Throughout the entirety of the Batman franchise, the Caped Crusader and his villains have provided some of the best quotes in cinema. There have been multiple versions of Batman on the big-screen, and all of them have had at least one memorable line (if not more). To that end, it’s fun to look back and pick out one of the best lines from every theatrical Batman release.

While actors and universes may change, Batman and Gotham City have long been a quintessential part of the superhero film genre. After all, The Dark Knight is easily one of the most popular superheroes of all time whether he’s on the page, in live-action, or in animated form. To that end, here are our picks for the best quote from every Batman movie.

11

“Some days, you just can’t get rid of a bomb!”

Adam West as Batman In Batman: The Movie (1966)

Batman: The Movie starring Adam West was the first major Batman film released in theaters. Connected to the Batman television series, the movie saw several of Batman’s villains joining forces. To that end, one sequence involves the Caped Crusader desperately trying to dispose of a bomb at a crowded boardwalk, only to face baby carriages, nuns, marching bands, and even baby ducks. This prompted one of West’s most famous lines before he finally finds a place for the bomb to safely detonate. It’s a prime example of just how much lighter and campy the original Batman movie and series were compared to future Batman projects.

10

“You Wanna Get Nuts? C’mon! Let’s Get Nuts!”

Michael Keaton As Bruce Wayne in Batman (1989)

While facing the Joker as Bruce Wayne, Michael Keaton’s Batman hides a serving tray under his shirt before pretending to be extremely agitated, betting on the fact that Joker would shoot him and leave. This allowed Wayne to get Vicki Vale to safety and suit up as Batman. However, the “Let’s get nuts” line is one of Keaton’s most iconic by far.

Not only is this line one of Keaton’s best from the first Batman movie, but it’s also been quoted in other DC films, and by versions of The Dark Knight. Not only was it repeated in 2017’s LEGO Batman movie when the Caped Crusader faces his version of the Joker, but it was also quoted by an older version of Keaton’s Batman as seen in 2023’s The Flash. As such, it’s clearly a line that begs for callbacks.

9

“Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it” “But a kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it.”

Michael Keaton as Batman and Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns (1992)

With a twisted romance only Tim Burton could have brought to life on the big-screen, Batman and Catwoman’s back-and-forth banter about mistletoe is certainly one of the best quotes from Batman Returns. Initially, the lines were used during Catwoman’s first encounter with the Caped Crusader. However, the same exchange later ends up revealing their alter egos to each other at the masquerade ball which they had both attended as Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne. As such, mistletoe and its traditions became a key symbol of their relationship, one that increasingly became quite complex over the course of the iconic DC film.

8

“Your entrance was good. His was better. The difference: Showmanship!”

Jim Carrey as The Riddler in Batman Forever (1995)

Jim Carrey plays the Riddler in 1995’s Batman Forever from director Joel Shumacher. Having joined forces with Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face to take over Gotham and kill Batman, Edward Nygma finances his own company using funds from a series of robberies committed with Harvey Dent. Gaining power and influence, Nygma also becomes smarter from his brainwave devices sold to the public. However, Two-Face ends up crashing a gala thrown by Nygma himself, one that Batman also crashes moments later. However, Riddler appreciates Batman’s entrance more than Dent’s for the sake of pure showmanship and drama.

7

“She knows who we are.” “Guess we’ll just have to kill her” “Yep, we’ll kill her later. We’ve got work to do.”

Chris O’Donnell as Robin and George Clooney as Batman in Batman and Robin (1997)

While there are so many ice puns from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mister Freeze that could be chosen, one of the best lines from 1997’s Batman and Robin actually comes near the end from Batman and Robin themselves. Having received her own mask and suit from her uncle Alfred, Barbara Wilson became Batgirl and joined forces with the Dynamic Duo. As such, their humorous line about having to kill her later for learning their secret identities is a campy yet humorous way of welcoming the new Gotham hero to their ranks.

6

“Why bats, Master Wayne? Bats frighten me. It’s time my enemies shared my dread.”

Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth and Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins (2005)

Questioning his decision to forge his crusade around the symbol of a bat, Bruce tells Alfred that he wants criminals to share his dread and childhood fear of the nocturnal creatures. While Batman Begins has a plethora of iconic lines including the one about falling from Bruce Wayne’s father, there’s something inherently epic about Bruce’s explanation, especially as he’s literally forging his symbol as Batman by making one of his first batarangs. As origin quotes go, it’s certainly one of the most impressive and powerful considering the legend that Batamn becomes.

5

“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight (2008)

Perhaps one of the most famous Batman movie quotes of all time, Harrvey Dent is the first to give voice to Gotham’s shifting perspectives on Batman and the growing criticisms in The Dark Knight. Likewise, the line becomes even more powerful when not only the shining Gotham hero that was Dent has become Two-Face, but Batman himself chooses to take the blame for his crimes in order to keep Gotham’s hope and all the good Dent did from being undone. Batman becomes the villain at the end of The Dark Knight, a heroic act in and of itself.

4

“A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended.”

Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Proving that he always has been a hero dedicated to protecting Gotham, Batman prepares to seemingly sacrifice himself and take the nuclear bomb out of the city at the end of The Dark Knight Rises. However, he tells Gordon that his true identity shouldn’t become public, while also revealing to Gordon alone who he really is. It’s a powerful moment, one that acknowledges the impact of the good Gordon did when Bruce was a child after losing his parents, as well as the importance of the Batman legend itself and its ability to inspire Gotham to be better (regardless of who’s under the mask).

3

“Tell me something…do you bleed? You will.”

Ben Affleck As Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

The iconic first live-action encounter between Batman and Superman, a vengeful Dark Knight played by Ben Affleck gives one of the most epic Batman lines after facing Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel for the first time in 2016’s Dawn of Justice. Asking the Kryptonian if he bleeds, Batman promises that he will even as he flies off, determined to make Kal-El pay for the destruction of Metropolis as seen in 2013’s Man of Steel. It’s an incredibly foreboding and powerful line, one that sets up all of Batman’s work to prepare both himself and his arsenal to face an all-powerful alien before eventually finding the humanity within that is Clark Kent.

2

“‘If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change. Hooo.’ No. I said that. Batman is very wise.”

Will Arnett as LEGO Batman in The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

Taking credit for Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”, LEGO Batman’s “quote” at the beginning of his 2017 movie is as hilarious as it is surprisingly poignant. Not only do the lyrics get referenced multiple times throughout the movie, but it essentially becomes the through-line representing the brick-built Dark Knight’s entire character arc. Eventually, LEGO Batman does indeed take a look in the mirror to change not only himself but also Gotham for the better, recognizing that he needs to open himself up and allow himself to build a family again.

1

“I’m Vengeance!”

Robert Pattinson as Batman in The Batman (2022)

The most recent live-action Batman feature, Matt Reeves’ The Batman starring Robert Pattinson perhaps has one of the most iconic opening lines of all time. When asked by a group of thugs what he’s supposed to be, Batman brutally beats the lead thug down before responding that he’s Vegenance (before beating him down some more). It’s an extremely aggressive debut, and his line immediately sets the tone for the entire movie and what kind of Batman viewers are going to get; a Dark Knight early in his crusade who’s still unrefined in places, particularly when it comes to his anger and rage as a new vigilante.