Batman is one of the most influential and popular heroes in the modern day, if not the most. Countless iterations of his story have been produced, with many leaving a strong mark in the entertainment industry. While fans wait forThe Batman Part 2andwho will be the DCU’s Batman, they can look back at all the great movies that evolved and established this legendary character.
This list will give fans an extensive look at all of the Batman movies over the years. There have been a total of15 theatrical Batman movies, and this list will rank them all based on Rotten Tomatoes rankings. This review website isn’t universally beloved or flawless in its methodology, but it is as close to the definitive movie rankings fans can agree on. Still, audiences should form their own opinions by watching the movies themselves, but these reviews are fun to look at and compare.
13’Batman & Robin' (1997)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 12%
Kicking off this list isBatman & Robin,the Batman movie that Rotten Tomatoes deems the worst, and it’s hard to argue. The studio got a new actor (George Clooney) to play the caped crusader, this time facing off against Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy in an even sillier and campier story meant to attract as many children and sell as many toys as possible.
Fans won’t argue this placement, as most regard it as theworst superhero movie of all time.Batman & Robinlost all the charm of the previous film and became a mindless, tongue-in-cheek film that is too tiresome to be genuinely enjoyable. While the addition of the Bat-family was nice, nothing else was noteworthy except horrible puns and a boring story.
Batman and Robin
12’Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 29%
The DCEU was a failure on many levels, but some movies, likeBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, had lots of hype. After the destruction left in the wake of Superman’s battle with General Zod, Batman doesn’t trust this new hero, resulting in a feud between the two, which halts due to Lex Luthor’s schemes behind the scenes.
Batman v Supermanstarted tremendousand only got worse, providing one single entertaining action sequence for fans. The idea and story had so much potential, but the overly dark, gritty aesthetic and nonsensical plot ruined the movie. Ultimately,Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justicehadtoo many ideas thrown into it and suffered the consequences.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
11’Batman: The Killing Joke' (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 35%
DC has been relatively consistent in delivering standout animated movies, which is why fans were excited aboutBatman: The Killing Joke, based onAlan Moore’s iconic story about the Joker’s twisted origins. The Clown Prince of Crime has another plan up his sleeve, this time capturing Commissioner Gordon, but he isn’t the villain’s primary target.
The Killing Jokeis the first animated movie on this list, and while it won’t be the last, it is by far the worst. This film is one ofthe darkest Batman movies, but itsuffers greatly from reworking the iconic source material too much. Great moments were left out, and lousy additions were included, including a controversial moment between Batman and Batgirl, muddling a potentially good adaptation.
Batman: The Killing Joke
10’Batman Forever' (1995)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 41%
The tragic passing of Val Kilmeraffected everyone, but fans can look back on his legacy, includingBatman Forever. This campy film comes off the success of the Burtonverse, with a new director and actor and a new, lighter, more comedic approach. Batman faces a war on two fronts against the Riddler and Two-Face.
Viewers can divide Batman movies into two sections: bad and good.Batman Foreverexists somewhere in the middle, which is so bad it’s good. Fans will be disappointed if they come in expecting a good film, butthe campiness and over-the-top nature provide some fun momentsand an overall delightful experience that fans shouldn’t take seriously. Plus,Jim CarreyandTommy Lee-Jonesare perfect as Riddler and Two-Face.
Batman Forever
9’Batman' (1989)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%
Almost twenty years afterBatman 1966,Tim Burtonused the same title to deliver a completely different experience. Now, with clear gothic inspirations and a darker tone, the titular hero must get over his depressing past to take down the new criminal mastermind, the Joker, a former mobster with desires to conquer Gotham.
Although it may have a lower percentage than the original Batman, Tim Burton’s version is Certified Fresh, which is a nice feather on its cap.Batmanreinvented the character and influenced future iterations, specificallyBatman: The Animated Series. This movie also helped kickstart the superhero movie craze that would dominate the 21st century.
8’Batman' (1966)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
Batman never used to be a dark and gritty hero before he was a campy and goofy crime fighter, as highlighted in the very first live-action movie,Batman. Based on the 1966 TV show, this feature film pits the titular hero against his toughest adversaries, including Joker, Catwoman, and the Riddler.
Adam Westwas a treasure and brought Batman to life for the first time.This movie doesn’t take itself seriouslyand revels in its campiness and goofiness, from battling sharks to countless onomatopeia.This Batman movie created starsand established itself as an iconic movie for the franchise, defining the character’s identity throughout the latter part of the 20th century.
7’Batman Returns' (1992)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
Following 1989’sBatmanon this list is, ironically, its sequel,Batman Returns, which brings back the character for a darker and more formidable challenge. When the Penguin and the corrupt businessman Max Shreck team up to elect the former as mayor, Batman must pull out all his tricks to avoid the worst-case scenario. Meanwhile, a wild card emerges in the form of the seductive femme fatale Catwoman.
Batman Returnsis one of thebest live-action Batman films of its century, improving on everything from the first. Thegothic Christmas aesthetic is a visual masterpiece, and the simple story allows for character growth and stylistic choices to excel. The flawless casting and new villains also provide an entertaining and worthy Batman film.
Batman Returns
6’Batman: Mask of the Phantasm' (1993)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
Batman: The Animated Seriesis thegreatest animated superhero TV show, and its success spawned a sequel movie,Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. A new vigilante comes into Gotham, killing renowned crime bosses one by one. As he struggles with his civilian identity and his role as a hero, Batman soon uncovers that his past may be related to these killings.
Many fansviewMask of the Phantasmas the ultimate Batman movie, and while Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t agree, it still gave it a respectable rating. This animated gem honors the source material while trying something new,giving great depth to Batman and, most importantly, Bruce Wayne. Indeed,Mask of the Phantasmis perhaps the only movie where the man is more important than the bat, making him more empathetic and relatable.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
5’Batman Begins' (2005)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
Batman Beginsis the first movie in one of the best movie trilogies of all time. It presents an origin story for the character, adopting a far more grounded approach than anything that came before. When the organization Batman trained with plans to destroy Gotham City, the blossoming hero begins cleaning up the city and its criminals, including Scarecrow, before having a fateful battle against Ra’s Al Ghul, aDC villain who deserves a solo movie.
While many fans won’t agree with the rating or its placement, earning a spot in the top five is still respectable.Batman Beginsis brooding, dark, smart, and thrilling, reinventing Batman in a grounded setting. It isa classic Batman story that has gone down as an essential DC filmand the starting point for a trilogy that revolutionized the superhero genre.
Batman Begins
4’The Batman' (2022)
The Batmanis the most recent film starring the world’s greatest detective, ushering in a new actor to don the cape and cowl. While fans need towait a while beforeThe Batman Part 2, they can go back and appreciate this thrilling mystery. In it, the Riddler is killing select individuals as part of a grand conspiracy, prompting Batman to stop him before his master plan swallows Gotham City.
Having the same rating asBatman Begins, The Batmanprobably lands above because of its modern approach, as well as its focus on mystery and the character’s detective side. Thegritty and ambitious story elevates Batman to new heights, delivering a modern noir film that brings the character into new territory while remaining faithful to his essence.
