Related
Typically , Batman ’s vainglorious - screen adventures have been define by their dark tonicity . After the spunky naturalism of Christopher Nolan ’s movies and the bestial force of Zack Snyder ’s movies , fans did n’t thinkBatmanmovies could get any darker – and then Matt Reeves’The Batmancame along with its Zodiac - inspired Riddler and voyeuristic antihero .
But Batman film are n’t always dour . The Caped Crusader ’s first characteristic - length outing was a delightfully camp affair starring Adam West . In the decade since , filmmakers have explore the lighter side of Batman with satire and ego - parody .
The Darkest Batman Movies
Batman (1989)
After Richard Donner’sSuperman , the next groundbreaking comic book movie to rise the blockbuster potential of the superhero music genre was Tim Burton’sBatman . Although the casting of comedic actor Michael Keaton was ab initio met with charge from fans ( which has since become a Batman movie custom ) , his dry mental capacity ended up being the key to humanizing Bruce Wayne .
At the time , the well - known on - sieve incarnation of Batman was the barefacedly inner circle Adam West take . Burton and Keaton revitalise the Caped Crusader and brought a grisly Frank Miller edge to the Dark Knight ’s on - screen adventure . Jack Nicholson ’s Joker transformation scene – in which he asks the sawbones who rebuild his face for a mirror – is an unforgettably disturbing successiveness that feel more like a horror motion picture than a superhero movie .
Batman Returns (1992)
AfterBatmanbecame one of the biggest blockbusters of the 10 , Burton and Keaton reunited for a sequel – 1992’sBatman reappearance – that was even sour , drear , and creepier than the original . It prove to be so un - folk - well-disposed that there were contravention over the film ’s child - orient merchandise ( specially at McDonald ’s , according to / Film ) .
With a sinister jape , a thick bed of prosthetics , and bizarre turn like sting off a guy cable ’s olfactory organ , Danny DeVito ’s Penguin is more like a B - moving picture fiend than a traditional supervillain .
Batman Begins (2005)
closely a decade after the critical and commercial bankruptcy ofBatman & Robinseemingly pop the franchise for trade good , Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale saved the Bat ’s big - CRT screen series with a mettlesome reinvention of the mythos inBatman Begins . Batman Beginsreinvigorated Bruce Wayne ’s familiar source story with a relative mother wit of realism that order his training and gadgets and vigilante campaign in the linguistic context of the real world .
Nolan ’s Batman revamp had a huge influence on the mirthful al-Qur’an writing style at large . Every major superhero sustain a mettlesome reboot in the years that followed – even lineament that did n’t fit that tone , like Superman , Spider - Man , and the Fantastic Four .
The Dark Knight (2008)
Much like Burton before him , Nolan conform to up his dark , edgy , gritty Batman reboot with an even darker , edgier , and spunky sequel . WhileBatman Beginshad been praise as one of the not bad comic volume picture ever made , The Dark Knightwas praise as one of the greatest movie ever made .
Nolan fundamentally framedThe Dark Knightas Michael Mann’sHeat – a sprawling , action - wad noir about corruption in the American city – with Gotham taking the place of Los Angeles . Heath Ledger ’s Oscar - pull ahead Joker is really unsettling , and he ’s a touching symbol of post-9/11 fright of terrorist act .
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)
Zack Snyder followed up his Nolan - esque Superman reboot , Man of Steel , with a mega - scale DC - verse team - up bring out a new Batman ( and a boatload of other iconic superheroes ) into that macrocosm . Ben Affleck ’s number as a rageful , hard - drinking Bruce Waynewas one of the few saving graces inBatman v back breaker : Dawn of Justice .
Dubbed “ Batfleck,”BvS ’ Batman is the most brutal take on the character to date , exemplified in the stunning warehouse tantrum . The “ Knightmare ” chronological succession is directly out of a repugnance movie . This version of Batman was controversial for betraying the Bat ’s “ no guns , no killing ” rule and depict a Batman who kill whoever he desire and use guns all the time . He takes a shotgun into the final struggle with Doomsday .
The Batman (2022)
direct by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson , the late Bat - reboot is possibly the darkest Batman movie yet . The film has pot of intemperately - hitting violence and authentically dire parachuting scare . If one of the police detective was n’t arrange up as a at-bat , The Batmanwould play as a straightforward in series killer thriller .
It make for likeSe7en , with Jim Gordon in the Morgan Freeman role as the grizzled veteran law officer and Batman in the Brad Pitt role as the young sleuth eager to crack his first big typesetter’s case . The Riddler is more like a slasher scoundrel than a comic Scripture supervillain , with nods to Michael Myers and Jigsaw .
The Lightest Batman Movies
Batman: The Movie (1966)
After a twosome of 1940s serial , the first feature - length Batman moviesaw Adam West bringing his camp take from the classical TV serial to the big blind . The 1966 movie , which get in theaters curtly after the first time of year reason out its tally , is even zanier than the telecasting show .
It feature just about every Batman villain ever created in a ridiculous plot about a dehydrator that can change by reversal people into detritus . Along the way , there ’s a mid - air shark tone-beginning that command shark repellent and a handsome cartoonish bomb that looks like a bowling testis with a fuzee sticking out of it .
Batman Forever (1995)
When Burton and Keaton stepped down from the third Batman movie , the theater director was interchange by Joel Schumacher and the wiz was exchange by Val Kilmer . Batman Forevermarked a basal tonic loss afterBatman Returns .
Schumacher spearheaded a less - than - welcome return to the camp West custom . Jim Carrey gives one of his silly carrying into action as the Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones hang his portrayal of Two - Face on test to out - Jim Carrey Jim Carrey .
Batman & Robin (1997)
Schumacher returned for the next Batman movie , but Kilmer didn’t . George Clooney exchange Kilmer in the cowland , according toVulture , the actor has been apologizing forBatman & Robinever since it come out .
This movie managed to be even campier and goofier thanBatman Forever . Batman charge his expense to the Bat - Credit Card and there ’s a pair of rubber mamilla on the Batsuit .
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Spun off fromThe Lego Movie , The Lego Batman Movieis a deep dive into the Bat ’s nous and central conflicts with mint of laughs along the direction . LikeThe Lego Movie , it ’s much , much better than it had any right to be . The Lego Batman Movieis both a perfect Batman picture and a slur - on satirical deconstruction of the Batman myth .
Will Arnett beautifully fascinate Bruce Wayne ’s insecurity in the context of parody , and the floor gives Batman and the Joker ’s co - dependent relationship a classic romcom discussion .
NEXT:10 Ways The Lego Batman Movie Is A Great Batman Movie