Let’s be honest: Batman is not another superhero; Batman is the superhero. Filmmakers have reimagined Gotham’s dark avenger in a multitude of ways over the decades, from gothic fairytales to crime drama grit. Each director, each actor, and each villain has put their own mark on the Dark Knight’s cinematic legacy. Not all Bat-flicks are equal, however. Some fly higher than the bat-signal, and others falter in the darkness. So grab your cape, because we’re ranking the 10 best Batman movies, starting with the weakest and climbing up to the ultimate Gotham masterpiece.
10. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
On paper, the initial Batman/Superman battle should have been legendary. What Zack Snyder gave us instead was a confused, joyless epic saddled with bleak imagery and awkward storytelling. The warehouse battle is proof that Affleck might have been an awesome Batman, but the much-maligned “Martha” twist makes this one hard to justify even for the most die-hard Bat-enthusiasts.
9. Batman & Robin
If excess neon, ice puns, and anbat nipples are your thing, chances are you caught this film as a child. Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin is a nadir of the franchise, by diminishing Bane to a mere mindless thug and Gotham to a cartoonish advertisement. Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy is a plus, but even she can’t salvage this campfest.
8. The Dark Knight Rises
Christopher Nolan closed his trilogy with spectacle but faltered in execution. Tom Hardy’s Bane is formidable, and Anne Hathaway brings some life as Catwoman, but the film plods under its massive runtime and confused politics. It’s big and daring, but much duller than the two films that preceded it.
7. Batman Begins
Following the fiasco of Batman & Robin, Nolan rebooted Batman to his essentials, basing him in reality. With Cillian Murphy’s unsettling Scarecrow and an impressive supporting cast, the movie redefined superhero origins. Action is a tad rough, but this gritty relaunch set the stage for the current superhero craze.
6. Batman Forever
Val Kilmer wore the cowl for this cotton candy-colored, mid-’90s extravaganza. Jim Carrey’s demented Riddler steals the movie, and Tommy Lee Jones hammed it up as Two-Face. The movie is not great.t Nicole Kidman had too much work to do, but it’s irrefutably entertaining, with Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose” sealing its pop culture status.
5. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Don’t underestimate animation; this film is haunting, moving, and deeply human. Building off Batman: The Animated Series, it’s a dive into Bruce’s inner turmoil and his ill-fated romance. His first time wearing the cowl is unforgettable. Tragic and stylish, it’s one of the best outings for Batman.
4. Batman (1989)
Tim Burton’s gothic imagination reimagined superhero films. Jack Nicholson’s Joker is unhinged and unforgettable, Danny Elfman’s music is iconic, and the production design drips with atmosphere. The story has some wonky bits (why rehash Bruce’s origin?), but this is the film that made Batman hip again.
3. The Batman (2022)
Matt Reeves gave us the detective Batman we’d been waiting for. Robert Pattinson’s brooding take pairs perfectly with Zoë Kravitz’s sly Selina Kyle. From its rain-soaked noir aesthetic to the pulse-pounding chase with Penguin, the movie balances grounded realism with operatic style. A new classic in the making.
2. The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger’s Joker alone makes this movie a legend. But aside from that, The Dark Knight is a near-flawless crime epic, bursting with iconic set pieces and hyper-razor-sharp tension. Its only flaws? A slightly clunky final act and the rushed Two-Face subplot. Still, it’s the standard for superhero filmmaking.
1. Batman Returns
Tim Burton’s Batman Returns is more than just a Batman movie; it’s a gothic masterpiece. Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman is sensual, tragic, and unforgettable; Danny DeVito’s grotesque Penguin is both horrifying and heartbreaking. Add Christopher Walken as the deliciously slimy Max Shreck, and you’ve got a dark fairytale like no other. It’s daring, stylish, and still unmatched in its weird, beautiful brilliance.
From campy misfires to gothic triumphs, Batman’s filmography is as complex as the hero himself. Some entries falter, others transcend the genre, but every single one adds to the mythos of Gotham’s Dark Knight. And that’s why, no matter the take, we’ll always come back for the next Bat-adventure.