We dive into the Batman universe and show you every adaptation that has brought the hero of Gotham to the big screen.

Batman stands as an iconic and beloved character in the realms of both comics and cinema. Conceived by Bob Kane and Bill Finger in 1939, the Dark Knight has embarked on countless adventures across various mediums, from TV series to video games. Nevertheless, it’s on the silver screen where his brilliance truly shines, with numerous cinematic adaptations that have left a significant mark. Some of these adaptations have even secured their place among the highest-grossing films in history.

In this article, we will take you through a chronological journey of all Batman movies, considering both historical and fictional events that unfold in each. By doing so, we can relish in the character’s evolution and his universe’s progression over the years. Additionally, we’ll provide a comparative chart highlighting key details for each film.

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Batman (1966)

Batman is a 1966 film based on the DC Comics comic book and television series of the same name. The film follows the adventures of Batman and Robin, the defenders of Gotham City, as they face an alliance of four of their worst enemies: the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler and Catwoman. These villains plan to use a dehydrator that turns people into dust to kidnap members of the World Security Council and demand a ransom.

The film is a fantastic comedy that parodies the superhero genre with absurd humor, ridiculous situations and rudimentary special effects. It is characterized by its colorful aesthetics, catchy music and iconic dialogue, such as Robin’s «Holy…!» or Batman’s «What would Batman do?». It is a cult film classic and a showcase of the charm and personality of Adam West’s Batman.

Batman: Mask of the Phantom (1993)

This animated film is set in the 1940s, shortly after Bruce Wayne became Batman. It tells the story of the hero’s origin and his relationship with Andrea Beaumont, a woman who made him hesitate between love and justice. At the same time, Batman must confront a mysterious assassin who is eliminating Gotham’s mob bosses.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a film based on the hit television series Batman: The Animated Series, created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini. The film retains the same visual style and voice cast as the series, featuring Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker. It was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and is considered one of the best adaptations of the character.

Batman (1989)

The first film directed by Tim Burton introduces us to a Batman already established as a night watchman in the Gotham of the 1980s. His main enemy is the Joker, a disfigured criminal who sows chaos and terror in the city with his macabre plans. Batman will also have to deal with his relationship with Vicki Vale, a photographer who wants to discover his secret identity.

Batman was a great commercial success and was a revolution in the superhero genre. The film opted for a darker and more gothic tone than previous adaptations of the character, such as the 1960s series or the 1966 film. Michael Keaton played an introspective and tormented Batman, while Jack Nicholson gave life to a charismatic and sadistic Joker. The soundtrack was provided by Danny Elfman and Prince.

Batman Returns (1992)

Burton’s sequel delves into the grimmer, more grotesque side of Gotham, where Batman faces two new villains: the Penguin, a deformed being who wants revenge on the society that rejected him, and Catwoman, a woman resurrected by cats who seeks to empower herself against the men who oppress her. Between them stands Max Shreck, a corrupt businessman who wants to control the city.

Batman Returns was less successful than its predecessor, but maintained the artistic and narrative level. The film explored the characters’ motivations and personalities, creating a complex interplay of identities and masks. Michael Keaton reprised his role as Batman, while Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken joined the cast as the Penguin, Catwoman and Shreck respectively.

Batman Forever (1995)

The first film directed by Joel Schumacher changes the dark tone for a more colorful and comical one. Batman faces Two-Face, a former prosecutor who went mad after being disfigured by acid, and Enigma, a genius obsessed with knowing the hero’s mind. To stop them, Batman will have the help of Robin, a young acrobat who seeks to avenge the death of his family.

Batman Forever was a commercial success, but received mixed reviews from critics and fans. The film moved away from Burton’s style and closer to that of the 1960s series, with more humor, more action and more fantasy. Val Kilmer replaced Keaton as Batman, while Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey and Chris O’Donnell played Two-Face, the Enigma and Robin respectively.

Batman and Robin (1997)

Schumacher’s second film is considered one of the character’s worst. Batman and Robin must stop Mr. Freeze, a scientist who wants to freeze the world to save his sick wife, and Poison Ivy, an eco-terrorist who wants to wipe out humanity with her mutant plants. They are also joined by Batgirl, the niece of Alfred, Batman’s faithful butler.

Batman and Robin was both a commercial and critical failure, and marked the end of the saga begun by Burton. The film was criticized for its absurd script, over-the-top performances, poor special effects and kitsch aesthetics. George Clooney replaced Kilmer as Batman, while Arnold Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman and Alicia Silverstone played Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy and Batgirl respectively.

Batman Begins (2005)

The first film directed by Christopher Nolan reboots the saga with a more realistic and dramatic tone. Batman trains with the League of Shadows, a secret organization that wants to purge evil from the world, and returns to Gotham to fight crime. His first enemy is the Scarecrow, a psychiatrist who uses a fear-inducing drug, and his former mentor Ra’s al Ghul, the leader of the League.

Batman Begins was both a commercial and critical success, and marked the beginning of the Dark Knight trilogy. The film was inspired by the comic books Year One and The Long Halloween, and showed the hero’s origin from a more human and plausible perspective. Christian Bale played a more complex and tormented Batman, while Cillian Murphy, Liam Neeson and Michael Caine played Scarecrow, Ra’s al Ghul and Alfred respectively.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Nolan’s sequel is considered one of the best superhero movies ever. Batman faces the Joker, an agent of chaos who wants to prove that anyone can be corrupted in the face of adversity. Batman will also have to deal with Harvey Dent, a prosecutor who becomes Two-Face after suffering an attack from the Joker.

The Dark Knight was a resounding success both commercially and critically, and received eight Oscar nominations, winning two: Best Sound and Best Supporting Actor for Heath Ledger, who died before the film’s release. The film was inspired by the comics The Dark Knight Returns and The Killing Joke, and featured an epic confrontation between good and evil. Christian Bale reprised his role as Batman, while Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman played the Joker, Two-Face and Lucius Fox respectively.

El caballero oscuro: La leyenda renace (2012)

Nolan’s final film closes the trilogy with a final battle between Batman and Bane,a terrorist who wants to destroy Gotham with a nuclear bomb. Batman will have to come out of retirement after eight years to face his greatest challenge. In addition, he will have the help of Catwoman, a thief looking to redeem herself.

The Dark Knight: The Legend Reborn was a commercial success and received generally positive reviews, although not at the level of its predecessor. The film was inspired by the comics The Dark Knight Returns and The Dark Knight Rises, and showed the end of the hero’s journey. Christian Bale reprised his role as Batman, while Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway and Joseph Gordon-Levitt played Bane, Catwoman and John Blake respectively.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

The first DC Extended Universe film features Ben Affleck as a disenchanted, veteran Batman who confronts Superman, played by Henry Cavill, as a threat to humanity. The two heroes will have to put aside their differences and join forces with Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot, to stop Lex Luthor, played by Jesse Eisenberg, who has created a monstrous creature called Doomsday.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was both a commercial and critical failure, and marked the beginning of the DC Extended Universe’s problems. The film was criticized for its muddled script, poorly developed characters, grim tone and excessive special effects. Ben Affleck played a darker, more violent Batman, while Henry Cavill reprised his role as Superman.

Suicide Squad (2016)

This film depicts a group of villains recruited by the government to perform suicide missions in exchange for reduced sentences. They include Deadshot, played by Will Smith, Harley Quinn, played by Margot Robbie, and the Joker, played by Jared Leto. Batman has a brief cameo chasing the Joker and Harley Quinn.

Suicide Squad was another critical and commercial flop, and was another setback for the DC Extended Universe. The film was criticized for its chaotic script, flat characters, forced humor and generic villain. Will Smith and Margot Robbie were the highlights of the cast, while Jared Leto disappointed as the Joker.

Justice League (2017)

This movie brings together the main DC heroes: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, played by Ezra Miller, Aquaman, played by Jason Momoa, and Cyborg, played by Ray Fisher. Together they must stop Steppenwolf, an alien invader seeking the Mother Boxes, artifacts of great power.

Justice League was another critical and commercial failure, and marked the end of Zack Snyder’s tenure at the helm of the DC Extended Universe. The film was criticized for its inconsistent script, poor special effects and unbalanced tone. The film underwent numerous changes during its production, due to Snyder’s departure for personal reasons and the arrival of Joss Whedon to replace him.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

This film is the original version by director Zack Snyder, who was replaced by Joss Whedon in the theatrically released version. It is four hours long and features significant changes in plot, tone and characters. The film showcases Snyder’s original vision of the Justice League and their confrontation with Steppenwolf and Darkseid.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League was a hit with fans of the director and followers of the DC Extended Universe. The film was praised for its narrative coherence, thematic depth and visual spectacularity. The film premiered on the HBO Max platform following a long-running social media campaign under the slogan #ReleaseTheSnyderCut.

The Batman (2022)

This film directed by Matt Reeves is the start of a new saga starring Robert Pattinson as a young Batman who investigates a series of crimes in Gotham. The film has a more detective and noir tone than previous adaptations of the character. The cast includes Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as the Enigma and Colin Farrell as the Penguin.

The Batman was released in March 2022 after several delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. The film is a fresh and innovative take on the character, away from the DC Extended Universe. Robert Pattinson has stated that his Batman is more human and vulnerable than previous Batmans.