Ranking All 10 Batman Movies

      Everyone has their own ranking of every Batman film from worst to best.

      Here’s ours.

      Think we overlooked one? Share your thoughts in the comments.

      But First

      Credit: Warner Bros

      To start, we are not including animated films, films where Batman appears briefly, or films featuring Batman as part of a team, such as The Flash (mentioned above).

      We did enjoy Michael Keaton’s performance, though.

      Now, here is our list.

      Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

      Warner Bros. – Credit: Warner Bros.

      Let’s begin with the worst: this chaotic film is bogged down by excessive CGI and takes the dark and gritty theme too far, feeling forced.

      We appreciate Ben Affleck as Batman, but the heavy atmosphere leaves little room for him to work. From its title onwards, everything about this film seems labored and unenjoyable.

      Perhaps it shouldn’t even be categorized among Batman films, as it's technically a sequel to Superman's Man of Steel. If you choose to exclude it, that's perfectly fine with us.

      Batman & Robin (1997)

      Warner Bros. – Credit: Warner Bros.

      In contrast, this film tries too hard to be entertaining, overflowing with puns from Mr. Freeze, outlandish costumes, and an over-the-top color palette. We admire Arnold Schwarzenegger, but this Batman flick falls flat.

      George Clooney, who portrayed Batman, recently stated in GQ, “When I say ‘Batman and Robin’ is a terrible film, I always echo, ‘I was terrible in it.’”

      “I say that not only because it’s true, but it also allows me to claim that other aspects didn’t work either.” For instance, lines like “Freeze, Freeze!”

      Batman Forever (1995)

      Warner Bros. – Credit: Warner Bros.

      From this point on, every film on our list is enjoyable in our opinion.

      Val Kilmer might not be the most memorable Batman, but he ranks in the top three as Bruce Wayne. Jim Carrey's Riddler makes bold choices that are hard to feel annoyed with for long. Plus, it's quirky and cool to see Drew Barrymore and Nicole Kidman featured.

      While Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face leans a bit too much into cartoonishness and appears to lack enthusiasm, we still enjoy this movie.

      Batman Forever stands out as one of the most unusual Batman films, and we appreciate its boldness.

      Batman (1966)

      20th Century Fox – Credit: 20th Century Fox

      This film is campy, absurd, low-budget, and an absolute delight.

      Throughout our early years, Adam West was the epitome of Batman — composed, steadfast, and incorruptible. We didn’t even notice the campiness. It was a joy to watch him on the big screen.

      We also adore Burt Ward as Robin and the original ensemble of villains, which includes Cesar Romero as a mustachioed Joker, Frank Gorshin as The Riddler, and Lee Meriwether as Catwoman (we also love the other two Catwomen from the 1960s – Eartha Kitt and Julie Newmar). However, Burgess Meredith's portrayal of the Penguin, with his scenery-chewing and cigarette holder, might be our favorite.

      Also: The shark scene! We adore this film.

      The Batman (2022)

      Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) attempts to restrain The Batman (Robert Pattinson). Photo by Jonathan Olley/DC Comics – Credit: Warner Bros.

      Robert Pattinson might just be the best Bruce Wayne/Batman after Christian Bale — we appreciate his broken, disoriented interpretation of the Caped Crusader as he wrestles with his identity. This existential struggle is the standout element of Matt Reeves’ Batman, which draws inspiration from 1970s conspiracy thrillers like Klute and All the President’s Men.

      With Reeves working to establish a new Bat-universe in this film — introducing Zoë Kravitz’s Catwoman and an unrecognizable Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot — we eagerly anticipate what the sequels will bring.

      And it led to the highly praised Penguin solo TV series.

      Batman (1989)

      Warner Bros. – Credit: Warner Bros.

      Tim Burton deserves significant credit for merging the two Batman interpretations familiar to audiences in 1989: the campy version from the 1960s TV show and movie, and the dark, tormented character from Frank Miller’s exceptional 1980s DC Comics series, The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One.

      While Jack Nicholson is a legendary actor, his representation of the Joker disrupts the film's balance: he’s overly dramatic, distracting, and lacks the wit we expect. We prefer Heath Ledger’s darkly deadpan performance.

      Nonetheless, this Batman film features an incredible score and a Prince soundtrack, and it demonstrated that a serious superhero film could succeed. We