed in London, England. While the interior of the Batcave was created on a set for Matt Reeves’ movie, the Kingsway Tram Tunnel was used as the entrance to Bruce Wayne’s secret hideout. Robert Pattinson’s Batman can be seen riding his motorcycle down a ramp and into the tram tunnels, leading to the Batcave entrance.
The Batman Filming Locations: Where was Matt Reeves Directorial Filmed?Gotham Central Court House – County Sessions House, Liverpool, England
The Batman filmed at the County Sessions House in Liverpool, England, which stood in for the Gotham Central Court House. This location was fitting because the County Sessions House used to be a courthouse. It was featured as part of Gotham’s central area, alongside other locations used by Matt Reeves for filming.
Gotham Cemetery – Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland
Parts of Gotham’s cemetery were filmed in two different locations for The Batman. One of those locations was the Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow, Scotland, which is a Victorian cemetery established in 1832. This cemetery was used to film Batman and Catwoman’s interaction near the end of the movie, including them leaving the cemetery on their motorcycles.
Gotham City Police Department – Royal Liver Building, Liverpool, England
For the Gotham City Police Department, the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, England, was used. A key scene set in this location shows Batman fighting his way out of the GCPD. In this sequence, Batman jumps off the top of the Royal Liver Building and glides through the streets of Gotham.
Gotham City Hall – St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, England
St. George’s Hall in Liverpool, England, became Gotham City Hall in The Batman. It was the site of the funeral for Gotham’s former mayor, Don Mitchell. The Batman filmed outside the building to show Bruce Wayne arriving at the funeral and parts of the chaos that followed when District Attorney Gil Colson crashed a car into the front of the hall.
The Batman Filming Locations: Where was Matt Reeves Directorial Filmed?Gotham Orphanage – Hartwood Psychiatric Hospital, Shotts, Scotland
Matt Reeves took The Batman crew to an abandoned spot for filming. The old Hartwood Psychiatric Hospital in Shotts, Scotland, was turned into a Gotham orphanage. The empty hospital became an abandoned orphanage in the movie, where drug addicts lived. This was the place where Batman and Jim Gordon found out that Riddler’s next target was Bruce Wayne.
Gotham Square – Wellington Square, Liverpool, England
The entire Wellington Square in Liverpool, England, was used for The Batman to create Gotham Square. Although the real Wellington Square doesn’t have as many billboards, The Batman added those to make it look like Gotham’s version of Times Square.
The column in the middle is called Wellington’s Column, a monument for the Duke of Wellington. Gotham Square, the heart of Gotham and home to many other important buildings in the movie, was a key location, featuring the opening Halloween scene and showing people in costumes.
Gotham General Hospital – Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, England
The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, England, was turned into Gotham General Hospital in The Batman. This is where Alfred Pennyworth is taken after being injured in one of Riddler’s schemes. Though not a major filming location, the hospital is near other important settings, such as the Gotham Court House and City Hall.
The Batman Filming Locations: Where was Matt Reeves Directorial Filmed?Mayor Don Mitchell’s House – Two Temple Place, London, England
Two Temple Place in London was another filming location for The Batman. This place was the first building shown in the movie, as it was the home of Gotham’s Mayor Don Mitchell. The movie begins by showing this location through Riddler’s perspective. Later, Two Temple Place became an important setting as Mitchell’s house turned into the first crime scene of one of Riddler’s victims.
Iceberg Lounge – Printworks Nightclub, London, England
One of the famous spots in The Batman is the Iceberg Lounge, a nightclub run by Oswald Cobblepot. A real club in London, England, was used as the model for Penguin’s club. The Batman filmed the Iceberg Lounge scenes at Printworks Nightclub, which used to be a building for printing newspapers.