It is hard to bring up the topic of comic book movies and not think of Batman. The Caped Crusader has one of the most prolific careers in the history of superhero movies. The Batman films have constantly changed the course of comic book movies. The 1989 Tim Burton movie showed that comic book films can be taken seriously, and with The Dark Knight trilogy, Christopher Nolan’s approach changed the course not just for comic movies, but for action movies in general.
Even the recently released The Batman is showing audiences that dark and gritty movies can still have heart and a glimmer of hope. There have been more than a handful of theatrically released Batman movies, including two early serials. Seeing as the Batman franchise largely consists of reboots and stand-alone films, there really is no chronological order for these films, outside Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. For those looking to peek into the filmography of the World’s Greatest Detective, here are all of his theatrical movies in order of release.
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Batman Movies in Order of Release Date
- The Batman - July 16, 1943 Batman & Robin - May 26, 1949 Batman: The Movie - July 30, 1966 Batman - June 23, 1989 Batman Returns - June 16, 1992 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - December 25, 1993 Batman Forever - June 16, 1995 Batman & Robin - June 20, 1997 Batman Begins - June 15, 2005 The Dark Knight - July 18, 2008 The Dark Knight Rises - July 20, 2012 Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice - March 25, 2016 The LEGO Batman Movie - February 10, 2017 Justice League - November 17, 2017 Justice League: The Snyder Cut - March 18, 2021 The Batman - March 4, 2022
The Batman (1943)
Columbia
Over 20 years before Adam West donned the cape and cowl, Lewis Wilson was the first of the many actors who have portrayed Batman in the live-action medium. A mere four years after the character’s debut in 1939, Columbia Pictures decided to give Batman the serial treatment. This came off of the success of other superhero serials such as Flash Gordon, The Phantom, and even Superman, who received a serial a year prior.
The Batman is notable for being the first live-action appearance of Batman, Robin, Alfred, and Linda Page. The 15-part serial follows Batman (a secret government agent as opposed to a vigilante) and his sidekick Robin as they fight to stop Dr. Daka. Daka is an evil Japanese scientist operating out of Gotham City. As one can tell from the early ’40s release date, this serial was released in the days of World War II. Two years prior, Pearl Harbor was attacked, and the American public did not think too fondly of the Japanese. Because of this, many propaganda films of the time are very anti-Japanese, including Batman.
The serial does not hold up today not only for the extremely cheesy costumes and acting but the racial remarks and portrayal of the Japanese. When the serial was released to home video starting in the ’80s, much of the racially charged dialogue was censored or dubbed over. This serial is very much a product of the time, but that doesn’t mean it is okay to dismiss the portrayal of Japanese culture. Originally, the primary villain was to be The Joker, but it was quickly changed to an original character. In fact, Daka is problematically played by a white actor.
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This serial introduced staples such as The Batcave, here known as The Bat’s Cave. Even Alfred’s appearance was affected by this serial, as originally he was a larger man, while here he was tall and skinny. This appearance transferred into the comics. This serial should at least be looked at by fans, just to see how the first live-action Batman compares to later versions.
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Batman & Robin (1949)
Six years after the original, the Batman serial received a sequel. The sequel, titled The New Adventures of Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder (or simply Batman & Robin) was again a serial released in 15 parts. Unlike the previous serial, Batman & Robin is much easier to stomach by today’s standards, primarily because there is no forced war propaganda and racial stereotypes. This time around, Batman is played by Robert Lowry. Once again, the serial chooses to create an original villain as opposed to lifting one from the comics. The villain is known simply as The Wizard, a hooded man who keeps his identity secret.
As stated before, this serial holds up much better in terms of content, but the costumes and acting are still wonderfully cheesy. Two more characters from the comic make the jump to live-action here; Commissioner Gordon and Vicki Vale. This serial is as basic as it gets, but it is still worth a quick glimpse to see the early forms of Batman and Robin. This serial, as well as the previous one, returned to theaters sporadically throughout the ’50s and ’60s. Because of the popularity of these reruns, a gamble was made to produce a new Batman television series. This gamble would prove to truly jumpstart the character’s popularity and make Batman a household name.
Batman: The Movie (1966)
20th Century Fox
As soon as the Adam West-led Batman series hit the airwaves, it was a smash hit. The series rejuvenated the character and saved the comic from being canceled. The series was so popular, a theatrical film was put into production the same year the show aired, 1966. By the time Batman: The Movie was released, Bat-Mania was in full force. The film follows Batman and robin as they have to stop their greatest villains, who have joined forces. Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman band together to take on the Dynamic Duo. This was the first time these villains were shown in the same story, something that happens frequently today. The film truly does feel like an extended episode of the television series and has a loyal fanbase today.
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The ’60s version of Batman can’t be mentioned without also bringing up the infamous camp factor. The film, as well as the series, is self-aware in their goofy portrayal of Batman. He makes no attempt to disguise his voice, and his boy-scout demeanor has become legendary. This is the first film on the list that comes fully recommend. Fans may prefer the darker Batman movies, but this version is responsible for the massive success of the character. If not for this film and show, odds are the Batman character would no longer exist today.
Batman (1989)
Warner Bros.
For years following the success of the ’60s Batman, the public eye saw the character as campy. Everything from cartoons to comics portrayed Batman as a silly character. In the ’80s, writers wanted to take the character back to his dark roots in the comics. This led to iconic stories such as Year One, The Killing Joke, The Dark Knight Returns, and A Death in the Family. When this change of formula breathed new life into the character, DC decided it was time to remind the general public who Batman truly was. After many rewrites and director changes, Batman hit the scene in 1989 and changed the public perception of the character forever.
This movie was a giant success. Marketing is a huge factor in this, as there has rarely been a campaign since that caused hype on such a massive scale. Billboards were created that simply had the logo, and that was enough. The first trailer didn’t even show the name Batman, and while initially skeptical, fans fully accepted comedian Michael Keaton as the best actor who played Batman. The film is about Batman tracking down a new criminal mastermind known as The Joker, played by Jack Nicholson. This film blatantly shows Joker’s origin story, which had never been done. Even The Killing Joke (which the film’s origin is lifted from) implies Joker is making the story up. The movie successfully reinvented the character, and nobody saw him as campy anymore. This film comes highly recommended, and today remains one of the greatest Batman movies of all time.
Batman Returns (1992)
A sequel to the 1989 blockbuster was inevitable, and fans got what they wanted three years later. Batman Returns saw the return of Michael Keaton as Batman in this second of the Tim Burton movies in the franchise. This time, Batman must stop two new enemies, the Penguin and Catwoman. This film is notably darker than the last, using a lot of dark comedy and gruesome imagery. Because of this darker tone, the film wasn’t as well received. The first film, even though being dark as well, was a huge hit with children. Because of this, toy sales skyrocketed, and companies jumped in early with this film. Everything from action figures to McDonald’s promotions were actually pulled due to parental complaints over the tone of Batman Returns.
Apparently, Joker’s bloody corpse laughing after falling to his death is okay, but Penguin biting someone’s nose is taking it too far. Danny DeVito brings The Penguin to life in this film. No more is he the classy crime lord like in the ’60s version. Instead, he is a deformed and grotesque man who enjoys eating raw fish like they were apples. Michelle Pfeiffer gives an iconic performance as Catwoman. This is the version of the character all other iterations are compared to. Despite its controversy, the film was still wildly successful. This was the last time Michael Keaton appeared as Batman, although he will be finally reprising the role in the upcoming Flash and Batgirl. Warner Bros. looked to avoid any other issues and chose to replace Tim Burton for the follow-up in 1995.
Batman: Mask of The Phantasm (1993)
One of the most successful things to follow in the footsteps of 1989’s Batman was Batman: The Animated Series. This show was a huge success and appealed to children as well as adults. The show introduced Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill in what’s still considered to be one of the best Joker performances. The show was so successful that a theatrical film was produce, with Batman: Mask of the Phantasm hit theaters a year after Batman Returns. Unlike the previous two movies, the film was a flop. This was because most people assumed it was a kid’s movie due to it being animated.
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Once the film was released on home video, they saw how wrong they were. Batman must investigate a new figure in Gotham, a mysterious killer who is targeting crime lords and blaming Batman. In recent years, the film has become much more appreciated. In fact, many people claim it is the best Batman movie ever made. The film also features flashbacks showing Bruce Wayne suiting up for the first time. Because of the unfortunate box office failure, this was the last 2-D animated Batman movie to hit theaters. Mask of the Phantasm is tragic, heartbreaking, action-packed, and even funny at times, all elements that make a nearly perfect Batman movie. Fans of the character should check this one out if they haven’t already.
Batman Forever (1995)
In an attempt to avoid any more controversy, Warner Bros. wanted to take the live-action series down a more light-hearted path. Tim Burton was reduced to producer while Joel Schumacher wrote and directed the newest film, Batman Forever. It was clear this film was to stray away from the gothic nature of the first two movies in favor of a campier approach. Val Kilmer stars as Batman, and many fans agree his portrayal is underrated. The movie still has some of Burton’s touches, however, meaning the series hasn’t delved into full camp territory… yet.
The Riddler and Two-Face are the film’s main villains. Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones ham it up in a beautiful way, and are fun to watch in every scene they are in. The film also introduces Dick Grayson (aka Robin) into the series. Robin was set to appear as early as 1989, but various rewrites took him out of the script. Marlon Wayans was even officially cast for the 1989 film before being replaced by Chris O’ Donnell in this film. Batman Forever was much more successful than Returns, which gave Warner Bros. the insight to fire Tim Burton and fully embrace the camp. As fans know, they would quickly regret this decision.
Batman & Robin (1997)
The success that stemmed from the ‘89 Batman never truly went away. The success of the sequels, as well as the animated series, proved Batman was here to stay. That is, until 1997, when one of the biggest box office bombs of all-time hit theaters. Batman & Robin embraced the camp so much, it was practically a remake of the Adam West series. Every single wrong choice that could be made was made for this film, and fans still haven’t forgiven it. George Clooney plays Batman, a role that was so miscast Clooney himself has since apologized for it. Chris O’ Donnell reprises his role as Robin, and fans have constantly critiqued the whiny and useless portrayal in this film. Perhaps most infamous is Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze.
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Every word that comes out of his mouth is an ice pun, and fans grew tired of it quickly. Needless to say, this film was a critical and box office failure. This film was so bad, it killed comic book movies as a whole for several years. Once the smoke cleared, Warner Bros. looked to revive the series. Many Batman scripts were rejected, including several that looked to continue the series. Finally, Warner decided the best thing to do was reboot the series. They went about doing this by going back to the beginning.
Batman Begins (2005)
For years following Batman & Robin, Warner Bros. looked to tell the origins of Batman. There were many attempts, including a straight adaptation of Frank Miller’s Year One. This finally came in the form of a mostly original story in 2005. Batman Begins made audiences take Batman seriously once again, and was the first in one of the most successful motion picture trilogies of all time. The film features Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne as he makes the transition into Batman. The film was very successful and put Batman back on top. This film, along with Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies and the X-Men films, slowly made comic book movies popular once again.
Batman Begins showcases a young and inexperienced Batman on screen for the first time, and the Caped Crusader doesn’t even appear until over an hour into the movie. The film laid the groundwork for Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and is oftentimes overshadowed by the success of the sequel. This movie set out to do the impossible, make Batman a movie star once again. Batman Begins not only washed the taste of Batman & Robin out of the public’s mouths, but it also rejuvenated the character in a way that hadn’t happened since 1989. The film teased a sequel that quickly went into production, and nobody expected what came next.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Warner Bros.
The Dark Knight is so much more than just another Batman movie. It is a masterclass in how to make an engaging action film that makes the audience question their beliefs in right and wrong. Christian Bale reprises his role as Batman, but the true stand-out is the late Heath Ledger as The Joker.
There is little that can be said about this performance that hasn’t been said before. Ledger took one of the most iconic characters of all time and reinvented it from the ground up. Joker is scary, menacing, and completely unnerving. Ever since 2008, every version of the character has been compared to Ledger’s, and this is unlikely to change anytime soon, with many convinced that Ledger’s remains the best Batman villain. Other than Ledger, nearly every performance in the film is stellar.
Christian Bale’s Batman is menacing and enjoyable (even with the infamous voice). The movie shows Gotham at its lowest and proves that regardless of what happens, they will always need their Caped Crusader. The film is tragic and action-packed, and the action is held at a gold standard, as it should be. The Dark Knight is one of the best comic book movies ever made, and it took until 2022 for a film to truly compete for that title.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Following in the footsteps of The Dark Knight was no easy task. Christopher Nolan attempted to anyway, and in 2012 he completed his trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises. In comparison to its predecessor, the film does fall short. Batman doesn’t even appear in his suit for the majority of the film. Tom Hardy’s Bane is a great adaptation of the character, but Heath Ledger he is not. The thing is, the film was never meant to be compared to Dark Kight. When viewed as its own movie, Dark Knight Rises is a solid Batman film and a good conclusion to the story that started in 2005.
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Eight years after going into hiding, Bruce Wayne once again suits up as Batman to take on a new threat, Bane. In a loose adaptation of Knightfall, Batman suffers a brutal defeat at the hands of Bane. Bruce must fight his inner demons in order to re-face Bane and take back control of Gotham. Dark Knight Rises is a great example of how to bring a hero to his lowest point and have him crawl back to the top. Selina Kyle’s Catwoman also makes her first live-action appearance for the first time since 1992, this time played by Anne Hathaway.
Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Warner Bros. Pictures
The DCEU is DC’s answer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The second film in the series introduced Batman into the fold. Batman vs Superman pits DC’s two most popular characters against each other for the first time in live-action. Ben Affleck takes over as Batman. While fans are split on his take, many agree that Affleck gets Batman right. After having been retired for some time, Bruce Wayne once again takes up the mantle of Batman when he feels Superman is a threat.
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As the title suggests, the two are at odds throughout most of the film. It isn’t until they find a common enemy in Lex Luthor do the two finally team-up. Batman is gruff and brutal throughout the film. It isn’t until Superman sacrifices himself does he regain his humanity. The DCEU is often criticized for trying too hard to compete with the MCU rather than work on building its own brand. While this film is admittedly a fun time, it does just feel like a feature-length build-up to a bigger crossover.
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
It is truly telling when a film primarily marketed towards children is known by many as one of the best Batman movies. The Lego Batman Movie is a love letter to the character and its fans. Outside the obvious, there are some references that only die-hard fans will pick up on. The film follows Batman as he learns that he doesn’t need to live his life alone. Lego Batman deals with loss and healing in a way that is shocking for a film that should just be a cash grab.
Outside of classic Batman villains, the film also features other Warner Bros. owned villains such as Voldemort and Sauron. The movie went under the radar for many because of the childish tone it gives off on first look. Over the years, more and more fans have taken notice of it, and everyone who claims to be a Batman fan owes it to themselves to check it out. Funnily enough, the film features Zoë Kraviz as the voice of Catwoman, a role she would reprise in live-action in 2022.
Justice League (2017)
Warner Bros. Pictures
The DCEU’s follow-up to Batman v Superman was Justice League. The film was originally released in 2017 but received a director’s cut from Zack Snyder in 2021 that offered an entirely different film. Both films involve Bruce Wayne having a renewed sense of justice after Superman’s death, and Joss Whedon’s re-shoots largely make up the more colorful (and much shorter) 2017 version. Along with Wonder Woman, he builds a team of meta-humans to ensure Earth has a defense force from otherworldly threats. As luck would have it, such a threat does arrive.
After the death of Robin off-screen, Batman has fought his personal war alone, and this film shows him learn to once again be part of the team. Regardless of which version of the film fans prefer, Batman is a key player. After the disappointing reception of the theatrical version, Ben Affleck has all but retired from the character. He will appear once more in 2023’s The Flash, but fans are hoping he will appear again in the future.
Justice League: The Snyder Cut (2021)
HBO Max / Warner Bros.
The Snyder Cut of Justice League was released in 2021 and is the alternate version and is usually preferred over the theatrical version, as is the case with many movies with different director’s cuts. Because of this, Zack Snyder’s much longer version is canon to many fans. Like the theatrical cut, this film takes place two years after Batman Vs Superman. An ancient evil named Darkseid returns to Earth after thousands of years. Originally, it took an army of super-beings to take him out, but Batman and Wonder Woman assemble a team of meta-humans to take him on. They recruit Cyborg, Aquaman, and The Flash to save the planet from becoming a new Apokolips, the home world of Darkseid. The Snyder Cut is infamously four hours long and much darker (literally; it’s in black and white for the Justice is Gray edition).
The Batman (2022)
Before leaving the role, Ben Affleck was to direct and star in a solo project called The Batman. After he left, the script was reworked into the colossal 2022 hit, which had a worldwide box office gross of more than $700 million in its first month. The film stars Robert Pattinson as a young Bruce Wayne two years into being Batman; this Batman is inexperienced and has yet to control his rage. The Batman follows this angry Caped Crusader as he tracks down a serial killer calling himself The Riddler. The film has been praised as one of the best versions of the character and is giving The Dark Knight a run for its money.
The film focuses more on the detective aspect of Batman, although there are quite a few fantastic action scenes. The movie also features Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman. Like Pattinson, she has received nothing but praise for her performance, and to many is the best Catwoman performance. It is inevitable this film will spawn a series, and fans are eagerly awaiting to see what lies ahead for the latest version of Batman.
