Halle Berry’s Catwoman: A Cult Classic or Just Cat-astrophic?
Halle Berry’s 2004 portrayal of Catwoman has earned its place in cinematic infamy (or fame, depending on who you ask). As the film hits its 20th anniversary, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the chaotic journey of this project, which may just deserve that snarky term “disasterpiece.” This flick was meant to revive interest in the iconic DC character, made famous in different iterations by actresses like Michelle Pfeiffer and Anne Hathaway. However, things didn’t exactly go according to plan for Berry’s version, originally intended to be a spin-off to the 1992 film Batman Returns.
Warner Bros. had high hopes after Pfeiffer’s portrayal, but the initial vision for a Catwoman film quickly morphed into something almost unrecognizable. When the project hit development stalls in the late ’90s, the studio tossed around names like Ashley Judd and Nicole Kidman to star, but nothing seemed to stick. Eventually, the project fell into the hands of a fresh director, Pitof, and a new lead in Berry, tasked to completely reinvent the character away from Gotham’s beloved lore.
Curiously, the film opted to distance itself from Batman entirely. Not only was there a conscious choice to ignore Selina Kyle’s origins, but the narrative also introduced Patience Phillips – a new character empowered by an Egyptian Mau cat. Critics had a field day with this departure—Catwoman was far from the gritty, moody complex character fans expected. Sharon Stone, as the film’s villain, turned up the melodrama, channeling a campy vibe reminiscent of 1960s Batman.
Upon its release, Catwoman bombed spectacularly at the box office and was panned by critics, culminating in Berry humorously embracing her Razzie Award for Worst Actress. However, the sands of time have shifted, and today Catwoman has become a sort of cult classic, with fans appreciating its camp and kitsch qualities. It turns out, 2000s cheese is all the rage now! Interestingly, Berry has said she still loves the character and feels proud of her daring reinterpretation. So, was Catwoman truly a train wreck, or are we just letting our nostalgia goggles filter out the bad bits?
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and Entertainment Weekly, Superhero Hype, The Hollywood Reporter
