At some point in your life, you probably encountered this question: Who is your favorite superhero? Depending on your personal preference, you gave an answer: Superman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, etc. But with superhero movies being all the rage in the last ten years (thanks, Marvel for that one), it’s sometimes difficult to remember there are other heroes out there whose rap sheet may be, well, more interesting.
That’s right. We’re talking about the one, the only, Batman.
Ever since he debuted in the DC Comics way back in 1939, Batman has earned mixed reviews. After all, look at his alias, Bruce Wayne. He’s a wealthy industrialist, playboy, and philanthropist—who somehow has to wear bat ears and a cape in order to help save the citizens of Gotham City again and again. He’s also busy trying to avenge the murder of his parents from a number of different criminals. So yeah, his juxtaposing personality may be a bit confusing to fans.
He's been explored best over the years through, what else? Film. The Batman movie franchise started in the 1960s, and while adaptations have been uneven, the Caped Crusader has found a way to safely secure a spot in the superhero universe. And with Robert Pattinson’s rendition of the character in 2022’s The Batman, we saw a whole new side of Bruce Wayne.
Whether you're looking to get properly hyped for Battinson's next outing in Gotham, or just want a tour of the Batmen of days past, let’s have a movie marathon and watch all the different iterations of the hero we may have forgotten about. The list of movies may be long, but if Batman is your all-time favorite superhero, is that really a bad thing?
Here are all the Batman movies in chronological order of release:
ADAM WEST ERA
Batman: The Movie (1966)
If you’re familiar with anything to do with Batman, then you’ve definitely heard the name Adam West. A complete 180 from the superhero we’re all familiar with, West’s version of the character is goofy, fun, and aimed at kids with his toy-like gadgets and cars. Just for nostalgia’s sake, take a look at this film—you won’t regret it.
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MICHAEL KEATON ERA
Batman (1989)
With Tim Burton taking the reins as director, we’re getting a first look at how truly weird Batman’s world is, here. Michael Keaton’s version is the epitome of smooth, yet quietly serious, all wrapped in one. Plus, we get Jack Nicholson’s rendition of the Joker.
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Batman Returns (1992)
It’s the movie that really gave promise to Batman being a movie franchise. With Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito giving iconic performances as Catwoman and the Penguin, it’s easy to understand why Keaton’s version of Batman quickly became loved by those who went to see it in theaters.
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VAL KILMER ERA
Batman Forever (1995)
It’s now Val Kilmer’s turn to take center stage as Batman. This time around, Bruce is trying to stop Two-Face and the Riddler from extracting sensitive information from the minds of literally everyone in Gotham City. Why are they doing this exactly? Well, they need to know who’s the man behind Batman, so why not go through the whole town to try and find him? Plus, despite the mixed reviews, the movie quickly became a box office success. But maybe that’s because Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose” was featured on the soundtrack…
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GEORGE CLOONEY ERA
Batman & Robin (1997)
In a very odd choice of actors, we now witness George Clooney don the black cape. His standalone movie features Batman and Robin (Chris O’Donnell) as they go off and battle Mr. Freeze (aka Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman). From the overly-cheesy catchphrases to a suit that prominently displayed some of Batman’s more private appendage, this movie has "camp" written all over it.
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CHRISTIAN BALE ERA
Batman Begins (2005)
It only took eight years, but we finally made it to the era that features the Batman millennials know and love. Christian Bale’s version of Bruce Wayne is a young Casanova, until he must become the savior dressed in black. His reason: a truly terrifying Cillian Murphy terrorizing the citizens of Gotham City. We all know the next movie in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy would be the real highlight, but this is a very good set-up.
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The Dark Knight (2008)
The best Batman movie to ever be made. Is it Christian Bale’s performance that makes it sp notable? Not only. We also need to acknowledge just how incredible Heath Ledger’s version of the Joker is. But more, how clever this movie truly is, with its intertwining twists, brilliant special effects, and, yes, equally brilliant performances throughout.
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The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Despite Heath Ledger’s untimely death, the trilogy somehow must go on. In this finale to the Christian Bale era, Bruce is trying to save the citizens of Gotham as they are held hostage by the masked villain Bane (given the Covid-19 pandemic, he may have been onto something). Many didn’t feel this was the best way to end the trilogy, but it did wrap up all the loose ends left by The Dark Knight…
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JASON O’MARA ERA (animated)
Son of Batman (2014)
Maybe you weren’t aware these animated movies even existed. But let’s introduce you to Irish actor Jason O’Mara, who takes his turn in playing the masked crusader. In this animated movie, Bruce must fight the evil Deathstroke (and the League of Assassins) when he suddenly learns something that will change his life: he has a son, Damian, with the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul. Talk about a twist.
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Batman vs. Robin (2015)
Set just after the events of Son of Batman, we’re now getting a better glimpse of Batman’s son, Damian, who may not be so into his dad's no-killing rule. Instead, he now believes his destiny lies in a secret society, meant to do everything his dad told him not to do.
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Batman: Bad Blood (2016)
While it doesn’t necessarily follow the events of Batman vs. Robin, here, we do see all the main players returning as Damian (or, *spoiler alert,* Robin) takes over for his missing father. Lots of responsibility here for the young superhero…
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Batman: Hush (2019)
If there’s a movie out right now that feels similar to the tone of this, it’s probably Spider-Man: No Way Home. Featuring a mysterious stalker out to get Batman, we see the appearance of other Batman villains, as well as surprising allies.
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BEN AFFLECK ERA
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
It’s time to introduce our most mercurial Batman: Ben Affleck. Was he the most hated of all the versions we’re seeing here? Maybe! He certainly didn't seem to enjoy the role. But it doesn’t really matter, since he’s now a part of the Batman-verse for life. This movie, set after the events of 2013’s Man of Steel, follows Bruce as he tries to convince the general public that Superman isn’t exactly, well, super.
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Suicide Squad (2016)
With just how famous Batman is, it’s surprising to hear that Bruce Wayne can be whittled down to just an uncredited cameo. But Suicide Squad does just that, with Affleck making an appearance in a mid-credits scene.
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Justice League (2017)
Now we’re getting somewhere with Affleck’s performance of Batman! Set after the events of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman’s assembling his own group of superheroes to fill Superman’s void, now that he’s dead. Between you and us, just replace Superman with Tony Stark, and you’ve got a lesser-version of another Avengers movie on your hands.
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WILL ARNETT ERA
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
As a spin-off of 2014’s wildly successful Lego Movie, it’s unexpected that we’re seeing the superhero in toy form. But with its love of referencing nearly all the other films on this list, it's a must-watch.
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ROBERT PATTINSON ERA
The Batman (2022)
We've officially entered a new era of Batman, led by former Twilight star-turned-weirdo-favorite Robert Pattinson. Is he the right person for the role? We certainly think so.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Joker (2019)
Technically this isn’t a movie about Batman and instead about one of his most famous foes. But it does feature actor Date Pereira-Olson as a young Bruce Wayne, so we have to give the Oscar winner an honorable mention on this list.
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