the DCU's future. As a result, some have been markedly more effective than others.
Batman’s origin story is simple yet powerful. Young Bruce Wayne leaves a theatre with his parents, Thomas and Martha, turning down Crime Alley. A mugger attacks the family, typically stealing Martha’s pearl necklace before shooting the parents. This traumatic event inspires Bruce to dedicate his life to fighting crime. This story has been retold and reimagined countless times in various media, and will likely be a key part in James Gunn's Batman.
22 Beware The Batman - “Secrets” (2014)
Season 1, Episode 2
Beware The Batman delivered a sleek and modern take on the Dark Knight, but its rendition of his origin story in the episode “Secrets” fell flat. The scene uses creative angles and editing to obscure the grisly detail. However, it feels disconnected, devoid of emotion, and like a perfunctory necessity. While the series excels in depicting Batman’s detective skills and unique rogues’ gallery, its take on his origin is disappointingly soulless, feeling more like a box checked than a meaningful exploration.
21 Batman: Death in the Family (2020)
Animated Interactive Movie
In Batman: Death in the Family, Bruce re his parent’s murder while pondering his care for Jason Todd. The scene is told through still images, during which Bruce discusses Zoro with his father. Thomas’s advice that Gotham likely would not accept a masked vigilante is a compelling detail that further ties Batman to his origin. Nevertheless, the scene is brief, serving primarily as an obligatory nod to remind audiences of the parallels between Bruce and Jason’s origins.
20 The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians - "The Fear" (1985)
Season 1, Episode 4
Despite its dated animation and storytelling style, the depiction of Batman’s origin in The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians is surprisingly effective. The episode “The Fear” delves into Bruce’s trauma, portraying the murder with its full level of emotional weight. The sequence combined a focus on Bruce’s reaction, a few close-ups of a gun and Martha’s handbag, and a well-timed clap of thunder to signal the gunshot. While it may not have the polish of modern adaptations, this version conveys Batman’s origin effectively within the restrictions of 1980s animation.
19 Teen Titans Go! To The Movies (2018)
Teen Titans Go! Spin-Off Movie
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies offers a gleefully silly take on Batman’s origin. The Titans travel to the night of the Waynes’ murder, and intervene, redirecting them away from Crime Alley and down Happy Valley instead. Later, needing to tidy up the timeline, they return, and Robin maniacally pushes the Waynes into Crime Alley and a flurry of off-screen gunfire. It won’t resonate with everyone, but seeing such a sacred moment being lampooned in such a silly way is very fun.
18 Joker (2019)
Directed By Todd Phillips
Todd Phillips’ Joker includes a brief depiction of the Waynes’ murder, tying it to the chaotic uprising sparked by Arthur Fleck’s actions. While the scene is visually striking and connects the Joker to Batman’s origin, it feels tacked on, serving more as fan service than a meaningful addition to the story. It’s such a surprise that it fails to resonate, reducing the Waynes to mere casualties of Gotham’s descent into anarchy. While it’s an interesting twist to connect it with Joker’s rise, it feels like a pointless addition.
17 Justice League Unlimited - “For The Man Who Has Everything” (2004)
Season 1, Episode 2
The Justice League Unlimited episode “For The Man Who Has Everything” briefly touches on Batman’s origin as part of a broader narrative. The depiction is pretty standard and lacks any innovation but is sufficiently effective. It appears in black and white and includes a more dynamic fight between Thomas and his killer, before zooming in on Bruce’s despairing reaction as the gun fires. This rendition likewise feels like a fleeting addition to tie Batman’s origin to Superman’s in the narrative.
16 The Batman - “The Big Chill” (2004)
Season 1, Episode 6
The Batman takes an oblique and expressionist approach to Bruce’s origin in the episode “The Big Chill.” While the series’ child-friendly format limits its emotional intensity, this version effectively expresses the origin story. Bruce re his parents’ killer aiming a gun, who transforms into Mister Freeze and freezes a photograph of Thomas and Martha. Although it’s not as detailed or emotionally impactful as other versions, it succeeds in capturing the essence of Bruce’s journey within the constraints of its target audience.
15 Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)
Animated Anthology Movie
The anthology film Batman: Gotham Knight features a fleeting depiction of Bruce’s origin in one of its segments. The scene is beautifully animated but offers little substance. It features just two shots, the Waynes cowering in an alley and a close-up of a revolver firing. It’s a visually impressive reminder of Bruce’s trauma, but its fleeting presence prevents it from making a lasting impact. While the film’s focus is on exploring different facets of Batman’s persona, this version of his origin feels more like an afterthought than a meaningful exploration.
14 Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (2023)
Directed By Christopher Berkeley & Sam Liu
This Elseworlds adaptation reimagines Batman’s origin in a Lovecraftian setting, blending gothic horror with classic mythology. The Waynes’ murder is transformed into a harrowing knife fight, after which Bruce’s isolation and despair are truly felt. While the old-timey retelling is fun and atmospheric, it is mostly a fun diversion from the classic origin story. While it’s an intriguing and unique take, it sacrifices emotional depth for stylistic flair, leaving it less noteworthy overall.
13 Batman Forever (1995)
Directed By Joel Schumacher
Batman Forever offers a flashy and stylized version of Bruce’s origin, largely a quick rehash of the depiction in Batman (1989). While visually striking, the scene prioritizes brevity over emotional depth, accentuating the film noir tone even further. It later adds Bruce’s memory of discovering the Batcave, where a single bat flies towards him. The image of the single looming bat is quite unnerving, but not very compelling. Despite its flaws, this version is serviceable and fits the film’s tone, but fails to add anything new.
