The release of Matt Reeves’ The Batman marks the 11th theatrical solo outing for Gotham’s Caped Crusader. This makes Batman the only superhero with double digit theatrical movie outings. With so many films under his utility belt, it’s high time someone ranked these movies – so we did. Here is a list of all 11 theatrical Batman films ranked worst to best.
11. Batman & Robin (1997)
Was there even a question? Batman & Robin was an attempt to make Batman more family friendly. The result is a movie so bad that George Clooney (Bruce Wayne/Batman) still apologizes for the film to this day.
10. Batman Forever (1995)
Director Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever wasn’t as bad as Batman & Robin, barely. On the plus side, Jim Carrey as The Riddler had some bright spots, and that soundtrack was a banger.
9. The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)
Playing off the success of his appearance in Lego: The Movie, Will Arnett’s animated take on The Dark Knight is fantastic. Plus, Batman singing his own theme song? So good.
8. Batman ’66 (1966)
Batman ’66 is cheesy, nonsensical (looking at you Shark Repellent Bat Spray), and best of all, groovy. It’s a fun-filled product of its time and definitely worth a watch if you’ve never seen it.
7. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
It’s hard to follow the theatrical juggernaut that was The Dark Knight, but The Dark Knight Rises gave it the old college try. The result is a good film, albeit a slightly underwhelming one.
6. Batman Returns (1990)
The sequel to the 1989 smash hit, Batman Returns is even darker and more gothic than the original, if you can get past how creepy Danny DeVito’s Penguin is, you’re in for a treat.
5. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Based on the Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm has it all. A good mystery, great cast, and an all-new, uncompromising villain on par with our hero. Watch it.
4. Batman Begins (2005)
Almost a decade after the disaster that was Batman & Robin, Batman Begins was a new, more realistic take of Batman that managed to bring the franchise back in a big way.
3. The Batman (2022)
The Batman delivered the most grounded Batman installment to date. Gritty, brutal, and of course, dark, The Batman plays more like a psychological thriller than a comic book movie. And we are here for it.
2. Batman ‘89 (1989)
In Batman ‘89, director Tim Burton’s first take on the caped crusader gave us a unique, gothic feel to the world of the Bat. Add in a star-studded cast and the killer soundtrack and you’ve got a movie that cemented Batman’s place in modern pop culture.
1. The Dark Knight (2008)
And just like our first entry, was there really any doubt. The Dark Knight isn’t just considered by many to be the greatest comic book movie of all time. It’s arguably one of the best films of the 21st century so far.
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