Batman Movies Ranked

For the past few months, I have been watching all of the Batman movies so I decided to start a 4 part Batman series on the blog that will include posts about Batman movies, actors, and villains. Batman is one of my favorite superheroes as well as one of my favorite movie characters. One of the best things about the Batman movies is the rogues gallery. Batman has so many iconic supervillains that all add their own flare to the movies. The Batman movies have a varying degree of quality. Some of them are masterpieces while others are not good at all. These movies also cover a wide range of tones going from dark and gritty to bright and campy in the span of a few years. Overall, I have a good amount of enjoyment in almost all of these movies even though the quality varies so much. With that being said, here are my thoughts and ranking of the eleven theatrical Batman films.

11. Batman and Robin

Batman and Robin is the campiest Batman film ever made. It has nipples on the Batman suit, gives Batman a Bat credit card, and fills the time with dad jokes and bad puns. This movie is so bad that it loops back around to being good. The puns and jokes are so stupid that you can't help but laugh. Arnold Schwarzenegger goes all out in the role of Mr. Freeze. Knowing that it is an extremally goofy role, he just decides to have fun with it. Because of all the campiness and jokes, the movie is never dull and at least fun to make fun of. However, this is definitely not a good movie. It has the pride of being one of the lowest-rated films on IMBD as well as has several cast and crew members that apologized and regretted being in this film. This movie destroys the seriousness of the Batman character as it turns him into a walking toy commercial. The plot itself is just absolute nonsense. It has Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy teaming up when their goals are completely incompatible. Mr. Freeze wants to cover the world in ice while Poison Ivy wants to cover the world in plants. It makes no sense. Overall, this is a disaster of a film that managed to ruin the seriousness of Batman and the credibility of the actors and franchise all in one go.

Score:4.5/10 Grade: C-

10. Batman Forever

Batman Forever is the slightly less campy predecessor to Batman and Robin. This movie still has a lot of goofy moments but with a plot that makes a bit more sense. What makes this movie slightly better is the performance of the two main villains. The movie brings in Jim Carey at the height of his powers to play The Riddler and a very high-energy Tommy Lee Jones to play Two-Face. Both are a lot of fun in this movie and add some good energy to the film. Overall, this is just a goofy movie and while it doesn't have the tone that Batman should be, it is still a lot of fun to watch. One of the biggest issues with the film was Val Kilmer as Batman. He plays such an emotionless character and is really just a forgettable version of the character. I also thought the romance subplot with Chase and Batman to be a bit odd. Chase tries so hard to get into Batman's suit that it is hilarious while also being really weird. When a romance plot comes across as funny, clearly something isn't right. I also thought the main plot was a bit forgettable. The idea of The Riddler making these magic TV boxes that read people's minds was just quite odd. In the end, this is just another way too campy version of Batman. This is a great example of a junk food movie. It's not great but still entertaining. This is definitely the worst movie I've seen 30 times.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

9. Batman (1966)

Batman (1966) is the last of the campy Batman movies on the list. This film is higher than the other two as the campiness is not too overpowering. The story itself is quite simple with a main plot that, while it may be a bit ridiculous, still makes sense. This film gets some credit as it just feels like a classic 60s movie as this is how a lot of movies back then were made. This movie also has a few iconic moments with the memorable "pows" and "bams" to the anti-shark repellent bat spray as well as Batman's iconic line "some days, you just can't get rid of a bomb". The movie also does a decent job with its villains. The performances of The Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler, and The Penguin are all well done. I also enjoyed Adam West's performance as Batman as he is just known as the "Classic Batman". One of the biggest issues with the film is the age. A lot of the effects are a bit dated as well as some of the costumes and props not looking great. As with the last two on this list, the movie also has a bit too much camp. It doesn't hurt the movie too much but it still isn't the level of seriousness that a Batman movie should be. Overall, this is a classic film that gets Batman started in the movie world but just doesn't quite get the right tone for Batman.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

8. Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is definitely the most ambitious of Batman films. The Batman section of the movie is easily the best part of the movie as we get to see Batman's view of Superman and get to see him do some detective work. There are also a lot of solid action sequences in the film with the warehouse scene with Batman being a standout. I also think Ben Affleck does a good job as a more seasoned Batman. A lot of people dislike his casting but I thought he was the best part of the movie. If you watch the ultimate edition, this movie has a very interesting story about the debate between the freedom of Superman and whether he is a threat. However, the ambitions of the movie are what hold it back on the list. It has way too many different ideas it tries to do. It wants to be a Superman sequel, a Batman solo film, a Justice League set-up movie, and an adaptation of The Death of Superman comic, while also trying to introduce Lex Luther, Doomsday, Batman, and Wonder Woman and deliver on the Batman V Superman fight in the title. There is just way too much to cram into the movie and that definitely impacted the quality of the story. The movie also has a few ridiculous elements to it such as Lex Luthor's plan and the whole "save Martha" debacle. Overall, this is a very ambitious yet very flawed film that has so much greatness in it while a lot of dumb moments too.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

7. The Lego Batman Movie

The Lego Batman Movie is the most surprising movie on this list. It is a really heartfelt and funny story that works on a lot of levels. This movie shows an incredibly lonely Batman that, throughout the movie, learns the value of family. There are a lot of fun moments in this movie with it matching the humor and energy from the Lego Movie. It also makes a lot of self-aware jokes and references many other Batman movies. It also connects to a lot of different Warner Bros properties and has some fun with that in the movie. The story itself is actually quite solid. It is easy to follow for both kids and adults and we get to see Batman go through a decent arc through the story. I also quite enjoyed the Lego aspect of the story as several action sequences are made funnier because Legos are involved. In the end, it ends up having a lot of sweet and heartwarming moments. The main hold-up for this film is that it gets a bit too goofy at times but overall, it is a good time. In the end, this is a fun little Lego movie that gets about as good as a Lego Batman movie could.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

6. Batman Returns

Batman Returns is the Batman movie that goes full-on with the Tim Burton aesthetic. One of the best things about this movie is the great villains. Danny DeVito does a great job as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer does a great job as Cat Woman with both people diving deep into the roles and going all out with them. The action in this movie is also a lot of fun. Cat Woman has a lot of great sequences with all of her acrobatic work. There are also some solid action moments with Batman. The music in this movie is also really great with a fantastic score by Danny Elfman. This movie as a whole just has this creepy and tragic vibe that just really works for the story they are trying to tell. The main hang-up with this movie is that it gets a bit too weird at times. There are a lot of moments that just feel creepy and "kinky" and just feels like Tim Burton went a bit too far at times. I also felt that the plot was a bit scattered. The Penguin's whole plan seems a bit unfocused and unclear. We also don't get a ton of Batman in this film as a lot of the screen time is used for Cat Woman and the Penguin. Overall, while it is still a good movie, there were just a few odd choices that keep it out of the top of the list.

Score: 7.7/10 Grade: B

5. Batman (1989)

Batman 89 is a classic of the genre and truly laid the ground for superhero movies to come. This movie gives us an iconic look at Batman and Gotham City and has a style that will continue to be used for many movies, video games, and TV shows to come. This movie has an iconic score by Danny Elfman that continues to be known as the Batman theme. This movie also delivers a lot of great action sequences which, given this was the 80s, were all very practical. We also get to see some really cool Batman vehicles such as the classic Bat Mobile and Bat Wing. Michael Keaton gives a great performance as Batman. You can totally buy into him being the weird billionaire and crime-fighting hero. Of course, no Batman is complete without his Joker and Jack Nicholson does a great job as the Joker. He gives such a manic performance and really does a great job as the character. While this movie does have a lot of nostalgia to it, there are a few significant issues that hold back. One of the biggest issues is the Joker's plan. It is a bit unclear what he is trying to accomplish in the movie and because of this causes the movie to be a bit slow at times. The other big issue is that movie struggles a bit with who its lead should be between Batman and the Joker as it keeps switching between the two when trying to tell the story. In the end, while it does have its flaws, this is still a classic Batman and superhero movie.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

4. The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises is probably the sloppiest of the Nolan Batman trilogy but also one of the most epic Batman films. This movie does a great job of providing an epic conclusion to the Dark Knight trilogy. The movie manages to tie elements together from both of the other films in a grand finale that brings Batman to his limits. This movie also has much higher stakes than the last two as the lives of the city are put at risk. This movie also gives a great arc for Bruce and his purpose in life. He grows from moping around to doing whatever he can to save the city. Bane is also a great addition to the story and a solid villain. He has such a menacing and strong presence in the film and is a great match for Batman. I also like the theme of this movie as it is all about rising above your past and mistakes and learning to move forward in life. It is tied really well into the story and is a major driver for Bruce's character arc. The main issue with this film is just how sloppy it gets at times. There are several silly little mistakes that could have easily been solved with a once-over of the script. There are just too many mistakes that Nolan should be beyond making. The movie also has to cheat a little bit to get the plot where it needs to be. There are a couple elements that don't exactly track with the rest of the story but need to be there to get the plot where it needs to be. Overall, while this is still a great movie, several silly mistakes keep it from being a top Batman film.

Score: 8.4/10 Grade: B+

3. Batman Begins

Batman Begins is Christopher Nolan's take on the superhero genre and the beginning of arguably one of the greatest trilogies out there. This movie gives a much more grounded take on the Batman character. With the last Batman movie being the cartoonish Batman and Robin, this movie provides a much more serious story. This movie also gives a fantastic origin story of the character Batman. We get to see his training with the League of Shadows as well as more of his growth as a person and character. The action in this movie is very exciting. There is a lot of cool fight choreography that goes on as well as some fun action sequences. I also enjoy how this movie uses the technique of nonlinear storytelling. We get Bruce's training intercut with events from his past and just gave a very effective way to view the character. The movie also has a great theme in dealing with fear. We see Batman grow beyond his fears and learn how to use them against his enemies. Finally, I thought the cast in this movie was great. Christian Bale is a great Batman and probably my favorite actor to play the role. Aside from him, the movie also has Michael Caine, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, and Liam Neeson. All of them are great characters and add a lot to the film. This is a top-tier superhero film. The only thing keeping it out of the top 3 is that the third act goes a little over the top compared to the rest of the movie. Overall, this is a great superhero film and a solid entry from Christopher Nolan.

Score: 8.9/10 Grade: A-

2. The Batman

The Batman is the newest of the Batman movies and finally gives The Dark Knight the chance to be a real detective. This movie delivers a great detective story, taking inspiration from classics such as Se7en and Zodiac. It is also a very grounded story and is probably the most realistic of all the Batman movies. It also has a lot of really solid action sequences with practical effects and real-looking action. Robert Pattinson delivers a great performance as Batman. When it was first announced that he was going to play Batman, I was a bit skeptical. However, this movie absolutely won me over. You can totally buy him as the character as it just transforms into Batman. The Riddler was also a great villain in the story. He is a very grounded character taking more inspiration from serial killers than supervillains. One of the biggest standouts was Colin Ferrell as The Penguin. He gives such a great performance that you can't even tell that it is him. That is how you know a performance is good. The only slight hang-up I have is that the movie is a bit too long. I feel it could have been tightened up by 15-20 minutes. In the end, this is a fantastic Batman film and I am excited to see what they do with the sequel.

Score: 9/10 Grade: A

1. The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight is one of the greatest superhero films of all time. This film is masterfully written and directed and does a great job with its pacing. The film is just so exciting and suspenseful throughout and it never really lets up until the end. Each sequence is somehow more suspenseful than the last to the point where the movie feels like it has 3 different climaxes. I like that this movie focuses on the theme of chaos and how some people just don't have a reason for what they are doing. This really ties into Batman and causes him to question his efforts. Heath Ledger as the Joker gives a legendary performance and is probably one of my favorite movie characters of all time. Harvey Dent is another great addition to the story with his arc being so fascinating and tragic. It is just so compelling to see him start as this great figure only to fall into tragedy and madness at the end. His whole story is just very well done. Finally, I like how this film is all about the idea of limits. Batman has to figure out how far he is willing to go to stop the Joker without losing his humanity. This is just a very different type of superhero movie but yet is one of the best ones out there. Overall, this is a fantastic film and one of the few that I consider an absolute masterpiece.

Score: 10/10 Grade: A+