While Batman is far from DC Comics' only hero, he's arguably the most famous. Bob Kane and Bill Finger's heroic creation first appeared in the colorful pages of Detective Comics #27 in 1939. And while patrolling Gotham's crime-ridden streets isn't easy, the Caped Crusader has been at it for decades after making his jump to the big screen in 1943.
Every iteration of Batman brings something different to the table, and fans have their favorite versions of the playboy turned vigilante. Right now, HBO Max is the home of DC media, making it the first stop on your live-action Batman movie binge. With Batman's position in James Gunn's DC Universe beginning to cast an imposing shadow, and The Batman 2 in the pipeline, those looking to revisit the Dark Knight's cinematic escapades can learn how to watch them in chronological order right here, minus Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, given the Kryptonian shares just as much of the spotlight in that one.
Batman (1943)
While many credit Adam West as the first live-action Batman, the Caped Crusader's live-action debut actually came in 1943's Batman. Lewis Wilson stars as Batman alongside Douglas Croft's Robin as the duo thwarts Dr. Draka's (J. Carrol Naish) sinister zombie creation plans. Columbia Pictures tells the story across a 15-chapter movie serial, which introduces another familiar DC face in Alfred (William Austin). Reminiscent of today's TV series, each segment released in theaters and ended on a doozy of a cliffhanger.
Despite critics' complaints about Robin's age and Batman's Boston accent, Batman won the hearts of fans and earned a sequel in 1949. By today's standards, the serial dates itself in almost every sense. From racial insensitivities to cheesy fight scenes, Batman is best suited for true completionists or cinephiles who understand the complexities, controversies, and incompleteness that can come along with old media.
Batman and Robin (1949)
Long before Joel Schumacher's rather infamous Batman & Robin, Columbia Pictures released the similarly titled Batman and Robin in 1949. The 15-chapter sequel to 1943's Batman features the titular duo going head-to-head against The Wizard (William Fawcett), a villain with a knack for using electronic devices for malicious purposes.
Colombia recast the title roles, with Robert Lowery donning Batman's cape and Johnny Duncan slipping into Robin's tights. Unlike its predecessor, Batman and Robin features several notable DC names, including Vicki Vale (Jane Adams), Jim Gordon (Lyle Talbot), and, of course, Alfred (played by an uncredited Eric Wilton). Delivering a similar level of cheese and budget-saving mishaps, Batman and Robin is primarily for audiences who made it through Batman (1943) and want to finish the 1940s serials in their entirety.
Batman (1966)
While the early serials widened Batman's public reach, the Adam West-starring Batman series catapulted him into fame. One season later, Batman (1966), the first true feature film of the hero, was released. The plot sees Batman (West) and Robin (Burt Ward) face off against a plethora of villains, including Joker (Cesar Romero), Penguin (Burgess Meredith), Riddler (Frank Gorshin), and Catwoman (Lee Meriwether).
Much like the series, the movie embraces a campy, tongue-in-cheek interpretation of the Caped Crusader and his foes. With Robin delivering the expected cheese with lines like "Holy Long John Silver! A pirate periscope," this West and Ward vehicle rightly remains a classic. If corny superhero hijinks are your thing, Batman (1966) is a must-watch, especially given its influence on future Batman movies.
Batman (1989)
After a two-decade absence from the big screen, the Caped Crusader returned in what would become Warner Bros.' first Batman film series. Tim Burton's Batman (1989) pits the hero (Michael Keaton) against The Joker (Jack Nicholson) in a loose retelling of "The Man Behind the Red Hood" from Detective Comics #168.
The film marks a big departure from the campy, colorful adaptations of the 1960s, returning Batman to his darker, pulpier roots. It also features the first live-action appearance of notable Batman foe Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams). Despite playing hard and loose with the hero's origin, Batman's fresh style earned a follow-up and a dedicated fanbase. Those who enjoyed Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy have this movie to thank.
Batman Returns (1992)
Batman Returns cranks the dial upward in terms of darkness and casting. Michael Keaton returns as the Caped Crusader. This time, he finds himself amid Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Max Shreck's (Christopher Walken) plan to take over Gotham. While all the villains are formidable, Catwoman steals the show due to a stellar performance from Michelle Pfeiffer.
As far as Gotham goes, Burton's signature whimsical gothic style is on full display. Often described as an "anti-blockbuster," Batman Returns set out to create its own world. Although polarizing for some, the movie undoubtedly features the most iconic versions of Penguin and Catwoman in cinema. If you love other Burton movies like Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice, you'll find a similar, albeit more mature, aura and aesthetic here.
Batman Forever (1995)
Batman Forever is the third movie in Warner Bros.' Batman series, yet you wouldn't know it based on appearances. Joel Schumacher's onboarding as director came with a hard left turn in tone. Forgoing the darker vibes of its predecessors, Batman Forever favors camp and over-the-top villains reminiscent of the 1960s. Val Kilmer replaces Keaton as Batman, who must contend with Riddler (Jim Carrey) and Two-Face's (Tommy Lee Jones) plot to take over Gotham with a brain-warping device.
While the plot is just as silly as it sounds, anyone who appreciates the more colorful, less serious vibe made famous by Adam West's Batman will find a lot to like here. If the thought of that already has you rolling your eyes, then consider skipping Batman Forever and its even zanier sequel—just know that you'll be missing out on the infamous Bat-nipple suits that have spawned no shortage of memes.
Batman & Robin (1997)
Joel Schumacher returned for the fourth and final installment of the quadrilogy started by Burton in 1989. Batman & Robin ushers in a new set of actors for its titular characters, with George Clooney and Chris O'Donnell taking over the Batman and Robin mantles, respectively. This time, the heroes confront Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy's (Uma Thurman) combined efforts to take over the world. And for the first time since the '60s, Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone) fights alongside the duo in live-action.
Unfortunately, Batman & Robin's legacy is one of infamy. Considered by many as one of the worst superhero movies ever made, it earned a host of Razzie nominations upon release. That said, aficionados of camp and cheese will find a lot of stupid fun within Schumacher's movie. It's nothing like Batman (1989) and even further from Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy, but that's what set it apart. Whether that's good or bad really comes down to your taste. If you like scholocky movies, this might become a new favorite.
Batman Begins (2005)
After another long stretch of no live-action movies, Warner Bros. settled on Christopher Nolan to reboot the series. Batman Begins kicks off Nolan's acclaimed The Dark Knight trilogy, starring Christian Bale as Batman and establishing Michael Caine as Alfred, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox. As teased in the title, the movie chronicles Batman's origin story and his later fight against Ra's al Ghul (Liam Neeson) and Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy).
In another moment of whiplash, Batman Begins rejects the camp Joel Schumacher leaned into in favor of realism and grit. Those familiar with Nolan's other work, like Memento, The Prestige, and even the more recent Oppenheimer, will feel right at home in his bleak and grounded imagining of Gotham.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Christopher Nolan's second installment delves further into Gotham politics as Jim Gordon (Oldman) and Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) work to combat organized crime. However, The Dark Knight ultimately becomes a cat-and-mouse game between Joker (Heath Ledger) and Batman (Bale).
If Batman Begins was a success, The Dark Knight was a record-breaking smash hit responsible for revitalizing the superhero genre, thanks to its complex exploration of morality. It walked away with a plethora of Oscar nominations and two wins for Best Supporting Actor and Best Sound Editing. Ledger's performance was particularly praised, with his role as Joker standing out in a filmography largely composed of romantic dramas. If you want to watch the best Batman movie that also happens to be one of the best films of all time, boot up The Dark Knight right now.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The Dark Knight Rises features Batman (Bale) during the tail end of his crime-fighting career. Now retired, it's not until Bane's (Tom Hardy) sharp rise to power and threat of nuclear destruction that Bruce Wayne reprises his vigilante role. Although it didn't garner the same amount of awards as The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises remains the highest-grossing Batman movie to date.
Much like its trilogy predecessors, the film offers a gritty, realistic portrayal of Gotham and its inhabitants. It's a story about the cost and complexities of heroism in a world darkened by greed and destruction. Overall, The Dark Knight Rises provides a satisfying conclusion to Nolan's trilogy and will appeal to anyone craving a good, character-driven story.
The Batman (2022)
Director Matt Reeves offers a less-seasoned, broodier version of Batman played by Robert Pattinson. Only in his second year of crime fighting, the Caped Crusader's quest to reveal The Riddler (Paul Dano) leads to a bigger organized crime conspiracy that sees him crossing paths with complex figures like Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz).
Following in Nolan's footsteps, Reeves builds a dark, realistic picture of Gotham while embracing Batman's noir origins as a detective. Well-loved by critics and audiences alike, The Batman (2022) sparked the start of a new trilogy and a larger universe of Batman-related media. Watch this one if you want to see a less-experienced Batman existing in a universe similar to what Nolan established in The Dark Knight.
