That's right everyone, it's time. We're ranking every available Batman movie, from worst to best. You probably know what's number one, but expect a few surprises behind that.
No prizes for guessing what's at the bottom of the pile...
Warner Bros.
13. Batman & Robin (1997)
This came out when I was 10, and it was the first time I left a theater thinking, "Oh, movies can be bad." The late, great Joel Schumacher was clearly trying to evoke the silliness of '60s Batman, but totally missed the mark with this garish, overstuffed stinker -- particularly disappointing is Mr. Freeze's tragic backstory comes second to a series of forgettable Arnold Schwarzenegger one-liners. Just watch the '90s animated series episode Heart of Ice instead.
—Sean Keane
12. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
What else did we expect from a movie that promised Godzilla vs. Kong? CGI, visual spectacle, poor character development and being very serious. Tick, tick, tick, tick.
—Jennifer Bisset
Warner Bros. Pictures
11. Justice League (2017)
I genuinely feel happy this is lower than Zack Snyder's Justice League. Having watched both within a couple of days, I could see why Joss Whedon wanted to slim down the huge cast of characters and complicated villain backstory for the 2017 theatrical cut. The price? A few lines of exposition here and there, such as, "A scout… from space? Like an alien army?" Sherlock Bruce got to say that one. Big cringe.
—Jennifer Bisset
20th Century Fox
10. Batman (1966)
Batman '66 is as good or bad as you thought the Adam West TV show was. If phrases such as "shark-repellant Bat spray" give you a chuckle, you'll probably find the movie amusing. But if you found the campy take on the Dark Knight painful and disappointing, expect more of the same here. Personally, I think it's an entertaining departure from the norm, watching Batman frantically running around looking for a safe place to deposit an explosive because: "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."
—Adam Benjamin
HBO Max
9. Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
It's four hours long, indulged a fan campaign and served as an advertisement for HBO Max but… I kind of liked Zack Snyder's Justice League? Note: I did watch the horrendous Joss Whedon theatrical cut days beforehand. Still, if anything -- and no, this isn't really a Batman comment -- Snyder understood Wonder Woman as an inspirational beacon of power and strength for young girls and not a piece of eye candy to be shot from the butt up only. When it comes to Ben Affleck's beefy Batman, he did a totally fine job as the personal assistant coordinating the superpowered gods against the CGI bad guy army.
—Jennifer Bisset
8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Following The Dark Knight was never going to be an easy task, and The Dark Knight Rises sometimes feels like the victim of its own ambitions. Batman faces his most physically threatening foe in Tom Hardy's Bane, but the movie also digs into the legacy of Bruce's choices in previous films, not to mention a Gotham in dire crisis. It's a lot for one film to juggle, and the plot and characters stumble at times. But the highlights here are Hans Zimmer's powerful score and Bale's commitment to the character's mission. The Dark Knight Rises is ultimately a fitting conclusion to Nolan's trilogy, even if it doesn't top its predecessors.
—Adam Benjamin
Warner Bros.
7. Batman Forever (1995)
If you don't like this movie, you're wrong. It really is that simple. You hate joy and you hate Jim Carrey. Almost as much as Tommy Lee Jones reportedly hated Jim Carrey while shooting this movie.
Upon its release, Batman Forever was like this… super movie. It featured a ridiculous amount of star power and made zero sense whatsoever. As a kid, I loved it. Everyone loved it. Because it was a good movie. Not a bad movie. Ignore people who say this is a bad movie.
It is a good movie.
—Mark Serrels
Warner Bros.
6. Batman Returns (1992)
Director Tim Burton leaned hard into his signature style for his second Bat outing, making Gotham City even more gothic and absurd as he prioritizes pageantry over plot. Keaton is once again a joy in the role, but he's overshadowed by the villainous trio. Danny DeVito is yucky but sympathetic as Penguin, and Christopher Walken is extremely greasy as Max Shreck, but Michelle Pfeiffer steals the show as undead agent of chaos Catwoman. Hear her roar.
—Sean Keane
WB
5. Batman Begins (2005)
Batman Begins succeeds in its commitment to the Batman mythos and its attention to detail. It's the first Batman movie to show us how Bruce becomes the Bat, not just the events that set him down that path. Nolan understands that Batman is a mission as much as a superhero, and this movie shows us the important victories -- and failures -- Bruce experiences as he methodically constructs the identity of Batman. Everything that makes The Dark Knight great is set up in this movie, and it deserves a high spot on this list.
—Adam Benjamin
Warner Bros. Pictures
4. The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
This movie rules.
The Lego Batman is, for my money, the funniest and best of the Lego movies. Will Arnett is perfectly cast, the songs are magnificent and the story has something of a heart, with genuine stakes. Dramatically underrated movie.
—Mark Serrels
Warner Bros.
3. Batman (1989)
Before Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder, we had Tim Burton. And in 1989 his strange, gothic imagination brought layers we'd never really experienced in superhero movies up until that point. Michael Keaton is an understated (and underrated) Batman, but the real star is Gotham City itself. The set and production design are spectacular and truly bring the world of Batman to life. Jack Nicholson is a decent Joker as well.
—Mark Serrels
Jonathan-Olley-DC
2. The Batman (2022)
The sparkly vampire nailed it. Robert Pattinson might have been hiding in excellent indie movies for the past decade since Twilight, but his true talent as a broody, reclusive, Kurt Cobain-channeling Bruce Wayne is on show in the latest Batman escapade. Director and writer Matt Reeves respects all that came before while bringing his own fresh, noir detective story take on a rain-soaked Gotham City. While its final act lacked stakes, The Batman soars with vivid cinematography, memorable action pieces and a clearly defined, lived-in, crime-gripped world. Aggressively stamp this into your retinas.
-- Jennifer Bisset
Warner Bros. Pictures
1. The Dark Knight (2008)
I've seen so many movies mimic the opening of The Dark Knight. The cool surge of the camera toward high-rise buildings, that jittery clock-ticking music giving you the same constant-climax anxiety of Dunkirk. The Dark Knight has got to be at the top of this list, because it has the best ever Joker and is more like a gritty crime thriller than a comic book movie. It also has a tragic plot point and -- sorry -- enough can't be said about how effective tragedy can be in making a film stay with you. Flaunt, taunt and haunt.
-- Jennifer Bisset
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FAQs
What is the darkest Batman movie? ›
The Batman: 10 Ways It's The Darkest Batman Movie Yet
Against all odds, with this year's horror-tinged neo-noir epic The Batman, Matt Reeves managed to envision an even darker take on the Dark Knight than Burton, Nolan, or Snyder. The Batman is arguably the darkest, edgiest Batman movie to date.
More than 30 years since its release, Batman Returns has the most honest (and kinkiest) romance in a superhero flick. Michelle Pfeiffer put a live bird in her mouth in Batman Returns.
What is the most accurate Batman? ›Despite being so grounded in reality, Matt Reeves' The Batman is also the most comic accurate portrayal of Batman and his world in live action. Much like most comic book movies today, instead of opting to adapt any one specific story, The Batman tells its own stories influenced by several Batmedia.
Who was the best Joker? ›- Cesar Romero - The original Batman series (1966 -1969) ...
- Cameron Monaghan - Gotham (2015-2019) ...
- Jared Leto - Suicide Squad (2016) and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) ...
- Joaquin Phoenix - Joker (2019) ...
- Jack Nicholson - Batman (1989)
Batman: Under the Red Hood is one of Batman's most brutal stories ever. Based on writer Judd Winick and artist Doug Mahnke's Batman: Under the Hood story from the early 2000s, the film features the return of the second Robin, Jason Todd, whom the Joker murdered years before the start of the story.
Who is the smallest Batman? ›The shortest actor to portray Batman is Michael Keaton, who is 5 feet 9 inches tall.
Is The Batman OK for a 5 year old? ›What is The Batman Rated? The Batman is rated PG-13, which means that some material is not suitable for children under the age of 13. For example, movies rated PG-13 might contain violence, nudity, sensuality, and/or brief language. Here, the movie contains some sexual content, language, and violence.
Is The Batman ok for 10 year old? ›From a sex and nudity standpoint, The Batman is kid-friendly for most ages 10 and up.
Is The Batman 15+? ›Rated 15 for strong threat, violence
The Batman (2022) is a crime thriller in which a vigilante teams up with a detective to solve a series of murders perpetrated by a riddle-loving killer.
Who is Batman's soulmate? ›
Batman could never truly embrace love while keeping at least one part of himself in the shadows; he's addicted to the darkness in his heart too much (even if he doesn't love it, as he says aloud in Batman #24). That's why Catwoman as his soulmate, as the woman whom he asks to marry makes perfect sense.
Who is the best Batman till date? ›- Will Arnett (2014-2019) ...
- Val Kilmer (1995) ...
- Robert Pattinson (2022) ...
- Ben Affleck (2016-2017) ...
- Adam West (1966-1968) ...
- Christian Bale (2005-2012) ...
- Kevin Conroy (1992-present) ...
- Michael Keaton (1989-1992, 2023) To the original Batman of the big screen goes the crown.
No matter the media, the Joker remains Batman's greatest nemesis. On film, Jack Nicholson's Joker set the bar for villainy in Batman.
What was Batman Number 1? ›Batman #1 is the first issue of the Batman comic book series. The issue saw the publication of four stories, including "The Joker", "The Giants of Dr. Hugo Strange", "The Cat" and "The Joker Returns". The stories were presumably written by Bill Finger, and drawn by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson.
What character can beat Batman? ›Possibly the most obvious win, Thanos is an all-powerful villain who would take down Batman in the blink of an eye. Especially if the Titan-native had his hands on the Infinity Gauntlet at the time of the fight against the fight, then it would be irrefutable that Thanos would take the win.
Who is the 1st Joker? ›The original Joker, Cesar Romero, was known for his acting and singing skills well before playing the iconic character in the first of the caped vigilante films, Batman: The Movie (1966).
Has Joker won a fight? ›Not only is he compelling, he's been able to best Bruce more than once - something that few of the villains have truly been able to do. Throughout The Joker's long history of villainy, there have been a number of times he has been able to win in his fights against the Caped Crusader.
What is the darkest superhero movie? ›- 8 Dredd (2012)
- 7 V for Vendetta (2005)
- 6 Deadpool (2016)
- 5 Blade (1998)
- 4 The Crow (1994)
- 3 Logan (2017)
- 2 Joker (2019)
- 1 The Dark Knight (2008)
Who is Batman's most feared villain? Also known as the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker is the arch-enemy of the Dark Knight — one capable of such unthinkable evil that can make even Batman shudder.
Who is the coolest Batman villain? ›- Joker. Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight. ( ...
- Penguin. Danny DeVito in character of the Penguin in Batman Returns. ( ...
- Riddler. Jim Carrey as the Riddler in Batman Forever. ( ...
- Ra's al Ghul. ...
- Poison Ivy. ...
- Bane. ...
- Two-Face. ...
- Scarecrow.
Who is Red Death Batman? ›
The Red Death is one of the main villains of 2017's Dark Nights: Metal. He's part of a team called the Dark Knights. This anti-Justice League is comprised entirely of versions of Bruce Wayne from worlds in the Dark Multiverse.
Is Batman a villain or a hero? ›Batman is a hero in the DC Universe created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Making his first appearance in 1939, Batman is the alter-ego of Bruce Wayne, a wealthy playboy, philanthropist and industrialist in Gotham city.
How big is Batman's IQ? ›A trivia published in BuzzFeed states, “Batman's stated IQ is an unbelievable 192, several notches above the famed theoretical physicist (Albert Einstein), who was estimated to have an IQ between 160 and 180.
Who is Batman's oldest villain? ›Alfred Stryker: The first villain Batman ever encountered.
Which Batman is the oldest? ›Adam West - the kitsch Batman
He and his ward, Robin (Burt Ward) also made a move on the big-screen with 1966's Batman: The Movie, making him the first feature-length cinema Batman.
Mutilated bodies are found at crime scenes, and there is repeated views of a severed thumb. A man is hit with a metal tool while sitting in his car. A mans get hits hard to the face with a bat. Intense action sequences throughout.
Is New Batman scary? ›This explicitly scary Batman film opens with a sinister scene of jaw-tightening suspense, adding serial killer scares and even a few dashes of torture porn. The people of Gotham are introduced as a swirling crowd of faceless, Halloween-masked figures.
How old is batgirl? ›In Batman Beyond Unlimited #18 (set in the continuity of the animated series Batman Beyond), the new Batgirl is a 15-year-old girl named Nissa.
Is Batman Forever rated R? ›Batman Forever [1995] [PG-13] - 2.5.
Which Batman is kid friendly? ›Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008)
Nobody ever gets too hurt, and it'll give your kid a true sense of who Batman really is. This show is very much designed to put the fun back in Bats, and the best part is, it was made relatively recently. Batman: The Brave and the Bold is streaming on HBO Max.
What is the Joker age rating? ›
Joker | 2019 | R | – 5.7. 7. Why is “Joker” rated R?
What is the youngest Batman? ›1. Lewis G. Wilson. Wilson was the first and youngest actor ever to play the adult Batman, and also the least successful. At 23, the unknown thespian donned the cape and the cowl in the 15-part 1943 Columbia serial Batman.
What age is rated R? ›Restricted: R - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.
Why is Batman not rated R? ›Sources told Variety that “The Batman” was “able to nab a PG-13 rather than an R-rating because it doesn't have excessive foul language or nudity.” IndieWire has reached out to Warner Bros. for additional comment.
Which is better the Dark Knight or The Batman? ›For all its strengths, and there are many, The Batman isn't better than The Dark Knight as a whole. The Batman's near three-hour runtime isn't a hindrance and it moves by swiftly, but The Dark Knight is simultaneously grander in scope yet tighter in execution, which especially pays off in its conclusion.
Who is Batman's first villain? ›Alfred Stryker: The first villain Batman ever encountered.
Who is Batman's number 1 villain? ›The ultimate Batman villain is a deranged psychopath who acts as more of an agent of chaos than an organised criminal. Also known as the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker is the arch-enemy of the Dark Knight — one capable of such unthinkable evil that can make even Batman shudder.
Does Joker beat Batman? ›Not only is he compelling, he's been able to best Bruce more than once - something that few of the villains have truly been able to do. Throughout The Joker's long history of villainy, there have been a number of times he has been able to win in his fights against the Caped Crusader.
Is Joker smarter than Batman in The Dark Knight? ›Joker IQ is estimated to be around 160 IQ, which is not really surprising. Meanwhile Batman's IQ is around 192. The Joker is, in fact, more twisted than intelligent. Joker has chosen to use his intelligence in a different way than his archenemy Batman, who uses it to strengthen his arsenal and improve Gotham.
Can Batman beat Marvel? ›Even with the best laid plans, if the Avengers are smart and stay together, there's pretty much no way that Batman can win against them- at the end of the day, as smart and prepared as he is, he's just a regular human against some of the most powerful heroes around.