Every Single Batman Movie, Ranked Best to Worst

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Updated June 23, 2023 50.4K votes 7.3K voters 201.9K views
Over 7.3K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Every Single Batman Movie, Ranked Best to Worst
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Vote up your favorite animated and live-action Batman movies.

Alot of fans consider the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy to be the best of all Batman films. But were they the best Batman movies of all time? This list of the greatest Batman films ever is here to declare, in order, which of all Batman movies is really the top Batman film ever made. How can you possibly rank such masterpieces? It's easy - consider the mood, directing, actors, and storylines that the movie creators were able to capture in their films. Which of all of the Batman movies do you feel was most faithful to the original comics or more entertaining than the others? It's unlikely that anyone's answer would be a chronological list, given that the films have continued to build on themselves over time.

Batman has been one of the most popular comic book characters to make the jump to movies. There's also no end in sight to his cinematic appearances, as a new Batman film seems to perpetually be on the horizon. This list has every adventure of the Dark Knight tallied by preference, from Adam West all the way up to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy with Christian Bale, including the final film, 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. It also includes the animated Batman movies that became popular in the mid-90s. But what is the best Batman movie? Or have you ever wondered how many Batman movies are there? This list will answer both those questions!

Batman films are so iconic and popular that there's even a whole genre of Batman fan films! Many other cultures have translated Batman films into their own languages. FYI there's another list on Ranker of Best Batman Comics, if you're interested.

Vote for your favorite Batman movie titles below on this Batman movies list! And if you're a real fan, check out our list of the best Batman actors who ever donned the batsuit. 

Most divisive: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Ranked by
  • The Dark Knight
    1

    The Dark Knight

    Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
    5,054 votes
    • Released: 2008
    • Directed by: Christopher Nolan
    In The Dark Knight, Gotham City's vigilante, Batman (Christian Bale), faces his greatest adversary yet - the Joker (Heath Ledger), a criminal mastermind with a twisted sense of humor. Under the guidance of mentor Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) and ally Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), Batman navigates a web of chaos spun by the Joker. The Christopher Nolan directed crime drama won two Academy Awards, including one for Ledger's posthumous performance. Brimming with high-stakes action scenes and moral dilemmas, this second installment in Nolan's Batman trilogy is a captivating exploration of heroism in times of anarchy.

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  • Batman Begins
    2

    Batman Begins

    Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson
    4,243 votes
    • Released: 2005
    • Directed by: Christopher Nolan
    In Batman Begins, we follow the journey of Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), a billionaire playboy tormented by his past. After years of training with his mentor, Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), in the League of Shadows, he returns to Gotham City, determined to eradicate crime and corruption. The emergence of the sinister Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) challenges him to embrace his newfound persona - Batman. Directed by Christopher Nolan, this film offers a gritty reboot of the iconic superhero franchise, delving deep into Batman's origins and his struggle against Gotham's underbelly. It triumphed at the 2006 Academy Awards for Best Cinematography.

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  • Batman
    3

    Batman

    Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger
    4,072 votes
    • Released: 1989
    • Directed by: Tim Burton
    In the heart of Gotham City, a shadowy vigilante known as Batman (Michael Keaton) emerges from the darkness to battle crime. Our caped crusader, tormented by his past, is drawn into a complex web spun by The Joker (Jack Nicholson), a deranged villain with a macabre sense of humor. As the city descends into chaos, Batman must navigate through a labyrinth of deceit and danger to save it. This action-packed superhero film, steeped in noir aesthetics, unravels an intricate tale of justice, fear, and redemption. Winning an Academy Award for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Batman redefined the genre with its darkly stylized vision and compelling characters.

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  • Batman Returns
    4

    Batman Returns

    Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer
    3,185 votes
    • Released: 1992
    • Directed by: Tim Burton
    In the 1992 classic Batman Returns, Gotham City is once again under threat, this time from a trifecta of villains. Batman (Michael Keaton) must face off against the sinister Penguin (Danny DeVito), a grotesque man-bird hybrid who emerges from the city's sewers with a vengeful agenda. Simultaneously, he battles the enigmatic Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), a former secretary turned feline vigilante after a near-death experience. This Tim Burton-directed sequel weaves a darker web than its predecessor, offering an intricate narrative that explores themes of identity and duality. Until today, it remains a noteworthy entry in the iconic superhero franchise.

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  • The Dark Knight Rises
    5

    The Dark Knight Rises

    Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy
    4,260 votes
    • Released: 2012
    • Directed by: Christopher Nolan
    In The Dark Knight Rises, the final installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, we witness an older, broken Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) emerge from seclusion to protect Gotham City. The city is now under threat from Bane (Tom Hardy), a ruthless terrorist with a mysterious past. As the tale unfolds, a cunning cat burglar named Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) enters the fray. Meanwhile, Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) grapples with the city's corruption. Genre-wise, it's an action-packed superhero film that won numerous awards for its visual effects and sound editing.
  • The Batman
    6

    The Batman

    Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright
    898 votes
    • Released: 2022
    • Directed by: Matt Reeves
    Step into the shadowy world of Gotham City in The Batman. In this brooding, action-packed thriller, Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) dons his iconic mask to fight crime. As the Batman, he's a fearsome vigilante, wrestling with internal demons while battling external foes. The city's underworld shivers under the ominous presence of Riddler (Paul Dano), a mysterious criminal mastermind. Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), an enigmatic figure with her own agenda, adds to the complex tapestry. Amidst the chaos, Commissioner Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) stands as a beacon of hope and lawfulness. Striking visuals and captivating performances elevate this cinematic journey into Gotham's grim realities.

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