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Credit: DC / Warner Bros.When it comes to spending decades fighting crime and churning out blockbusters, no one has endured quite like the Caped Crusader. Many assume that the first Batman movie was Tim Burton’s 1989 classic, but the characters’ mainstream theatrical debut was way back in 1966, with the movie adaptation of the popular ’60s show starring the late Adam West.
There are 13 Batman movies (including the crossover flicks Batman v Superman, both versions of Justice League, and The Flash, seeing as he’s a lead character in those films). But more films are coming. Not only is there a sequel to The Batman (2022) in the works, but there’s also The Brave and the Bold, a reboot that forms part of the new DC Universe.
For now, let’s rank all the existing live-action Batman movies from worst to best.
13. Justice League (2017)
Despite the Joss Whedon-directed superhero ensemble’s underwhelming box office performance, and the fact it was absolutely slaughtered by fans and critics alike, it wasn’t until the 2021 “Snyder Cut” version of the film that we realized just how bad this one is.
In addition to Justice League‘s many problems, among the worst are the fact that Ben Affleck‘s then-personal issues clearly affected his performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman, while the script even makes a complete mockery of his iteration.
Then there’s the infamous moustache fiasco with Henry Cavill (Clark Kent/Superman), and the Ray Fisher (Victor Stone/Cyborg) and Gal Gadot (Diana Prince/Wonder Woman) controversy regarding Joss Whedon, whom they accused of bullying on set. Yikes.
12. The Batman (1966)
It might seem unfair to put the very first Batman movie so low on this list, but the fact of the matter is, we’re simply comparing it to every other live-action Batman movie, and unfortunately, this film offers very little in the way of competition.
But is The Batman (1966) a bad film? Well, it’s a tough thing to measure, because this is Batman at his absolute cheesiest and campiest. Objectively speaking, it is not a good film. But this is Adam West’s Batman we’re talking about — it’s a bona fide classic all the same.
Fans of the ’60s show — which is cherished by fans of even the most brooding versions of the Dark Knight — will get the warm and fuzzies watching the 1966 big-screen adaptation, as there’s plenty of fun to be had watching the late Adam West (Bruce Wayne/Batman) and Burt Ward (Dick Grayson/Robin) take on the infamous “Rogue’s Gallery.”
11. The Batman (2022)
Matt Reeves’ The Batman, which stars Robert Pattinson in the title role, opposite Zoë Kravitz’s Selina Kyle/Catwoman, was a huge box office hit when it was released in theaters in 2022, grossing 772.3 million against its estimated $185–200 million budget and receiving rave reviews from audiences and critics.
However, while the film is very well shot (despite being dark and rain-battered for the majority of its runtime, it’s beautiful in parts, which is largely down to all that neon lighting), and expertly directed, it’s the most boring live-action Batman movie yet. It also feels more like Se7en (1995) or Saw (2004) than it does a Caped Crusader outing.
Colin Farrell’s Gotham gangster Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot, which saw the actor donning a meticulously crafted and insanely convincing “fat suit,” is overrated. Audiences praised his performance despite it not being particularly memorable, which leaves us wondering whether they were just impressed with his transformation. A lot like the film itself, it’s all style over substance.
As for the film’s main villain, Edward Nashton/The Riddler, played by Paul Dano, while he’s certainly an interesting take on the iconic character, Dano’s performance feels horribly forced and painfully cringe-worthy at times. Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne/Batman isn’t much to write home about, either.
Related: 5 Actors Who Could Play Batman In James Gunn’s DC Universe
10. Batman and Robin (1997)
It might be a crime to suggest that Batman and Robin (1997) is a wildly entertaining superhero romp. The follow-up to Batman Forever (1995), also directed by Joel Schumacher, is a true departure of the quasi-gothic nature established in Tim Burton’s first two films, instead opting for an insanely-camp vibe, with only one thing in mind: sell toys.
Still, it’s enormous fun to watch Uma Thurman (Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Victor Fries/Mr Freeze) join the fold. But whether or not this is a good film is no riddle — it isn’t, and it was the final nail in the coffin for a series of films it couldn’t feel further from if it tried. Not even George Clooney (Bruce Wayne/Batman) could save it!
9. Batman Forever (1995)
When it comes to superhero films from the golden age of the ’90s and early ’00s, we can all be guilty of being unable to remove our nostalgia goggles. This couldn’t be more true than in the case of Batman Forever, the third entry in the original Batman film series. While it retains some of the dark tones from its predecessors, a gritty Gotham outing this is not.
Val Kilmer hardly shines as Batman, and his Bruce Wayne is far too wooden. However, it’s Jim Carrey’s Edward Nygma/The Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones’ Harvey Dent/Two-Face fans seem to remember fondly. Personally, the only good things to come out of this film are the hit tracks “Kiss From a Rose” by Seal and “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” by U2!
Related: All 5 Ben Affleck’s Batman Movies Ranked From Worst To Best
8. The Flash
As a film on its own merits, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) Multiverse adventure The Flash (2023) is pretty bad. While there’s some fun to be had watching Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller) hopping between realities and teaming up with Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne/Batman, overall, it’s a stinker. And don’t get us started on the awful CGI.
As a Batman film, however — if it can be described as such — it gets some extra points. But it’s only because of Keaton’s Caped Crusader — despite being jaw-droppingly good in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2021), Ben Affleck’s DCEU iteration leaves a lot to be desired here, and he’s barely in the film anyway.
Seeing Keaton slip back into the cape and cowl is a dream come true for many fans of the Tim Burton films, Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).
Unfortunately, his time in the film is criminally short lived, despite the fact the Burtonverse’s Bat of Gotham was perhaps the only major draw for the film, which was negatively publicized in the years preceding its release due to several controversies surrounding the film’s lead, Ezra Miller.
You might be left wondering why they didn’t just turn it into Michael Keaton’s Batman 3 and make a fortune at the box office. The reality is that The Flash grossed $271.4 million against its estimated $200-220 million budget and received overwhelmingly negative reviews.
7. Justice League Snyder Cut (2021)
After all the backlash to Justice League (2017), and during the height of a campaign to see the “real” version of the film restored, Hollywood did something we’d never seen before — it gave Zack Snyder (who was set to direct the 2017 movie in its entirety but had to leave the project due to a personal tragedy) the opportunity to rework the film in his original vision.
So, in early 2021, Justice League Snyder Cut was released onto HBO Max, bypassing the movie theaters due to the global pandemic (and perhaps its beastly four-hour runtime). Not only is it infinitely better than the 2017 disaster, but Ben Affleck’s reshoots as Bruce Wayne/Batman as he once again rounds up the Justice League, are also vast improvements.
Related: Goodbye, Michael Keaton — Actor Recast in New ‘Batman’ (1989) Sequel
6. Batman Returns (1992)
Many fans will scoff at seeing Batman Returns on the wrong side of the halfway point, but there’s a lot of competition. With that said, sometimes our views of Batman movies can be blinkered by our love for the lead character and the actor who portrays them.
Make no mistake about it — Michael Keaton is as lovable as ever in the 1992 sequel. Unfortunately, very little else is.
While Batman (1989) is no masterpiece, it’s great fun and is responsible for the darker versions of Batman we’ve had since. Batman Returns, however, suffers from “sequel-itis”. Selena Kyle/Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Penguin/Oswald Cobbleplot (Danny DeVito) are entertaining, but ultimately, the film is a little bloated.
5. The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight (2008) hasn’t made it to the top of our list — shock horror! The sequel was a critically-acclaimed box office smash on its release way back in 2008, but was already infamous by the time it hit theaters, with Heath Ledger (Joker) having sadly passed away before getting a chance to see his mesmerising performance as the Clown Prince of Gotham.
There’s a lot to like about this epic crime thriller, from Ledger’s Joker to thrilling action sequences. And though the stakes are higher in The Dark Knight Rises (2012), this is the bleakest of the three. With all that said, there’s no denying that the plot is a little convoluted at times, while Aaron Eckhart’s turn as Harvey “Two-Face” Dent is a bit cringe-inducing.
Related: ‘Batman’ (1989) Sequel Casts Martin Short as Riddler and Jeff Goldblum as Scarecrow
4. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Not unlike 2017’s Justice League, Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the long-awaited clashing of two titans, was met with critical backlash. However, it stormed the box office, raking in more money than Bruce Wayne would know what to do with. But the Man of Steel (2013) follow-up, which is by some measure a Batman movie, deserves more appreciation than it gets.
While the film certainly has its flaws — namely an incredibly pretentious Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) and lots of superhero-shoehorning — Ben Affleck’s portrayal as a seasoned and sadistic Dark Knight is jaw-dropping. And watching him best Clark Kent/Superman (Henry Cavill) proves that. Despite the fact that he’s human, Batman is a force to be reckoned with.
3. Batman (1989)
Batman is one of the most beloved big-screen adaptations of the Caped Crusader, and it’s plain to see why. At the precipice of the ’90s, Tim Burton’s film became an instant classic, giving us our first dark Batman (at least on the silver screen), while also delivering a Joker (Jack Nicholson) who seemed impossible to top in a future film (how wrong we were).
Michael Keaton gives us a very charming, and a somewhat eccentric version of Bruce Wayne. Tim Burton’s quasi-gothic superhero movie walks a fine line between dark and camp, although, in hindsight, it’s obvious the director was taking more inspiration from the ’60s show than we were perhaps willing to admit at the time!
Related: New ‘Batman’ (1989) Sequel Confirms Return of Several Characters From Tim Burton Films
2. Batman Begins (2005)
Batman Begins (2005) paved the way for the traditional “gritty reboot”, with Casino Royale (2007) drawing inspiration just two years later. Christian Bale is brilliant as the titular hero, whether it’s as the “playboy” façade, his true brooding self, or his crime-fighting alter ego, while Michael Caine’s Alfred Pennyworth is the best yet.
Tim Burton’s Batman might remain one of the darkest depictions of the titular vigilante, but Christopher Nolan’s efforts throughout The Dark Knight trilogy are among the most grounded. However, Batman Begins is also one of the most personal stories, and will forever be the first Batman film that really fleshed out the character of Bruce Wayne.
1. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
To say that The Dark Knight Rises is a mixed bag is an understatement. One half of the fanbase considers it to be a huge disappointment, while the other appreciates it for what it is — an explosive and epic Batman film, where the stakes have never been higher for the Caped Crusader and his beloved home city. Needless to say, we fit into the latter camp.
Sure, like almost any other film, The Dark Knight Rises has its issues (largely pacing), but watching Bruce Wayne/Batman climb out of the darkness to fight Bane (Tom Hardy) alongside Selena Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) and save Gotham from a nuke is nail-biting stuff. The Dark Knight Rises is a truly fitting end to Christopher Nolan’s epic trilogy.
How would you rank all the Batman movies? Let us know in the comments!