The shadowy metropolis of Gotham City, home to Batman and a rogues’ gallery of iconic villains, has captivated audiences for decades. But one question has persistently lingered in the minds of fans: Gotham City Where exactly is it located? While widely assumed to be nestled somewhere along the United States’ eastern seaboard, the precise state hosting Batman’s crime-ridden city has remained shrouded in mystery, fueled by diverse and often conflicting portrayals across DC Comics, movies, TV series, and video games.
Gotham’s ambiguous origins trace back to author Washington Irving, who in 1807, playfully nicknamed New York City “Gotham.” This moniker was later adopted by Batman co-creator Bill Finger (not Bob Kane) when he christened Batman’s operational base Gotham City in Batman #4 (1940). Finger drew inspiration from a melting pot of urban landscapes, citing New York City’s towering skyscrapers, Chicago’s notorious gangland history, and even the atmospheric streets of London as influences in shaping Gotham’s identity.
Gotham’s cinematic journey has further complicated its geographical placement. Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, for example, stitched together a Gotham using locations in Chicago, New York City, and Pittsburgh. The broader spectrum of Batman films has incorporated shooting locations ranging from Los Angeles and San Francisco to London, Liverpool, and Glasgow. The campy 1960s Batman TV series, with its sunny Californian backdrop in Greater Los Angeles, stands in stark contrast to the gritty New York and New Jersey settings employed for the Joker movies starring Joaquin Phoenix. Even the stylized Gotham of Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher’s Batman films, largely confined to soundstages, contributed to the city’s visually diverse and geographically ambiguous on-screen presence. This ever-shifting visual identity has only deepened the enigma surrounding Gotham City’s real-world location.
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For a significant period within the comic books, a prevailing theory placed Gotham City where many believed it belonged: in the state of New Jersey. Comics author Mark Gruenwald championed this Garden State locale, and various comics over the years have subtly suggested or outright stated Gotham’s New Jersey residency. Notably, the Gotham City depicted in the Snyderverse also firmly plants its flag in New Jersey.
The HBO series The Penguin seemingly solidified this New Jersey connection. In the series’ debut episode, eagle-eyed viewers spotted Victor Aguilar’s driver’s license clearly indicating Gotham’s location within the Garden State. This detail appeared to reinforce the long-held belief and provided a concrete piece of evidence for Gotham’s New Jersey address.
However, the upcoming Joker: Folie à Deux throws a wrench into the works, suggesting a state-level relocation for Arthur Fleck’s Gotham. In Todd Phillips’ sequel, Arthur Fleck faces trial for his actions in the original 2019 film. The courtroom drama, prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent, is officially titled “The State of New York vs. Arthur Fleck.” Adding further weight to the New York setting, license plates and other in-film documentation explicitly identify Gotham as residing within New York State.
IGN directly probed director Todd Phillips about this apparent shift in location. Phillips acknowledged the New Jersey association, stating, “Well, Gotham is often said to be in New Jersey. It was discussed. Not with anyone at DC, it was discussed amongst ourselves.” He further elaborated on the rationale behind the New York choice, adding, “We just kinda went with the ‘who are we kidding’ idea. Also cause it sounded weird ‘the state of New Jersey vs Arthur Fleck.’”
Ultimately, the question of Gotham City where remains delightfully unresolved. The ambiguity surrounding Gotham’s location is arguably intentional, allowing the city to exist as a symbolic representation of urban decay and societal struggles, transcending the constraints of a specific geographical pin on a map. Whether Gotham is in New Jersey, New York, or somewhere in a fictional space between, its essence as a dark, compelling, and endlessly fascinating city endures.
