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Batman is one of the world’s most popular superheroes that mercilessly fights against crime.
“I wear a mask. And that mask, it’s not to hide who I am, but to create what I am.”
Batman in Batman #624 comic book
Since Batman’s inception in 1939, this superhero’s story has been told many times — in comic books, TV series, cartoons and movies.
But no Batman interpretation is the same.
The story of the masked nocturnal vigilante is a timeless one, allowing creatives to reinvent his character over and over again.
In this blog post, we’ll revisit some of the greatest Batman movies made so far and explore the different ways directors chose to depict him.
Is Batman the ultimate symbol of vengeance, hope or fortitude? Is he a detective more than he is a superhero?
The following list of Batman movies will give us the answers we’re looking for!
And so, we begin…
Tim Burton Batman Movies
1. Batman
Release date: June 1989
Starring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger
Before Tim Burton’s Batman was released, the superhero movie genre was popular mainly among younger audiences. The majority of the comic book big-screen adaptations were lighthearted, and Hollywood didn’t yet have much respect for superheroes.
However, it all changed in the summer of 1989, when Tim Burton introduced a dark and edgy Batman to the world.
Aside from depicting the masked superhero as the brave protector of the Gotham city, he also focused on the psychological aspect of Bruce Wayne’s personality.
Burton portrays Wayne as a complicated man who wants revenge for the murder of his parents.
The movie includes a lot of action-filled and violent scenes in which Batman goes on revenge-filled rampages against the Joker. The horrific murder of his parents shaped Wayne’s life and became his driving force, and Burton made sure his movie reflected that.
He was the first director to show Batman as a tragic hero and the one to introduce a dark storyline to the superhero movies landscape, which helped convince adult audiences to watch superhero movies.
Burton was also the one to depict Gotham as the gritty, ever-dark city brimming with violence and crime, and that aesthetic became a standard for the Batman movies that followed.
Batman includes terrific performances by Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson, along with music composed by the legendary Prince.
Even though the movie was released more than 30 years ago and some more popular and better Batman flicks were created since, Tim Burton’s Batman remains a cultural phenomenon worth watching!
2. Batman Returns
Release date: June 1992
Starring: Michael Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer, Danny DeVito, Christopher Walken
Batman Returns is a sequel to Batman that brought an even darker depiction of the tormented superhero to the silver screen.
The movie includes scenes of brooding violence and deals with psychological themes that, just like its predecessor, specifically cater to adult audiences.
Burton continues to explore the effect childhood traumas have on adults through Batman’s character and two new additions to the flick — Penguin, one of the most iconic comic book villains, and Catwoman, an anti-hero and one of the most powerful female comic book characters.
DeVito was praised for his portrayal of one of the greatest and most freakish comic book villains, and his acting made the movie particularly exciting to watch.
The audience also fell in love with Pfeiffer’s Catwoman, with some claiming she is the star of the movie.
Even though Batman Returns may feel dark and violent at times, it’s a cinematic masterpiece that further cemented Burton as one of the best directors of the Batman movies.
Batman: The Animated Series
Release date: September 1992 — September 1995
Created by: Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski
Although we’re mainly here to discuss Batman movies, we can’t forgo the legendary Batman: The Animated Series.
Unlike other superhero cartoons that typically lack a serious tone, Batman: The Animated Series is known for its complex and mature storytelling. Absent are the bright, vivid colors you’re used to seeing in cartoons.
Dark backgrounds, the gloomy depiction of Gotham, shadows, and the occasional use of jazz music give the series a film noir vibe.
Batman: The Animated Series was inspired by Tim Burton’s movies, and that’s obvious in the show’s dark tone and the way Gotham’s skies are always gloomy and the buildings look gothic.
Now, don’t think this show is too serious with no humor. Some characters — especially villains — are portrayed as wacky and funny as ever. You get to explore their origin stories and discover how complex their personalities are.
There’s no superfluous dialogue. Instead, the animated series shows you characters in action, which helps keep the plot engaging and episodes exciting to watch.
The voice acting is fantastic and helps make the series particularly compelling.
Batman: The Animated Series is believed to be one of the best animated series of all time, so go ahead and see for yourself what makes it so great!
Christopher Nolan Batman Movies
1. Batman Begins
Release date: June 2005
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Kane, Liam Neeson
Batman Begins is the first part of Nolan’s trilogy that also includes The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.
The movie tells the origin story of the Caped Crusader in a realistic and gloomy way. You get to see what sacrifices Bruce Wayne has to make in order to be Batman and what price he pays for his choices.
Aside from analyzing Batman’s character, the movie also heavily explores the subjects of justice and fear. No matter how powerful a character may be, they can still be affected by fear.
The cinematography in Batman Begins is outstanding, making Wayne’s journey of finding his purpose particularly engaging to watch.
Even though this movie is overshadowed by its successor, it’s still one of the best superhero origin stories ever told on the big screen!
2. The Dark Knight
Release date: July 2008
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Kane, Heath Ledger
According to many fans and critics alike, The Dark Knight is the best superhero movie of all time and one of the best movies ever made.
The second part of Nolan’s trilogy tells a grounded story about Batman and his archenemy — the Joker. Heath Ledger gave a performance for the ages by making Joker’s character look real, terrifying, and psychopathic at the same time.
The Dark Knight explores the complexity of human nature and the themes of morality, right vs. wrong and revenge.
In one scene, the Joker says to Batman:
“To them, you’re just a freak, like me! They need you right now, but when they don’t, they’ll cast you out, like a leper! You see, their morals, their code, it’s a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They’re only as good as the world allows them to be. I’ll show you. When the chips are down, these… these civilized people, they’ll eat each other. See, I’m not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.”
This movie is a must-watch. Nolan does a terrific job of making a superhero and a supervillain feel real. In fact, a lot of times you forget that you’re watching a superhero movie.
Another important question the movie raises is this one: When a superhero needs to stop a villain from hurting the innocent, how does he fight the villain without becoming like them?
With the Joker upping his game throughout the film and constantly challenging Batman, The Dark Knight tells a complex superhero story like no other Batman movie before or after.
3. The Dark Knight Rises
Release date: July 2012
Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Morgan Freeman
The Dark Knight Rises concludes Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy.
Like the previous two installments, this one, too, beautifully depicts the complexity of Bruce Wayne’s character. However, it also shows you the importance of picking yourself up when you’re down, just like Bruce Wayne manages to do in the movie.
The Dark Knight Rises introduces terrific rogues to the screen, including Bane and a cameo from Scarecrow.
Tom Hardy’s Bane, in particular, commands attention. You never see his eyes or much of his face since he always wears a mask, but his whole presence, demeanor, voice and actions make the character thrilling to watch.
The Dark Knight Rises features impressive action scenes and a thrilling score that amplifies the intensity of the characters’ behavior.
Although some argue The Dark Knight Rises is the weakest movie of Nolan’s three, it’s still a great closure to the trilogy and the finale of The Dark Knight story you shouldn’t miss.
Matt Reeves Batman Movies
1. The Batman
Release date: March 2022
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano
The Batman is the latest movie about the Caped Crusader and also one of the best.
Reeves did a stellar job at creating a movie that blends the superhero genre with neo-noir detective movies and psychological thrillers.
In The Batman, Bruce Wayne spends a lot of time doing detective work, which wasn’t the case with previous Batman releases.
The movie focuses on Batman at the early stages of his superhero career and shows him go through a series of adrenaline-fueled and often scary situations as he attempts to hunt down a serial killer.
The main villain in the flick is the Riddler — the ingenious supervillain that causes Batman a lot of trouble.
In the movie, Bruce Wayne himself is perhaps more broken than ever. Reeves modeled his character after Nirvana’s frontman Kurt Cobain, hence Wayne reaching new levels of darkness.
There’s nothing bubbly nor cheerful about Robert Pattinson’s Batman, and in that lies his appeal. He’s unlike any other superhero, and this movie does a brilliant job of showing that.
Other Batman Movies You Should See
1. Batman: Under The Red Hood
Release date: July 2010
Written by: Judd Winick
Batman: Under The Red Hood is regarded as one of the best animated movies about Batman.
Even though it features multiple villains, including the Red Hood, the Joker, Ra’s Al Ghul and Black Mask, the movie doesn’t become cluttered for a second. The Red Hood is the main villain in the story, while others mostly help keep the plot moving forward.
Aside from depicting the way the older and slightly grumpy Batman handles the bad guys, Under The Read Hood also shows how he deals with his feelings — especially guilt. He blames himself for the terrible things that have happened to his friends, and most notably his sidekick — Robin.
But is Robin gone forever, or does he return?
Check out this excellent movie to find out!
2. Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm
Release date: December 1993
Directed by: Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm
Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm is an animated movie that many fans see as the best flick about Batman of all time. It was inspired by Batman: The Animated Series.
What makes this movie so good is its terrific storyline.
Batman investigates the murders of mob bosses in Gotham, but as he does so, you get to see how he came to be Batman in the first place.
The writers weren’t afraid to twist the origin story we’re all familiar with. They introduced Andrea, one of Bruce Wayne’s great loves, as a character who plays the biggest part in his decision to become Batman.
The past and the present entwine the entire time, and you can see exactly how the events and decisions from the past influenced Batman’s present.
3. The Lego Batman Movie
Release date: February 2017
Directed by: Chris McKay
Can you imagine Batman in a comedy? If you’re used to seeing the Dark Knight all stern and gothic, you may find it hard to picture him having fun.
If so, we urge you to watch The Lego Batman Movie — the animated comedy movie with a soul-touching story and genuine humor.
The movie is hilarious from start to finish, and it keeps you engaged the entire time. No matter how old you are, we promise you — you’ll enjoy it.
Aside from entertaining you, The Lego Batman Movie also teaches you some valuable life lessons, such as the importance of overcoming your fears, opening yourself up to others and establishing emotional connections with them.
The voice acting is phenomenal, and so are the animations and the choice of characters included in the film.
The movie features all of the important villains, including Joker, Two-Face, Bane, Poison Ivy, Riddler, Killer Croc, and Penguin. Everyone who’s impacted Batman’s life for better or worse is there.
The Lego Batman Movie is a breath of fresh air in the Batman movies landscape. It breaks the cycle of dark and intense flicks featuring the Dark Knight and introduces him in a way you haven’t seen him before.
Recap On Batman Movies!
Batman remains one of the most popular superheroes in history, and for good reason. No matter how many times his story has been told, there’s always something new to discover about his complex personality and adventure-filled life.
Every movie featured on the list offers a unique glimpse into Batman’s world, allowing you to discover how the world’s greatest detective thinks and operates.
It’s not easy being Batman. He’s a tormented soul that’s faced more hardship than any of us can count. But, no matter how difficult a situation, he always finds a way to pick himself up. As Scott Snyder put it in Batman Vol. 5: Zero Year — Dark City:
“Maybe that’s what Batman is about. Not winning. But failing, and getting back up. Knowing he’ll fail, fail a thousand times, but still won’t give up.”
