With only a few days left until Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters, Zack Snyder’s film will mark the 11th time we see the Dark Knight on the big screen. While it’s not a solo Batman film, our hopes for Ben Affleck’s performance are quite high. Before diving into that, we thought it would be fun to take a look back and rank the Batman movies released so far.
Let’s get one thing straight: among DC Comics’ holy trinity, Batman is by far the luckiest when it comes to cinema. The contribution of Nolan’s films to this success is undeniable, but Burton’s films and a few surprising entries on this list also stand tall as worthy representations of Bill Finger and Bob Kane’s timeless creation.
Ready? Let’s begin.
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10. Batman & Robin
There’s really not much to say here. It’s a universally acknowledged truth, known to anyone with two working eyes, that Joel Schumacher’s Batman films belong at the bottom of this list. Batman & Robin takes the very last spot for us. While George Clooney might seem like a fantastic choice for Batman on paper, the film was utterly derailed by Schumacher’s bizarre decisions and a script stubbornly committed to being cheap and cheesy. While we said this ranking is subjective, this particular entry feels like an obvious fact.
trailer: https://youtu.be/4RBXypX4qWI
9. Batman: The Movie (1966)
You may come across Americans who praise this film, adapted from the famous 1966 TV series. If you do, let me warn you—they are not to be trusted. Adam West’s Batman series has a certain silly charm, but it’s impossible to take the film seriously when even its creators clearly didn’t. There’s no redeeming quality to its cheapness, and the lack of seriousness is evident in everything—from the production quality to how the camera is handled. If they didn’t take it seriously, how can we possibly enjoy it genuinely?
trailer: https://youtu.be/CohDgQOiK24
8. Batman Forever
The first of Schumacher’s Batman films lands in the eighth spot. Compared to the rest of the Batman catalog, it’s pretty awful, and time hasn’t been kind to it either. That said, it’s saved by a few redeeming qualities. Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey deliver interesting performances as Two-Face and Riddler, respectively. And Val Kilmer, despite being stuck in an objectively bad movie, arguably gives one of the most underrated Batman performances of all time. That’s why this one narrowly edges out Schumacher’s other disaster.
trailer: https://youtu.be/suOgRZflPtk
7. Batman (1943)
Yes, Batman’s transition to the screen happened this early. Technically, Batman 1943 is a serial, not a movie. At the time, television didn’t exist, and serial films were occasionally shown in theaters across the U.S. This 15-episode, 260-minute saga fits into that category. If you revisit it today—especially if you’re accustomed to the style of 1940s cinema—it doesn’t feel entirely out of place. Plus, it contributed elements like the Batcave to Batman lore.
trailer: https://youtu.be/kzEpyKuIhkQ
6. The Dark Knight Rises
We could’ve ranked it lower. But let’s be honest—there’s no way we’d put it beneath Schumacher’s films or movies shot with cameras of lower quality than the phones in our pockets. Still, The Dark Knight Rises is a disappointing film. Marion Cotillard’s laughably bad death scene near the end of the movie has become its unfortunate emblem. Tom Hardy’s Bane is a solid villain, and his performance is excellent. Anne Hathaway isn’t bad either. But for a film that could have been so much more, it’s hard to defend its shortcomings.
trailer: https://youtu.be/g8evyE9TuYk
5. Batman Returns
The second Batman film by the Michael Keaton-Tim Burton duo inevitably lived in the shadow of its predecessor. That said, Danny DeVito’s performance as the Penguin was nothing short of phenomenal. Following Jack Nicholson’s exceptional Joker, the Penguin was precisely the kind of villain only Burton could bring to life. In hindsight, the film isn’t a mind-blowing experience for viewers, but for its time, it was a solid sequel. Respect where respect is due.
trailer: https://youtu.be/TlbtLfWvFbo
4. Batman and Robin (1949)
Do you enjoy revisiting old films? If not, the overly theatrical, rapid, and loud dialogue delivery typical of 1940s and 1950s Hollywood might put you off. But if you can get past that, I highly recommend watching Batman and Robin, the second Batman serial. Robert Lowery delivers an outstanding performance as both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Sure, the action is terrible, and the camera work reflects the technical limitations of the era, but if nothing else, it’s a fascinating historical artifact and an excellent history lesson.
3. Batman (1989)
This one’s a no-brainer—no one’s going to argue about the top three choices. It’s just a matter of placement, and Batman 1989 fits perfectly in third place. Tim Burton’s gothic masterpiece, with its striking architecture, Michael Keaton’s surprisingly effective performance, and Jack Nicholson’s unforgettable Joker, remains iconic to this day. Sure, the film’s one flaw was tying Joker’s origin to Bruce Wayne’s, thus eroding some of the character’s mystique. But thanks to its overall impact, Batman (1989) is unforgettable, even if Heath Ledger’s take has since overshadowed Nicholson’s Joker.
trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlsM2_8u_mk
2. The Dark Knight
We’ll explain why our number one is what it is shortly. For now, let’s lavish some praise on The Dark Knight. Of course, we have to start with Heath Ledger. From the unforgettable “pencil trick” scene to his chilling “storytelling” at the ball, from his nurse disguise to his final monologue, every moment of Ledger’s Joker is etched into cinematic history. The rest of the cast was just as strong. Aaron Eckhart gave the performance of his career as Harvey Dent. Maggie Gyllenhaal outshone her predecessor, and Christian Bale… well, he was there. Objectively speaking, this remains the best superhero film ever made. But the greatest Batman film? Not quite.
trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrJL5JxEYIw
1. Batman Begins
This is a subtle but significant distinction. We believe Batman Begins is the film that best understands and conveys what Batman is about. The choice to center the film around the theme of fear was brilliant, and its execution was even more so. From its villains to the way Batman’s origins were tied to his fear of bats, and how he later weaponized that fear against his enemies, the film weaves these elements together with mesmerizing elegance. The performances are stellar across the board, with Cillian Murphy’s hypnotic portrayal of Scarecrow standing out. Moreover, the dockyard fight sequence makes it clear that this is the film that best captured Batman’s combat style. While The Dark Knight may be the better movie on paper, Batman Begins delivers everything one could hope for from a Batman story. And in the subjective realm, it stands above the rest as the ultimate Batman film.
trailer: https://youtu.be/neY2xVmOfUM