Batman and Harley Quinn 2017
Directed by
Sam Liu
Made by
DC Entertainment
Batman and Harley Quinn Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Batman and Harley Quinn (2017). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Batman Kevin Conroy and Nightwing Loren Lester uncover a dangerous alliance between Poison Ivy Paget Brewster and Floronic Man Kevin Michael Richardson, who have stolen data from S.T.A.R. Labs about a Bio-Restorative Project and Swamp Thing. Reluctantly, they decide to track down Harley Quinn Melissa Rauch to learn where the pair is hiding, but Harley has vanished since her parole. Batman entrusts Nightwing with finding Harley while he digs into the criminals’ real objective.
At AR.G.U.S. Headquarters, Batman questions Sarge Steel John DiMaggio about the kidnapping of a scientist named Dr. Harold Goldblum Rob Paulsen, a chemist with expertise in botany and biological warfare. Sarge has no viable leads, but the search resumes as Nightwing tracks Harley to a bustling diner where waitresses dress as superheroes and villains. There, Harley explains she’s trying to leave her criminal past behind and live a normal life, yet her parole status complicates things. A tense confrontation erupts, and Nightwing is knocked out by a weak dose of Joker Gas, revealing the fragility of their uneasy alliance.
Nightwing soon awakens to find himself bound to a bed, while Harley reveals a pile of rejection letters that kept her from being rehired as a psychiatrist. The moment shifts from hostility to a fragile trust, and the pair end up sharing a quiet, intimate connection that deepens into a complicated romance amid the high-stakes threat surrounding them.
Ivy keeps Goldblum close, kissing him every six hours to bend him to her will with pheromones, while Floronic Man laments humanity’s impact on the environment. Their plan is chilling: once their virus activates, every person on the planet could become a plant hybrid, a future they believe will force humanity to go green at any cost.
Batman, Nightwing, and Harley realize Ivy and Woodrue’s scheme could wipe out life as they know it, and they race toward a popular hangout for Ivy’s henchmen to gather intel from her old network, including Shrubby after Harley performs Blondie’s “Hanging on the Telephone.” The trio fights their way past the henchmen as they push toward Blüdhaven, where Ivy is saddened to see Goldblum entangled in their plot.
Back at the scene, Woodrue fatally wounds Goldblum to keep him quiet, and the duo escapes as their lab catches fire. The dying Goldblum reveals that their destination is Wainwright Swamp in Louisiana, where the right chemicals lie to complete the transformation. Contacting AR.G.U.S., Batman, Nightwing, and Harley race after them to persuade Ivy to abandon the plan, aware it could extinguish life on Earth. Harley resorts to tears and emotional appeal, swaying Ivy away from catastrophe as Swamp Thing reveals himself and warns Woodrue that he will not interfere, yet hints at the peril looming over the Green.
With the crisis narrowing, Batman and Nightwing search for a way to stop Woodrue, and Harley’s pointed suggestion—that Woodrue is a plant—leads to a bold idea. The trio shares a grateful moment with Harley, who earns a small reward for her role: Batman and Nightwing kiss her on the cheek as Woodrue is set aflame to end the threat.
In a post-credits tease, Harleen Quinzel has reinvented herself as the host of a reality television game show called “Ask Dr. Quinzel,” where contestants race through an elaborate obstacle course to win a year of professional therapy.
Batman and Harley Quinn Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Batman and Harley Quinn (2017) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Batman and Nightwing uncover Ivy and Floronic Man's plot
Batman and Nightwing realize Ivy and Floronic Man have formed an alliance and stolen S.T.A.R. Labs data on the Bio-Restorative Project and Swamp Thing. They decide to locate Harley Quinn to learn where the duo is hiding.
Sarge Steel has no leads on Goldblum kidnapping
At AR.G.U.S. Headquarters, Batman asks Sarge Steel about the kidnapped scientist Dr. Harold Goldblum. Sarge confirms there are no viable leads at the moment.
Nightwing encounters Harley Quinn at a Superbabes restaurant
Nightwing locates Harley Quinn working as a waitress at the Superbabes restaurant. He presses for information about Ivy and Floronic Man, but she insists she wants a normal life and questions why she is still in a skimpy costume for minimum wage.
Harley knocks Nightwing out with Joker Gas
The two clash as Nightwing presses her further, and Harley knocks him out with a weak dose of Joker Gas. He slumps unconscious while she asserts she won't return to crime on his terms.
Floronic Man's visit to Goldblum's home is uncovered
Sarge shows Batman the home of Dr. Harold Goldblum, where he was kidnapped. Batman finds evidence that Floronic Man had been there.
Nightwing wakes bound; Harley reveals her past; they sleep together
Nightwing wakes to find himself tied to a bed. Harley reveals rejection letters and explains her criminal past has kept her from rejoining the psychiatric field. The moment ends with the two sharing a kiss and eventually sleeping together.
Ivy uses pheromones to control Goldblum
Ivy keeps Goldblum under her control by kissing him every six hours, using pheromones to influence his actions. The plan is framed around enabling their virus-based transformation.
Batman and Nightwing realize the virus plan and Harley decides to help
Batman concludes the criminals plan to use Goldblum to replicate Swamp Thing's process via a virus that would turn everyone into plant hybrids. After Nightwing encounters Harley again, she decides to help them stop Ivy and Floronic Man.
Harley leads to Ivy's location from Shrubby
Harley guides them to a henchmen hangout to locate Ivy by getting information from her old minions, Shrubby, after performing Blondie's 'Hanging on the Telephone'. They must fight their way through henchmen to reach Ivy.
The trio fights their way out and heads to Blüdhaven
They fight their way through the hangout and escape, then hasten toward Blüdhaven where Ivy is arriving with Woodrue. The mission shifts to intercept Ivy before her plan unfolds.
Goldblum is killed by Woodrue; lab catches fire; the target is Wainwright Swamp
In Blüdhaven, Woodrue fatally wounds Goldblum to keep him quiet, and their lab catches fire. The dying Goldblum reveals that Ivy and Woodrue are heading to Wainwright Swamp in Louisiana for the right chemicals.
Final pursuit to Wainwright Swamp; Ivy swayed; Swamp Thing confronts but does not interfere
Batman, Nightwing, and Harley pursue Ivy and Floronic Man to Wainwright Swamp. Ivy is swayed by Harley's plea and their relationship, while Swamp Thing warns Woodrue but will not intervene in the confrontation.
Batman defeats Woodrue by fire; Woodrue is set ablaze
Harley points out that Woodrue is a plant, turning the plan to their advantage. With Swamp Thing's non-interference, Batman sets Woodrue on fire to prevent the virus from spreading.
Post-credits tease: Harley Quinn hosts Ask Dr. Quinzel
In a post-credits scene, Harleen Quinzel launches a reality television game show called 'Ask Dr. Quinzel' where contestants run an elaborate obstacle course to win a year of professional therapy.
Batman and Harley Quinn Characters
Explore all characters from Batman and Harley Quinn (2017). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Batman (Kevin Conroy)
A seasoned detective and strategist, Batman relentlessly pursues clues to stop Ivy and Floronic Man. He orchestrates interventions and uses tactical planning to outmaneuver the villains. While wary of Harley's rehabilitation, he recognizes the high stakes and leads the effort to protect Gotham and its allies.
Nightwing (Loren Lester)
Batman's former protégé, now a capable partner who tracks Harley and counters Ivy's faction. He is skilled in combat and grappling with personal loyalties, often placing himself at risk for the mission. His evolving relationship with Harley adds emotional tension that drives the plot forward.
Harley Quinn (Melissa Rauch)
Harley grapples with parole and a turbulent past as a psychiatrist while craving normalcy. She shows unpredictable yet pivotal resourcefulness, using emotional appeals and her psychiatric insight to influence others. Her alliance with Batman and Nightwing is tested, but her choices ultimately help avert catastrophe.
Poison Ivy (Paget Brewster)
Ivy leads the eco-plot with Floronic Man, leveraging pheromonal control and ecological zeal. She demonstrates tenderness toward Harley yet remains driven by her environmental crusade. Her decisions hinge on balancing passion for the Green with the consequences of her plans.
Floronic Man / Jason Woodrue (Kevin Michael Richardson)
A biotechnological villain seeking a planet-wide virus to convert humanity into plant hybrids. He champions radical ecological solutions and believes drastic transformation will heal the world. His scheming drives the central threat that the heroes must neutralize.
Dr. Harold Goldblum
A kidnapped scientist with expertise in chemistry, botany, and biological warfare. His knowledge is instrumental to Ivy and Woodrue's plans, making him a key leverage point for both sides. His captivity underscores the ethical stakes of scientific exploitation.
Sarge Steel
A tough ARGUS operative who provides Batman with leads about Goldblum's disappearance. He represents authority and practical constraints in pursuing the case. His role grounds the mission in a sense of real-world stakes and logistics.
Swamp Thing
A guardian of the Green who appears to confront the ecological threat but chooses not to intervene directly. His presence signals the larger natural forces at play and the moral limits of intervention. He serves as a quiet beacon of ecological balance within the conflict.
Bobby Liebowitz
A henchman within Ivy and Woodrue's network, encountered during a perilous escape sequence. His presence highlights the ensemble of villains without expanding the central menace. He embodies the operational layer of the antagonists' crime organization.
Batman and Harley Quinn Settings
Learn where and when Batman and Harley Quinn (2017) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
Set in a contemporary DC universe with advanced biotech and superhero activity. The action moves across urban centers and remote locations, blending modern city life with secret laboratories. The movie depicts a present-day world where heroes juggle personal histories and high-stakes ecological threats.
Location
A.R.G.U.S. Headquarters, S.T.A.R. Labs, Superbabes restaurant, Blüdhaven, Wainwright Swamp (Louisiana), Goldblum's home
A.R.G.U.S. Headquarters and S.T.A.R. Labs anchor the film's modern, tech-driven crime-fighting world. Blüdhaven provides a gritty urban backdrop as Ivy and Woodrue mobilize their plan, while Wainwright Swamp in Louisiana serves as the natural setting for key confrontations and discoveries. The story also visits Harley's civilian life and the sites tied to Goldblum’s work, including his home and the villains’ lab.
Batman and Harley Quinn Themes
Discover the main themes in Batman and Harley Quinn (2017). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
🌿
Environmentalism
Ivy and Floronic Man push a virus that would turn people into plant hybrids, highlighting a radical eco-activist fantasy. The plan frames nature as a sentient force and questions humanity's impact on the environment. The heroes' mission probes whether drastic actions can ever justify the potential loss of life, and whether science can be used responsibly.
💞
Love & Loyalty
Harley’s parole and past as a psychiatrist shape the emotional core, as she navigates loyalties between Batman, Nightwing, and Ivy. The trio's dynamic shifts from tension to cooperation as trust is rebuilt. Humor and romance complicate loyalties, ultimately helping sway Ivy from destruction.
🧪
Science & Ethics
The Bio-Restorative Project and Goldblum’s kidnapping illuminate biotech ethics and the risks of unregulated research. The villains’ pursuit of a virus-based transformation raises questions about control, consent, and the limits of scientific meddling. The heroes push back against exploitation of science for ecological domination, underscoring responsibility in knowledge.
Batman and Harley Quinn Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Batman and Harley Quinn (2017). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In a Gotham perpetually shrouded in rain‑slick alleys and neon‑glow shadows, danger never stays dormant. When an unprecedented threat looms over the city—and the world—its protectors must confront more than just crime. Batman returns to his familiar role as the brooding guardian, driven by a sense of duty that borders on obsession. Beside him, Nightwing brings a lighter, more acrobatic edge, his confidence tempered by the weight of his mentor’s expectations. Together they embody the classic duality of stern justice and youthful optimism, each aware that the stakes have escalated beyond Gotham’s borders.
The urgency forces an unlikely partnership with Harley Quinn, the chaotic and charismatic former sidekick of the Joker. Her reputation for unpredictability is matched only by her razor‑sharp wit, creating a volatile mix of tension and dark humor. While the trio’s personalities clash—order versus anarchy, discipline versus spontaneity—their combined presence hints at an uneasy chemistry that could either spark salvation or deeper conflict. The film leans into this dynamic, using brisk dialogue and vivid set pieces to showcase how a reluctant alliance can reveal hidden facets of even the most iconic heroes.
Behind the looming crisis lies a shadowy collaboration between Poison Ivy and Jason Woodrure—a pairing that threatens far‑reaching consequences. Their presence injects an ecological undercurrent into the narrative, suggesting a storyline where the natural world and humanity’s impact intersect in unsettling ways. The tone balances gritty noir with flashes of sardonic satire, inviting viewers to wonder how Gotham’s stalwart defenders will navigate an enemy that operates on a global scale, all while managing the personal friction that arises when a city’s dark knight, his daring apprentice, and a former villain’s confidante are forced to work side by side.
Movies with Similar Twists and Themes
Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.
.jpg)
Featured on this page
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2026)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2026 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.