Batman movies are always so fascinating, regardless of whether they're good or bad, as the tone can change so drastically. Between a goofy movie made with the sole purpose of selling toys and one of the most celebrated movies of all time, there are clear winners and losers when it comes to Batman films.
One of the best places for fans to make clear their Batman opinions is Letterboxd, where the reviews are fairly in line with the general consensus, although there are a couple of surprises.
Updated on March 16th, 2022 by Rhys McGinley: Since 1989, the longest break Batman has taken from big-screen theatrical releases is seven years, something which many fans of the Caped Crusader have reveled in. While there are some undoubted duds in the Batman filmography, some of the greatest films and greatest comic book movies ever have come, thanks to Batman. His most recent outing in The Batman is already getting heralded and is put amongst the best when ranking Batman movies, with that being backed up by Letterboxd, which has many differing opinions on what the correct order is for all the Batman movies ranked from worst to best.
Batman & Robin (1997) – 1.8/5
Available on Hulu
Batman & Robin is notorious for killing the Batman franchise. Whether it's because of the batnipples, Mr. Freeze's cringey puns, or simply being a two-hour toy commercial, the movie was critically scathed. And fans of both Batman and Tim Burton's gothic depiction of the hero hated the 1997 movie.
However, there are ways that Batman & Robin is underrated, such as George Clooney's portrayal of Bruce Wayne and the detailed depiction of Gotham City, and it does a great job at world-building too. Realistically, it's no goofier than 1966's Batman. So, when taking at face value, it can be a lot of fun.
Justice League (2017) – 2.1/5
Available on HBO Max
Whereas Justice League was a failure. The film is just not good.
While there are a couple of positives about the film, they are not enough to save the thin plot, underdeveloped characters, and overall bland story. The film has its fans for sure, but it was unquestionably worse off following Zack Snyder leaving and is not a great outing for Ben Affleck's underrated Batman.
Batman Forever (1995) – 2.4/5
Available on Hulu
Being the first of director Joel Schumacher's two Batman movies, Batman Forever didn't overdo it with the campiness, but, in hindsight, the hammy and ham-fisted depictions of Two-Face and the Riddler was a bad sign. In many ways, the film feels like a toned-down version of Burton's vision, too, as it's set in the same world as 1989's Batman and Batman Returns, and the four movies are now considered the "anthology" Batman series.
The film seems like it was going through somewhat of an identity crisis because of studio meddling, as Schumacher planned for the film to be much darker. That has once again led to a ton of fans demanding the world from Warner Bros., campaigning for the "Schumacher Cut." In fairness, there are tons of amazing Batman Forever deleted scenes that were undeservedly cut.
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016) – 2.5/5
Available on HBO Max
Batman v Superman was a bitter disappointment. The movie's title built hype, but it resulted in nothing more than a brief and lazy eight-minute fight scene in a 2.5-hour movie. The film has so much baggage, and, if anything, the main title and subtitle should have gotten flipped around, as it focuses too much on setting up the Justice League.
Warner Bros. should have slowed down, as the movie is made up of so many premises that could have easily been their own movies. Between Batman and Superman's feud, setting up the Justice League, and the death of Superman, there are at least three different potential movies in the 2016 release — not to mention all the movies it hints at, such as a solo Batman movie with Death Stroke as the villain.
Batman: The Killing Joke (2016) – 2.7/5
Available on Netflix and HBO Max
Batman: The Killing Joke is one of the most iconic graphic novels of all time, known by those who are not even avid comic readers. The theatrically released film adaptation left fans of Alan Moore's work disappointed and despite having some fantastic elements, is not on the level of other animated Batman content.
The most significant issue most fans have with the film is the Batgirl/Barbara Gordon storyline which is poorly done and serious injustice to Gordon's character. Rather than be a simple page-to-screen adaptation with minimum changes, this new storyline was an unnecessary weakness of the film.
Batman (1966) – 3.3/5
Available on YouTube
Long before the days of gritty, gloomy, and grounded Gotham and its dark, twisted vigilante hero there was 1966's Batman starring the late, great Adam West. It is a style of comic book film not for everyone, but one whose goofiness has merit and a place in pop culture.
The slapstick movie is filled with iconic characters from the Batman canon such as Batman himself, his sidekick Robin, his butler Alfred, and four of the most beloved of the rogue's gallery, Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler, and The Penguin. The movie has so much to love and is such an entertaining watch, especially for those who do are not in the mood for the newer, grounded style of the Caped Crusader.
Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) – 3.5/5
Available on HBO Max
When ranking Batman movies or just comic book movies in general, it would be hard to find many people who place 2017's Justice League over the long-hoped-for and mysterious Snyder cut, which finally hit the screens in 2021. It is a huge step up.
For those who rallied for the Snyder cut for years, this movie is a great reward, adding depth to the characters offering a more impressive style and overall story with its colossal length. It is a true director's cut, and while it is unquestionably a long film, it is one whose effort must be applauded.
Batman (1989) – 3.6/5
Available on Hulu
Batman was like the Big Bang for superhero movies, and while Superman was released a decade beforehand, this 1989 film was the catalyst that influenced so many studios to turn to comic books to adapt into movies. With his gothic and quirky style, Burton achieved what no director ever had, as not only did he turn in such a unique action movie, but he turned the character into a brand.
Even fans were promoting the movie before its release, as the yellow-and-black Batman logo became a part of fashion at the time, and it was all over T-shirts and belt buckles. Batman is a milestone and deserves to be celebrated, but as the film medium and technology have advanced so much in the 30 years since, it now pales in comparison to more modern Batman movies.
Batman Returns (1992) – 3.6/5
Available on Hulu
Batman's second outing under the direction of Burton was much riskier. For what is essentially a kids' movie, the film is full of brutal murders, including people getting electrocuted and set on fire. While its darker approach was criticized at the time, audiences have since come around to it, and fans on Letterboxd believe it's as good as its predecessor.
Thankfully, Batman Returns is finally getting the recognition it deserves. The movie has so much depth, and Danny DeVito's depiction of the Penguin is so entertaining. Since its release, many fans have pointed out similarities between The Batman and this Tim Burton classic.
The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) – 3.6/5
Available on HBO Max
Interestingly, in the year that the long-awaited live-action Justice League was released, which promised to be DC's answer to The Avengers, the best portrayal of Batman that year was a LEGO version. The 2017 movie does such a great job of both making fun of everything Batman-related as well as paying homage to it.
Whether viewers' favorite Batman is the animated version, the Nolan version, or the 1966 version, there's so much enjoyment to be had. The Easter eggs in the movie go so deep that there's even a reference to the shark that Batman fights in the 1966 movie. As self-aware and self-referencing in movie franchises have become a huge trend, The LEGO Batman Movie is one of the best examples of it.
