Woven in realism due to his lack of otherworldly superpowers, Batman often appeals to much more than the average comic book fan. It's a major part of the appeal that makes Batman such a universally beloved character. For this reason, actors who are cast as the DC vigilante typically benefit from approaching the role as they would any other tormented hero.
In fact, there are actually many high-quality movies starring the talented performers who are the most-ed caped crusaders - but in a capeless capacity. With honorable mention to the late Adam West, as without his Batman efforts, the following folks may never have gotten to save Gotham.
Chain of Desire (Kevin Conroy) - 5.1
The little-seen romantic drama starred an ensemble of interconnected characters - including seasoned voice actor Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) in a rare live-action appearance. It also starred the likes of Holly Marie Combs and Malcolm McDowell.
In 2019, Conroy would finally put on the physical cape as Earth-99's Batman in the Arrowverse's "Crisis On Infinite Earths" crossover event. Conroy's most recent film work as the animated Dark Knight includes Batman: The Killing Joke (2016), Batman and Harley Quinn (2017), and Justice League v. The Fatal Five (2019).
Amish Grace (David Mazouz) - 7.1
Lifetime's 2010 movie based on the 2006 West Nickle Mines School shooting starred a young David Mazouz (Gotham) in a small role.
The actor would go on to play teenage Bruce Wayne and ultimately Batman in the 2014-2019 FOX show that also starred Ben McKenzie as James Gordon in his early detective days.
Booksmart (Jason Sudeikis) - 7.2
Fans of the Ted Lasso actor can recall his ing role in the 2019 coming-of-age teen comedy. Though they might draw a blank as to when the comedian played Batman.
Sudeikis actually took on the cape in one of the many skits that make up the Movie 43. "Superhero Speeddating" also featured Justin Long (Robin), Kristin Bell (Supergirl), and Bobby Cannavale (Superman).
The Aviator (Adam Scott) - 7.5
Scott landed a small part in a big-time movie when he played Howard Hughes' press agent Johnny Meyer in Martin Scorsese's 2004 biopic. After making a name for himself years later, Scott - like DiCaprio - would play a tortured icon in his own right.
As his Parks and Recreation character Ben, he "treated himself" to dres like quite possibly the saddest Batman yet in season 4's "Pawnee Rangers."
Ocean’s Eleven (George Clooney) - 7.7
A few years after the critical debacle that was recalibration sured the original.
Clooney's one-and-done as Batman for the late Joel Schumacher's 1997 film may have received blowback due to its falling on the campier side. But with modern iterations' continued emphasis on depicting the hero through a grimmer lens, Batman and Robin has found its second life as a guilty pleasure of the cult-adored variety.
Ratatouille (Will Arnett) - 8.0
Sporting a German accent, a then-fresh off his breakout role as Gob in Ratatouille.
The distinctly deep-voiced actor would later become a mainstay in the voice-acting world, highlighted by his beloved turns as Batman in The Lego Movie franchise.
Toy Story 3 (Michael Keaton) - 8.2
Prior to the career revitalization brought upon by Oscar-nominated Birdman performance, Keaton still earned steady ing work in Major Hollywood vehicles.
That includes his work in the long-awaited third entry in arguably Pixar's most beloved film franchise - for which Keaton voiced the Ken doll of Barbie fame.
Heat (Val Kilmer) - 8.2
The 1995 heist epic considered Michael Mann's masterpiece by many pitted The Godfather II co-stars Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro against each other on opposite sides of the law.
Val Kilmer, third-billed and in Batman Forever earlier that year - also starred as a key member of the bank-robbing crew led by DeNiro's Neil McCauley.
Good Will Hunting (Ben Affleck) - 8.3
Then-future movie stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck famously took home the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award for 1997's DCEU's latest rendering of Gotham City.
Deemed memorable enough by the outcry of fans everywhere that, even after he retired the cape, Affleck's Bruce Wayne/Batman still keeps on fighting.
The Prestige (Christian Bale) - 8.5
Between the first and second entries in the acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy, director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale teamed up on this mystery/thriller about a pair of 19th-century rival stage illusionists.
While immediately helping the method actor establish that assuming the Batman moniker would not tarnish the quality of his other fare, what to expect from Christopher Nolan in years to come.
