Few comic-book characters have had as big of an impact on the film industry as Batman. Throughout the years, there have been many movies made about the hero. Some have been huge blockbusters, whereas others have been direct-to-video animated adventures.
The movies have varied in quality over the years. Nevertheless, some amazing Batman stories have been told through the medium of film. Every Dark Knight fan has their favorites, but we have used IMDb to rank the ten best.
It’s important to note that we have not included shorts, team-up movies (including The Lego Batman Movie) or animated home releases that have the word ‘movie’ in the title but are actually just a collection of episodes.
Batman: Assault On Arkham – 7.5
Set in the Arkham games’ universe, this film follows Batman as he attempts to find a dirty bomb planted by The Joker. Meanwhile, Amanda Weller orders The Suicide Squad to break into Arkham Asylum to steal important information.
While this is technically a Batman movie, he doesn’t get as much screen time as The Suicide Squad. Although, the humorous interactions between the task force make up for the Dark Knight’s reduced role. Plus, the fight scenes are violent and fun, whether they involve Batman, the Suicide Squad, or both.
Batman (1989) – 7.5
Tim Burton’s first Batman movie sees the Dark Knight go up against The Joker early in the hero’s crime-fighting career. Michael Keaton gives a strong performance as the title character, yet it’s still slightly overshadowed by Jack Nicholson’s amazing version of The Joker. Nicholson’s outrageous antics as the evil clown are some of the film’s best moments, as the actor strikes the perfect balance of eccentric and menacing.
Along with excellent performances from its leads, the film has an abundance of style and a dark tone that suits the caped crusader (even if it was unique for a Batman film at the time).
Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker – 7.8
Mark Hamill’s Joker was always one of the best parts of the Batman: Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, so his return in this movie based on the Batman Beyond series was a welcome one. In the film, Joker’s re-emergence raises questions as the original clown prince is thought to be dead. Young Batman then starts an investigation to find out who the new Joker is and put a stop to his plans.
The narrative is compelling throughout, particularly late on when you get to see how the dynamic between Terry McGinnis’ Batman and The Joker differs from the one the clown shared with Bruce Wayne.
Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm – 7.8
Based on Batman: The Animated Series, Kevin Conroy, once again, provides the voice of the caped crusader as he is blamed for the murders of various mob bosses in Batman’s first animated theatrical release. The film includes a compelling mystery as Batman slowly figures out the identity of the deadly vigilante.
Equally intriguing are the multiple flashbacks throughout, which give extra insight into Bruce Wayne’s life before he put on the cowl. It is a dark, stylish, and very well animated adventure that lives up to the standards of the TV series.
Batman: Under The Red Hood – 8.0
Under The Red Hood is another film about a violent vigilante, as the Red Hood starts terrorizing the criminals in Gotham. The movie is incredibly emotional due to Batman’s history with the man under the hood. And through the new vigilante, the film asks interesting questions about the morality of Batman’s no-killing rule.
Alongside its great storytelling, Under The Red Hood includes slick and exciting action sequences. Plus, the voice work is solid from all of the cast, but Jensen Ackles as the Red Hood is the stand-out performance.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 – 8.0
The Dark Knight Returns movie adaptation is split into two parts. Part one focuses on a middle-aged Batman coming out of retirement when Gotham becomes overrun with crime.
Many films have told the story of Batman first becoming a crime fighter, so this movie’s depiction of an aged vigilante trying to overcome his body’s natural deterioration is a nice change of pace. And Peter Weller does well to bring the veteran hero to life with his grizzled tones. The strong narrative is complemented by a beautiful art style and awesome animation.
Batman Begins – 8.2
Batman Begins gets Christopher Nolan’s outstanding Dark Knight trilogy off to a strong start with its masterful retelling of how Bruce Wayne became Batman. Set in a dark and grounded version of the Batman universe, the film relies more on excellent characters than large scale battles.
Speaking of characters, Christian Bale does a great job of displaying both the charisma of Bruce Wayne and the intensity of Batman. Similarly amazing is Cillian Murphy’s villainous Scarecrow, as he delivers a haunting performance. Although, both actors are aided by some stellar writing.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 – 8.4
In The Dark Knight Returns Part 2, the aging Batman becomes a target for The Joker, the Gotham Police department, and the Government who have Superman at their disposal. This is the highest-rated animated movie on this list. And it shares many of the same qualities as part one.
However, the addition of The Joker and Superman enhances the movie above its predecessor. This is because Batman’s confrontations with both men are extremely exciting. In particular, it’s interesting to see how an experienced (and slightly broken down) Dark Knight deals with the crazy clown.
The Dark Knight Rises – 8.4
Christopher Nolan’s third Batman movie sees the hero come out of retirement to stop the ruthless Bane, who is causing chaos all over Gotham. Bane’s rampage involves some fantastic set-pieces, most of which include clever practical effects. And his fights with Batman are the most hard-hitting in the trilogy.
Tom Hardy is incredibly intimidating as the villain with his physical attributes making up for his sometimes questionable mask-assisted speaking voice. Another newcomer to the trilogy is Anne Hathaway, who delivers a badass version of Catwomen.
The Dark Knight – 9.0
The second entry in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy is not only regarded as the best Batman movie ever, but it is also seen as one of the greatest comic-book films ever. It tells the tale of an established Batman coming up against a new menace in the form of The Joker, who is intent on causing complete anarchy throughout Gotham.
The film has the same dark tone, grounded storytelling, and impressive practical effects of the other films in Nolan’s trilogy. But it is the captivating performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker that raises it above its predecessor and sequel. From his crazy mannerisms that really sell the insanity of the character to his wonderfully delivered dialogue, the actor manages to capture the spirit of the maniacal clown.
