List of All Batman Movies in Order: Do you know how many Batman movies are there? Well, there have been 10 so far (if we count Justice League, which is not solely a Batman movie). Below you will find a list of all Batman movies in order of release. The first-ever Batman movie was made in 1966 and it’s titled Batman: The Movie. It’s actually an adaptation of the Batman TV series from 1960. But we will not go back this far in the past.
The actual Batman film series starts with Michael Keaton in 1989, and we consider him to be the original Batman. If you plan to watch all Batman movies, you can start with Burton’s Batman (1989). Director Tim Burton and Michael Keaton returned with a sequel Batman Returns in 1992. After Keaton decided not to reprise his role, Val Kilmer was the next one-time Batman in Batman Forever (1995), directed by Joel Schumacher.
Schumacher also directed Batman & Robin (1997), but Val Kilmer did not reprise the role because of a scheduling conflict with The Saint. George Clooney was a one-time Batman in this one, which many consider to be the worst among Batman movies, even though this one had the biggest ensemble cast of all Batman movies, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris O’Donnell, Uma Thurman, and Alicia Silverstone. Both Schumacher movies were poorly received and that led to the cancellation of the next planned movie titled Batman Unchained.
RELATED: List of DC Extended Universe Films
After a few more cancellations, things were about to become much better. The franchise was rebooted 8 years later with Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale. The movie was a huge success. Nolan returned with two more installments, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. Not only did both sequels earn over $1 billion worldwide, but are considered the best superhero movies of all time.
When Warner Bros. launched their own shared cinematic universe (DC Extended Universe) starting with Man of Steel (2013), Ben Affleck became the new Batman with the first appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. He made a short uncredited cameo appearance in Suicide Squad (2016) and reprised the role of Batman in a crossover film Justice League (2017).
Justice League Snyder Cut is scheduled to be released in 2021, which is also the year when the new Batman movie will be released. The Batman (2021) is another reboot of the Batman film series and it will star Robert Pattinson as the new Batman. Ben Affleck has revealed that he quit portraying Batman due to personal issues.
It is reported that Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck will reprise their roles of Batman in the new DC Extended Universe film The Flash (2022).
Christian Bale has portrayed Batman 3 times. Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck have played the role of Batman two times, but with their appearance in The Flash, they will also portray Batman for the third time, even though Bale was a three-time Batman in the actual Batman movies and definitely with most screen time as Batman.
Here is the list of all Batman movies in order of release:
1. Batman (1989)
Genre: Action, Adventure
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger
It is the first installment of the Batman film series. The movie grossed over $400 million at the box office, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film in history at the time. It won an Oscar for Best Art Direction.
The film tells the story of the early days of Batman’s war on crime as well as the origin story of the Joker. Through a flashback to Bruce Wayne’s past, where he witnessed his parents’ murder, we learn why he became Batman.
In a dangerous and corrupt Gotham City run by a crime boss Carl Grissom, a new, costumed hero emerges out of the shadows to fight crime. A billionaire Bruce Wayne is disguised as Batman and he is on a mission to protect the citizens of Gotham City. When Grissom’s right-hand man Jack Napier falls into a vat of chemicals and reappears as the Joker, he will take over the criminal underworld and the reign of terror will start. Batman will face his biggest nemesis ever.
Batman did create the Joker by causing him to fall into chemicals, but the Joker also created Batman when he killed his parents.
2. Batman Returns (1992)
Genre: Action, Crime, Fantasy
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken
In this stand-alone sequel, Batman will face a villain from the sewers who calls himself Penguin. We will also be introduced to Catwoman who has her own enemy, a crooked businessman Max Schreck.
3. Batman Forever (1995)
Genre: Action, Adventure
Director: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, Chris O’Donnell
In the third installment of the Batman film series and the stand-alone sequel to Batman Returns, Val Kilmer will replace Michael Keaton as Batman. This time Batman must confront two villains, Two-Face (former district attorney Harvey Dent) and Riddler (former Wayne Tech employee). But Batman will not face them alone. A young acrobat Robin will become his sidekick. Batman also must deal with a romantic relationship with psychologist Dr. Chase Meridian.
4. Batman & Robin (1997)
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Director: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O’Donnell, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone
This is the fourth and final installment of the initial Batman film series by Warner Bros. It’s a sequel to Batman Forever. George Clooney is replacing Val Kilmer as Batman, while Chris O’Donnell reprises his role as Robin. Michael Gough is also returning with the role of Alfred Pennyworth, which he has played in all four movies.
Even though this one has the biggest number of movie stars in it, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone, and model Elle Macpherson, the movie has the lowest rating of all Batman movies.
Batman and Robin will face new villains in Gotham City, Mr. Freeze (a former doctor turned evil), and Poison Ivy, who will cause a rift between the two partners. At the same time, Batgirl (only live-action film appearance) must find a cure for her uncle Alfred.
5. Batman Begins (2005)
Genre: Action, Adventure
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes
After the poor reception of Batman & Robin (1997), the Batman movie series was on hold for nearly a decade, until Batman Begins (2005). The film completely reboots the series, telling the origin story of Bruce Wayne. It’s the first movie in The Dark Knight Trilogy.
The story begins by showing a young boy Bruce Wayne developing a fear of bats and witnessing his parents’ murder. Fourteen years later, as an adult, Bruce decides to travel the world and learn about criminals by living among them and fighting them. On his journey, he will meet Ra’s Al Guhl and join his organization League of Shadows where he will complete ninja training. Eventually, he will return to Gotham to fight crime, but his biggest enemy will turn out to be the man who trained him.
6. The Dark Knight (2008)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
The Dark Knight is set a year after the events in Batman Begins. Teamed up with Lieutenant James Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman plans to dismantle organized crime in Gotham for good. But there is a new rising threat in the city, a criminal mastermind known as “The Joker” who starts to create chaos. Problems for Batman will become even bigger when Harvey Dent’s face gets burned in an explosion, and he becomes the villainous Two-Face.
The movie won two Oscars, for Best Sound Editing and Best Supporting Actor (Ledger was posthumously awarded). It is widely considered as one of the best movies ever made. There are only two movies in the IMDb Top Rated Movies list that are rated higher than The Dark Knight (The Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather).
7. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Genre: Action, Adventure
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
The Dark Knight Rises is the final movie in the Dark Knight Trilogy. It is set eight years after Batman defeated the Joker. Gotham City has a new enemy named Bane who aims to take over the city. Bane is a former member of the League of Shadows who continues Ra’s al Ghul’s legacy by destroying Gotham. Bane has the whole army with him, but Batman is not completely alone. There are few allies with him, including Catwoman.
8. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Gal Gadot
Dawn of Justice is the first-ever movie where Batman and Superman meet, as well as the first movie portrayal of Wonder Woman. The movie is a cinematic reboot of the Batman character.
After a showdown between Superman and General Zod (in Man of Steel), Batman sees Superman as a danger to humanity. He believes that Kal-El’s powers must be neutralized. The clash between the two is inevitable. However, when evil Lex Luthor unleashes a monster, Batman and Superman are forced to confront it together. Mysterious Wonder Woman will appear to help.
An extended cut of the movie (Ultimate Edition), with an additional 31 minutes, was released in July 2016.
9. Justice League (2017)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Henry Cavill
Justice League follows the story in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Two years after the death of Superman, the evil Steppenwolf and his army come to destroy the Earth. Batman and Wonder Woman team up with Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg to stand against the new threat. Unfortunately, this League of Heroes is still not enough to defeat Steppenwolf, so Batman decides to use the powerful device called Mother Box (which Steppenwolf is looking for) to revive Superman.
Known characters from Batman movies, Alfred Pennyworth and police commissioner James Gordon, are returning in Justice League. Batman and his trusted confidant Alfred, are played by the same actors as in Batman v Superman (Ben Affleck and Jeremy Irons).
All Batman Movies Ranked According to IMDb
- The Dark Knight (2008) – 9.0 with 2,241,000 votes
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012) – 8.4 with 1,480,000 votes
- Batman Begins (2005) – 8.2 with 1,278,000 votes
- Batman (1989) – 7.5 with 332,000 votes
- Batman Returns (1992) – 7.0 with 269,000 votes
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) – 6.4 with 612,000 votes
- Justice League (2017) – 6.3 with 371,000 votes
- Batman Forever (1995) – 5.4 with 231,000 votes
- Batman & Robin (1997) – 3.7 with 230,000 votes
All Batman Movies Box Office Performance
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012) – $1.081 billion
- The Dark Knight (2008) – $1.005 billion
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) – $874 million
- Justice League (2017) – $678 million
- Batman (1989) – $412 million
- Batman Begins (2005) – – $374 million
- Batman Forever (1995) – $337 million
- Batman Returns (1992) – $283 million
- Batman & Robin (1997) – $238 million