Every Batman Movie, Ranked From Worst To Best

Batman Begins screenshot

DC Comics’ Batman has a long and storied history, both on and off the page, having appeared in thousands of comics and quite a few animated series over the years. One of Batman’s biggest legacies though is in film, where the caped crusader has headlined almost a dozen feature length productions.

Some of these films have been absolutely fantastic, while others… well, let’s just say that not every movie is destined to be a box office hit. We’ve put together this list ranking every Batman movie from worst to best, so you know which ones are worth your time and which ones can be safely skipped.

Batman & Robin

1997’s Batman & Robin is considered by some to be one of the worst films ever made, and watching it now it’s not hard to see why. Don’t get me wrong, the cast is doing the best with what they were given — George Clooney is a fine Batman, Uma Thurman excels as Poison Ivy, and Arnold Schwarzenegger is surprisingly great as Mr Freeze. But the film’s script is sorely lacking from start to finish, and beyond that there’s not much else going for it.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

I don’t know what the best way to introduce Batman to an established cinematic universe is, but I do know that Batman v Superman is not the best way. There’s so much to dislike about Batman v Superman that I’m not even sure where to begin. The entire movie feels like it exists solely to set up Justice League, and because of that, it does the absolute bare minimum, with a contrived plot taking backseat to flashy character introductions that just aren’t fun to watch. Ben Affleck does a serviceable job as a cynical old Bruce Wayne, but that’s about where the praise ends.

Batman (1966)

As the first Batman film, we’re willing to give this one a bit of a pass in terms of how watchable it is today. Like the television series it’s based on, Adam West’s Batman is cheesy, silly, and often downright dumb, but there’s a comic charm to it that hasn’t been seen in most films since. It’s pure slapstick comedy, and even when it tries to be serious, it ends up being funny anyway. It’s a fun watch, even if it’s not particularly great.

Batman Forever

Batman Forever is the last of three Batman films in which Tim Burton had a hand, and while it’s not quite as strong as its predecessors, there’s still absolutely plenty to like. Val Kilmer takes over from Michael Keaton as Bats himself, and while that is a slight downgrade, Kilmer puts in a solid performance nonetheless. Jim Carrey is appropriately unhinged as The Riddler, and Tommy Lee Jones puts in a compelling performance as Two-Face. The plot isn’t anything particularly special, but the visual design, the cast, and the action sequences are all excellent, making for an enjoyable watch.

Batman (1989)

What’s not to love about 1989’s Batman? Michael Keaton is incredible as both Bruce Wayne and Batman, and Jack Nicholson absolutely kills it as The Joker in a performance that is hard to match even today. Tim Burton directed this film, and it shows in the fantastical sets and Danny Elfman’s wonderful score, making for a delightful experience for the eyes and the ears. It’s the start of a darker tone that persists to this day in Batman films, but it still has a decent amount of comedy and campiness to it.

Batman Begins

Batman Begins’ biggest crime is that it takes way too long for Batman to, well, begin. Origin stories for characters that are well established in the public mind really aren’t necessary, and Batman Begins roughly half of its runtime setting up that origin. Still, it’s leagues above most Batman films that came before it, both in tone and in depth, even if it’s a bit lacking visually, and Christian Bale’s Batman is good enough to get a pass.

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises is a great film with a surprisingly supporting good cast — Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy both work wonders in their performances as Catwoman and Bane, respectively. What makes Rises better than Batman Begins is its sheer scale, and the confidence with which it tackles that scale. It’s the only film in the series in which Gotham actually feels like a living, breathing city, one of the characters as much as any human, and it’s a great watch because of it.

Batman Returns

The second of Tim Burton’s Batman films, Batman Returns is absolutely stunning for a number of reasons. The first is the visual design, which is utterly gorgeous from start to finish, dripping in Burton’s signature style. The second is the phenomenal casting — Keaton returns as Batman and does a great job as expected, but Danny DeVito’s Penguin is some of the best casting and performance in the entire field of superhero cinema, and Michelle Pfeiffer absolutely nails her role as Catwoman. It all comes together with a plot that, while silly, is still surprisingly compelling. Batman Returns does show its age from time to time, but it’s an absolute must-watch for any Batman fan.

The Dark Knight

You knew that The Dark Knight was going to be high in the list, but I bet you expected it to place in the top spot. We’ll get to that in a moment, but here’s why The Dark Knight is so great:

1. Heath Ledger’s Joker is incredible

2. The practical effects are absolutely next-level

3. The plot is so much better now that Batman’s origin story is out of the way

Even if you don’t like Christopher Nolan’s directorial style, there’s no denying that The Dark Knight is an incredible film, and it basically kickstarted the modern superhero movie trend. It’s a joy to watch for so many reasons, but it can’t compare to…

The Batman

If you’d have told us ten years ago that Robert Pattinson, Paul Dano, and Zoë Kravitz would be headlining a Batman film, we’d have laughed you out of the room. We’d have been wrong to do so. The Batman is an exercise in perfect casting, with Paul Dano in particular – the angsty teen from Little Miss Sunshine! – chewing the scenery in every single second of screentime. Pattinson is one of very few actors to take on the lead role that perfectly nails both Bruce Wayne and Batman, and despite some slightly questionable design choices, the film just looks incredible. Matt Reeves knocked it out of the park when writing and directing The Batman, and whatever comes next is going to have some huge shoes to fill.

Related: Jason Momoa May Return To DC Universe As A Different Character