Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, is a fictional character portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer in Tim Burton's 1992 superhero film Batman Returns. Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, this version of Selina is initially depicted as a meek secretary and assistant of wealthy industrialist Max Shreck, who pushes her out of a window when she uncovers his corruption. Selina survives the fall and swears revenge against Shreck as Catwoman, which brings her into conflict with Batman. She forms an alliance with the Penguin to destroy Batman while beginning to date Bruce Wayne, unaware that he is Batman's alter ego. After discovering each other's secret identities, Selina ultimately rejects Bruce's plea to abandon her vengeance and kills Shreck before vanishing into the night.

Pfeiffer's performance received universal acclaim. Pfeiffer's portrayal of Catwoman is often considered to be the greatest portrayal of the character of all time as well as one of the finest performances of her career, though she regarded it as one of her most uncomfortable due to the inhibitions she suffered while wearing the costume during filming.

Selina Kyle is the meek, much-abused assistant and secretary of wealthy industrialist Max Shreck (Christopher Walken). Her job is so demanding and thankless that the only companionship she has time for is her cat, Miss Kitty. She is also regularly sexually harassed by Shreck's son, Chip (Andrew Bryniarski).

When Shreck forgets his speech for a Christmas gala with the mayor (Michael Murphy), Selina rushes from the office to give it to him, only to be caught in the middle of an invasion by the Red Triangle Circus Gang. She is attacked by a homicidal clown, but Batman (Michael Keaton)- whom, unbeknownst to her, she had met earlier that day as his alter ego, billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne - saves her life.

She returns to the office, where she inadvertently uncovers Shreck's plot to build a power plant which would covertly siphon and hoard electricity from Gotham City. To keep her quiet, Shreck pushes her out of a window, but she survives thanks to fabric canopies breaking her fall, and she is awakened by a group of alley cats. When she returns home, she suffers a psychotic breakdown and vows to destroy Shreck, crafting a leather cat costume and robbing several of his department stores as the burglar/vigilante Catwoman.

She allies herself with the Penguin (Danny DeVito), which attracts Batman's attention. When she rejects the Penguin's sexual advances, however, he tries, unsuccessfully, to kill her. Meanwhile, Selina begins a relationship with Bruce Wayne, with neither knowing the other's secret identity. They eventually figure out each other's secret, however, and are unsure how their relationship will survive.

At the climax of the film, Catwoman tries to kill Shreck, who shoots her several times. Although badly wounded, she manages to kills Shreck by kissing him with a taser in her mouth while holding onto an exposed power cable. An explosion ensues, but afterwards, Batman finds only Shreck's charred corpse. As the Bat-signal later shines in the night sky, Catwoman is seen watching from afar.

In 2004's Catwoman, Kyle's photograph is shown among those of former "Catwomen" viewed by Patience Phillips (Halle Berry) when visiting researcher Ophelia Powers (Frances Conroy).