Everyone knows Batman. As one of the most popular superheroes in pop culture history, even your grandma is likely familiar with Gotham City's enduring vigilante. Whether it's the campy theatrics popularized by Adam West in Batman (1966) or the more grounded and gritty reimagining of Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022), no incarnation of Batman looks the same. While movies like Batman (1989) and Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy are mainstream favorites, other films fell completely under the radar.
In some cases, the oversight is fair. Other times, it's a grave mistake. If you think you've seen every good film out there, here are five underrated Batman movies you probably haven't seen that are very much worth watching. Find most of them on Prime Video, HBO Max, and more now.
Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero (1998)
Maybe you're like me and cried like a baby when Harley Quinn (2019) put its spin on Mr. Freeze's tragic attempts to save his wife Nora in Season 2, Episode 4, "Thawing Hearts," or maybe you're normal. Regardless, Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero is the ultimate underrated Batman movie for anyone who finds themselves sympathizing with Mr. Freeze more than they probably should.
Spinning out of Batman: The Animated Series (1992), Subzero sees Kevin Conroy and Michael Ansara reprise their roles of Batman and Mr. Freeze, respectively. In another attempt to save his dying wife, Freeze kidnaps Batgirl (Melissa Gilbert) as a prospective organ donor. Like The Animated Series, Subzero manages to keep its content relatively family-friendly while delivering some heavy-hitting emotional moments that give it a mature feel. Again, Batman proves himself to be the ultimate detective, while Freeze remains just as complex and captivating an antagonist as ever. (Why haven't we got a good live-action Freeze movie yet?)
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
Whether you're familiar with Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker or not probably correlates with your attachment to Batman Beyond (1999), the cyberpunky younger sibling of The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures (1997). If you've the film, then you already know it's an underrated gem that many critics and audiences of the time brushed aside as a kids' movie.
Yet, as is often the case with Batman content, Return of the Joker packs a surprising amount of depth in its 75-minute runtime and features a delightfully unhinged Joker performance from Mark Hamill. The only downside here is that Return of the Joker loses a little bit of its punch without prior knowledge of Batman Beyond. Don't get me wrong. You can totally go into it as a standalone, but if you want the full experience, consider at least watching Season 1 of Batman Beyond first.
The Batman vs. Dracula (2005)
Pitting Batman against Dracula feels like a no-brainer. After all, both characters have strong associations with bats and slinking around at night. Yet, there are far too many DC fans who haven't seen The Batman vs. Dracula—or even know of its existence. While it's loosely based on DC Comics' Batman & Dracula: Red Rain, the movie definitely does its own thing, making changes that keep the action high.
If you're a horror fan who also likes Batman, The Batman vs. Dracula was made for you. Don't let its animation fool you. This movie is spookier than most of Batman's animated outings, perhaps more on par with Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018) when it comes to its horror sensibilities. Not to mention, Dracula's supernatural abilities give Batman an interesting foe to go up against, considering they're a relatively rare occurrence in his rogues' gallery.
Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)
While gamers might be rolling their eyes, those unfamiliar with the Batman: Arkham video game series probably let Batman: Assault on Arkham pass them by without even realizing it. With the animated movie putting the Suicide Squad in the spotlight, this movie isn't for those craving a Batman showcase. Instead, it's an action-packed, heist story primarily involving the Suicide Squad's attempts to retrieve important data stolen by The Riddler as Batman and Joker do their usual song and dance.
If you've played the critically-acclaimed Batman: Arkham video games, then you already know how gritty, dark, and immersive this take on Gotham, Batman, and his rogues is. Assault on Arkham delivers a similar vibe, with plenty of black humor, violence, and sexual content to place it firmly in mature territory. This one isn't for the kids. It's for us adults who want to unwind and watch Batman kick some butt.
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (2023)
Let's be real for a second. As great as Batman is, retreading the same old origin story and villain arcs can become… tiresome. That's why Elseworlds stories like Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham are so refreshing. It delivers the characters you know and love, just without a different spin. If The Batman vs. Dracula piqued your interest earlier, then this one most likely will, too.
Here, Batman returns from an overseas trip only to discover Gotham is under some type of supernatural curse. Also set in the 1920s, this incarnation of the Batman universe feels like the best type of fan fiction. Otherworldly, creepy, and filled with cosmic dread, The Doom That Came to Gotham is the definitive Batman movie for fans of Lovecraftian horror. Really, there's nothing else like it out there.
