All 13 Batman Movies, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
Batman is one of the most influential and popular heroes in the modern day, if not the most. Countless iterations of his story have been produced, with many leaving a strong mark in the entertainment industry. While fans wait for The Batman Part 2 and who will be the DCU’s Batman, they can look back at all the great movies that evolved and established this legendary character.
This list will give fans an extensive look at all of the Batman movies over the years. There have been a total of 15 theatrical Batman movies, and this list will rank them all based on Rotten Tomatoes rankings. This review website isn’t universally beloved or flawless in its methodology, but it is as close to the definitive movie rankings fans can agree on. Still, audiences should form their own opinions by watching the movies themselves, but these reviews are fun to look at and compare.
13
‘Batman & Robin’ (1997)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 12%
Kicking off this list is Batman & Robin, the Batman movie that Rotten Tomatoes deems the worst, and it’s hard to argue. The studio got a new actor (George Clooney) to play the caped crusader, this time facing off against Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy in an even sillier and campier story meant to attract as many children and sell as many toys as possible.
Fans won’t argue this placement, as most regard it as the worst superhero movie of all time. Batman & Robin lost all the charm of the previous film and became a mindless, tongue-in-cheek film that is too tiresome to be genuinely enjoyable. While the addition of the Bat-family was nice, nothing else was noteworthy except horrible puns and a boring story.
12
‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 29%
The DCEU was a failure on many levels, but some movies, like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, had lots of hype. After the destruction left in the wake of Superman’s battle with General Zod, Batman doesn’t trust this new hero, resulting in a feud between the two, which halts due to Lex Luthor’s schemes behind the scenes.
Batman v Superman started tremendous and only got worse, providing one single entertaining action sequence for fans. The idea and story had so much potential, but the overly dark, gritty aesthetic and nonsensical plot ruined the movie. Ultimately, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice had too many ideas thrown into it and suffered the consequences.
11
‘Batman: The Killing Joke’ (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 35%
DC has been relatively consistent in delivering standout animated movies, which is why fans were excited about Batman: The Killing Joke, based on Alan Moore‘s iconic story about the Joker’s twisted origins. The Clown Prince of Crime has another plan up his sleeve, this time capturing Commissioner Gordon, but he isn’t the villain’s primary target.
The Killing Joke is the first animated movie on this list, and while it won’t be the last, it is by far the worst. This film is one of the darkest Batman movies, but it suffers greatly from reworking the iconic source material too much. Great moments were left out, and lousy additions were included, including a controversial moment between Batman and Batgirl, muddling a potentially good adaptation.
10
‘Batman Forever’ (1995)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 41%
The tragic passing of Val Kilmer affected everyone, but fans can look back on his legacy, including Batman Forever. This campy film comes off the success of the Burtonverse, with a new director and actor and a new, lighter, more comedic approach. Batman faces a war on two fronts against the Riddler and Two-Face.
Viewers can divide Batman movies into two sections: bad and good. Batman Forever exists somewhere in the middle, which is so bad it’s good. Fans will be disappointed if they come in expecting a good film, but the campiness and over-the-top nature provide some fun moments and an overall delightful experience that fans shouldn’t take seriously. Plus, Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee-Jones are perfect as Riddler and Two-Face.
9
‘Batman’ (1989)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%
Almost twenty years after Batman 1966, Tim Burton used the same title to deliver a completely different experience. Now, with clear gothic inspirations and a darker tone, the titular hero must get over his depressing past to take down the new criminal mastermind, the Joker, a former mobster with desires to conquer Gotham.
Although it may have a lower percentage than the original Batman, Tim Burton’s version is Certified Fresh, which is a nice feather on its cap. Batman reinvented the character and influenced future iterations, specifically Batman: The Animated Series. This movie also helped kickstart the superhero movie craze that would dominate the 21st century.
8
‘Batman’ (1966)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
Batman never used to be a dark and gritty hero before he was a campy and goofy crime fighter, as highlighted in the very first live-action movie, Batman. Based on the 1966 TV show, this feature film pits the titular hero against his toughest adversaries, including Joker, Catwoman, and the Riddler.
Adam West was a treasure and brought Batman to life for the first time. This movie doesn’t take itself seriously and revels in its campiness and goofiness, from battling sharks to countless onomatopeia. This Batman movie created stars and established itself as an iconic movie for the franchise, defining the character’s identity throughout the latter part of the 20th century.
7
‘Batman Returns’ (1992)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
Following 1989’s Batman on this list is, ironically, its sequel, Batman Returns, which brings back the character for a darker and more formidable challenge. When the Penguin and the corrupt businessman Max Shreck team up to elect the former as mayor, Batman must pull out all his tricks to avoid the worst-case scenario. Meanwhile, a wild card emerges in the form of the seductive femme fatale Catwoman.
Batman Returns is one of the best live-action Batman films of its century, improving on everything from the first. The gothic Christmas aesthetic is a visual masterpiece, and the simple story allows for character growth and stylistic choices to excel. The flawless casting and new villains also provide an entertaining and worthy Batman film.
6
‘Batman: Mask of the Phantasm’ (1993)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
Batman: The Animated Series is the greatest animated superhero TV show, and its success spawned a sequel movie, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. A new vigilante comes into Gotham, killing renowned crime bosses one by one. As he struggles with his civilian identity and his role as a hero, Batman soon uncovers that his past may be related to these killings.
Many fans view Mask of the Phantasm as the ultimate Batman movie, and while Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t agree, it still gave it a respectable rating. This animated gem honors the source material while trying something new, giving great depth to Batman and, most importantly, Bruce Wayne. Indeed, Mask of the Phantasm is perhaps the only movie where the man is more important than the bat, making him more empathetic and relatable.
5
‘Batman Begins’ (2005)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
Batman Begins is the first movie in one of the best movie trilogies of all time. It presents an origin story for the character, adopting a far more grounded approach than anything that came before. When the organization Batman trained with plans to destroy Gotham City, the blossoming hero begins cleaning up the city and its criminals, including Scarecrow, before having a fateful battle against Ra’s Al Ghul, a DC villain who deserves a solo movie.
While many fans won’t agree with the rating or its placement, earning a spot in the top five is still respectable. Batman Begins is brooding, dark, smart, and thrilling, reinventing Batman in a grounded setting. It is a classic Batman story that has gone down as an essential DC film and the starting point for a trilogy that revolutionized the superhero genre.
4
‘The Batman’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
The Batman is the most recent film starring the world’s greatest detective, ushering in a new actor to don the cape and cowl. While fans need to wait a while before The Batman Part 2, they can go back and appreciate this thrilling mystery. In it, the Riddler is killing select individuals as part of a grand conspiracy, prompting Batman to stop him before his master plan swallows Gotham City.
Having the same rating as Batman Begins, The Batman probably lands above because of its modern approach, as well as its focus on mystery and the character’s detective side. The gritty and ambitious story elevates Batman to new heights, delivering a modern noir film that brings the character into new territory while remaining faithful to his essence.
3
‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
Concluding Christopher Nolan‘s Batman trilogy is The Dark Knight Rises, which brings the imposing Bane into live-action in a terrifying way. Following his fight with the Joker and Harvey Dent’s corruption, Bruce abandons the mantle of Batman, but the introduction of Catwoman and a ruthless terrorist bring him back to save Gotham City one last time.
A lot of fans won’t agree with this assessment, but Rotten Tomatoes clearly thinks very highly of this movie. There are some confusing decisions and weak moments, but The Dark Knight Rises is still an enjoyable story and one of the best Batman films of this century. It is ambitious and grand, concluding the trilogy in an epic way, even if its reach so often exceeds its grasp.
2
‘The LEGO Batman Movie’ (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
After the success of The LEGO Movie, the studio delivered an unexpected delight to fans with The Lego Batman Movie. The film sees Joker’s ultimate plan put Gotham City in grave danger, but if Batman wants to save the day, he may have to abandon his lone wolf style.
Bringing Batman back to his campy roots mixed with modern grittiness, The Lego Batman Movie is surprisingly a top-tier experience and a refreshing take on the Caped Crusader. This movie proves Batman is a versatile character who can excel in any genre, especially comedy. This grand blockbuster is a cult classic and just what the character needed, especially at a time when the gritty aspect of his story was becoming a bit too overwhelming.
1
‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Coming as a surprise to no one, The Dark Knight is the highest-rated Batman movie on Rotten Tomatoes. With a 94%, this film is the only Batman cinematic effort to land in the 90s, which is surprising that no other theatrical movie did so. Trying to prove his philosophy, the Joker endangers Batman’s closest friends and Gotham, forcing the hero to make a tough choice.
The Dark Knight is an essential DC movie for many reasons. It is the definitive Batman movie and establishes the character again, proving that the grounded and gritty nature is here to stay. Rotten Tomatoes calls it dark, complex, and unforgettable, three words that perfectly describe this legendary film. The Dark Knight has etched itself in history as one of the greatest films ever, making it unlikely that any future Batman film will top it.
