It is hard to bring up the topic of comic book movies without thinking ofBatman. The Caped Crusader has enjoyed one of the most prolific superhero movie careers, with theBatmanfilms playing a large role in shaping the current comic book movie landscape. Tim Burton’s 1989 movie showed that comic book films can be taken seriously, something thatChristopher Nolan’s approachtoThe Dark Knighttrilogy further emphasized.
Matt Reeves’sThe Batman,which was even darker and grittier and grittier than what came before it, still proved to be a hit with audiences. Batman has had a big impact on pop culture, and Warner Bros. Pictures are not slowing down as they will now have two separate Batman movies running. There have been more than a handful of theatrically releasedBatmanmovies, including two early serials. For those looking to peek into the filmography of the World’s Greatest Detective, here are all of his theatrical movies in order of release. Note this will not include villain-centered spin-offs likeCatwomanorJoker.
Update August 11, 2025: WithBatman Returnsbeing a popular holiday movie watch, some may want to do a major Batman rewatch for the holiday season, so this article has been updated following the release of The Flash and recent announcements regardingThe Batmanfilm franchise.
Batman Movies in Order of Release Date
Release Date
The Batman
June 26, 2025
Batman & Robin
June 27, 2025
Batman: The Movie
June 23, 2025
June 01, 2025
Tim Burton & Joel Schumacher
Batman Returns
August 14, 2025
Batman: Mark of the Phantasm
July 13, 2025
DC Animated Universe
Batman Forever
July 06, 2025
July 18, 2025
Batman Begins
July 01, 2025
The Dark Knight Trilogy
The Dark Knight
Jun 22, 2025
The Dark Knight Rises
August 13, 2025
Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice
July 29, 2025
DC Extended Universe
The LEGO Batman Movie
July 01, 2025
Justice League
June 27, 2025
Zack Snyder’s Justice League: The Snyder Cut
July 31, 2025
July 25, 2025
DC Elseworlds
July 29, 2025
DC Extended Universe / Tim Burton & Joel Schumacher
The Batman - Part II
June 29, 2025
Brave and the Bold
Batman Timelines
The Batman franchise has multiple timelines with various starts and stops. However, with the release ofThe Flash, all of the films are loosely connected through DC’s Multiverse. In addition,The Flashserves as a nexus point that connects two different eras of Batman: the original film series that started in 1989 and went on until 1997, and then the DCEU films. Here are the various Batman franchises and their watch orders.
Serials:The Batman (1943), Batman & Robin (1949)
Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher:Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman and Robin, The Flash
The Dark Knight Trilogy:Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises
DCEU:Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League/Zack Snyder’s Justice League, The Flash
DC Elseworlds:The Batman, The Batman - Part II
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is part of the DC Animated Universe.The Lego Batman Movieis part ofThe Legomovie franchise.Batman(1966) is part of the continuity of the Adam West series.
The Batman (1943)
Over 20 years before Adam West donned the cape and cowl, Lewis Wilson was the first of the many actors to portray Batman in live-action, when he took on the role of the Caped Crusader in 1943’sThe Batman. A mere four years after the character’s debut in 1939, Columbia Pictures decided to giveBatmanthe serial treatment, largely due to the success of other superhero serials at the time, such asFlash Gordon, The Phantom, and evenSuperman,who received a serial a year prior.
The Batmanis notable for being the first live-action appearance of Batman, Robin, Alfred, and Linda Page. The 15-part serial follows Batman (a secret government agent as opposed to a vigilante) and his sidekick Robin as they fight to stop Dr. Daka. Daka is an evil Japanese scientist operating out of Gotham City. As one can tell from the early ’40s release date, this serial was released in the days of World War II. Two years prior, Pearl Harbor was attacked, and the American public did not think too fondly of the Japanese. Because of this, many propaganda films of the time were very anti-Japanese, includingBatman.
The serial does not hold up today, not only for the extremely cheesy costumes and acting style, but also because of its racially insensitive remarks and portrayal of Japanese people. When the serial was released on home video starting in the ’80s, much of the racially charged dialogue was censored or dubbed over. This serial is very much a product of the time, but that shouldn’t excuse its offensive attitude towards Japanese culture. Originally, the primary villain was meant to be The Joker; however, this was quickly changed to an original character. In fact, Daka is problematically played by a white actor.
This serial introduced many staples of the series that audiences know today, however, with slight twists. For instance, the Batcave is known here as the Bat’s Cave. On the other hand, in the case of Alfred’s appearance, the serial had a lasting effect, with William Austin’s tall and skinny physique going on to replace the character’s larger rotund appearance in the early comics. This serial should at least be looked at by fans, if only to see how the first live-action Batman compares to later versions.Stream on Tubi
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Batman & Robin (1949)
Six years after the original, the Batman serial received a sequel. TitledThe New Adventures of Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder(or simplyBatman & Robin),it was, like its predecessor, released in 15 parts. Unlike the previous serial,Batman & Robinis much easier to stomach by today’s standards, primarily because of its lack of forced war propaganda and racial stereotypes. This time around, Batman is played by Robert Lowry. Once again, the serial chooses to create an original villain as opposed to lifting one from the comics. The villain is known simply as The Wizard, a hooded man who keeps his identity secret.
Though the serial holds up much better in terms of content, the costumes and acting are still wonderfully cheesy. Furthermore, this serial is as basic as it gets, though two more characters from the comics do make the jump to live-action here; Commissioner Gordon and Vicki Vale. This serial, as well as the previous one, returned to theaters sporadically throughout the ’50s and ’60s. Because of the popularity of these reruns, a gamble was made to produce a newBatmantelevision series. This gamble would prove to truly jumpstart the character’s popularity and make Batman a household name.Not Available to Stream
Batman: The Movie (1966)
As soon as the Adam West-ledBatmanseries hit the airwaves, it was a smash hit. The series rejuvenated the character and saved the comic from being canceled. The series was so popular, a theatrical film was put into production in 1966, the same year the show first aired. By the timeBatman: The Moviewas released, Bat-Mania was in full force. The film follows Batman and Robin as they attempt to stop the Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman, who have joined forces to take on the Dynamic Duo once and for all. This was the first time these villains were shown in the same story, something that happens far more frequently today, and the film truly does feel like an extended episode of the television series.
The ’60s version of Batman can’t be mentioned without also bringing up the infamous camp factor. The film, as well as the series, is self-aware in its goofy portrayal of the comic book hero. Batman makes no attempt to disguise his voice, and his boy-scout demeanor has become legendary. This is the first film on the list that comes fully recommended. Fans may prefer the darkerBatmanmovies, but this version is responsible for the massive success of the character. If not for this film and show, odds are the Batman character would no longer exist today.Stream on Max
10 Best Episodes of the 1960s Batman Series
The ’60s Batman TV show was a comical take on the Caped Crusader’s adventures and the following are its best-ever episodes.
Batman (1989)
For years following the success of the ‘60sBatman, the public eye saw the character as campy and comedic. Everything from cartoons to comics portrayed Batman as a silly character. In the ’80s, writers wanted to take the character back to his dark roots in the comics, which led to iconic stories such asYear One, The Killing Joke, The Dark Knight Returns,andA Death in the Family,all of which are highly regarded to this day. With the change in formula breathing new life into the character, DC decided it was time to remind the general public who Batman truly was. After many rewrites and director changes,Batmanhit screens in 1989 and changed the public perception of the character forever.
The movie was a giant success, with an elaborate marketing campaign playing a huge role in drumming up hype for the film. Billboards were installed with nothing but the iconic Batman logo on them, but that was enough to get people in the theaters. The first trailer didn’t even show the nameBatman, and while initially skeptical, fans soon accepted that Michael Keaton, traditionally, a comedic actor, was thebest choice for the part of Batman.
The film sees Bruce Wayne/Batman tracking down a new criminal mastermind known as The Joker, played by Jack Nicholson. This film blatantly shows the Joker’s origin story, which had never been done before. EvenThe Killing Joke(which the film’s origin is lifted from) implies Joker is making the story up. The movie successfully reinvented the character of Batman, and nobody saw him as campy anymore. Today, the film remains one of the greatestBatmanmovies of all time.Stream on Max
Batman Returns (1992)
Batman Returns sees the return of Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne after his victory over the Joker. This time, the Dark Knight faces a new threat in the form of The Penguin, an outcast who wants revenge on Gotham City. Featuring Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot, Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman, and Christopher Walken as Max Schreck, Batman Returns is Tim Burton’s second and final movie based on the iconic DC comics character.
Following the critical and financial success of the 1989 blockbuster, a sequel was inevitable, with fans getting exactly what they wanted three years later.Batman Returnssaw Michael Keaton reprise his role as the Caped Crusader in the second film in the franchise to be directed byTim Burton. This time, Batman is tasked with stopping two new enemies: Danny DeVito’s Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman.
This film is notably darker than the last, using a lot of black comedy and gruesome imagery, which ultimately led to it being considered inferior to its predecessor upon its release. The first film, despite certainly having its dark moments, was a huge hit with children. Because of this, toy sales skyrocketed, and companies jumped in early with this film. Everything from action figures to McDonald’s promotions was actually pulled due to parental complaints over the tone ofBatman Returns.Apparently, Joker’s bloody corpse laughing after falling to his death is okay, but Penguin biting someone’s nose is taking it too far.
Danny DeVito brings The Penguin to life in this film. No more is he the classy crime lord like in the ’60s version. Instead, he is a deformed and grotesque man who enjoys eating raw fish like they are apples. Michelle Pfeiffer gives an iconic performance as Catwoman, with this being the version of the character all other iterations are compared to. Despite its controversy, the film was still wildly successful at the box office. This was the last time Michael Keaton appeared as Batman until 2023’sThe Flash,more than thirty years later. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. looked to avoid any future issues and chose to replace Tim Burton for the follow-up in 1995.Stream on Max
Batman: Mask of The Phantasm (1993)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
One of the most successful things to follow in the footsteps of 1989’sBatmanwasBatman: The Animated Series. The show was a huge success and appealed as much to adults as it did to children. The show introduced Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Mark Hamill in what’s still considered to be one of thebest portrayals of The Joker. So successful was the series, that a theatrical film was produced in the form ofBatman: Mask of the Phantasm, which hit theaters a year afterBatman Returns. Unlike the previous two movies, the film was a flop. This was largely because many people assumed it was a movie aimed solely at children, due to it being an animation.
Once the film was released on home video, they saw how wrong they were. Batman finds himself investigating a new figure in Gotham, a mysterious killer who is targeting crime lords and blaming Batman himself. The film also features flashbacks showing Bruce Wayne suiting up for the first time. In recent years, the film has become much more appreciated, with some fans even hailing it as the bestBatmanmovie ever made. Owing to the unfortunate box office failure, this was the last 2-D animated Batman movie to hit theaters.Mask of the Phantasmis tragic, heartbreaking, action-packed, and even funny at times, all elements that make a nearly perfect Batman movie. Fans of the character should check this one out if they haven’t already.Stream on Max
All Batman Animated Series in Order
Batman has been a staple IP when it comes to TV animation. Here are all of his animated TV series in order.
Batman Forever (1995)
In an attempt to avoid any further controversy, Warner Bros. chose to take the live-action series down a more light-hearted path. Tim Burton was demoted to producer, while Joel Schumacher wrote and directed the next film, 1995’sBatman Forever. Gone was much of the gothic aesthetic that defined the Burton era, in favor of a campier tone reminiscent of the 1960s TV series. Though, with some of Burton’s touches still in place,Batman Foreverwas yet to delve into full camp territory… yet.
Val Kilmer makes his first and only appearance as Batman, with a portrayal of the character that many fans agreedoesn’t get enough credit, while Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones ham it up as the film’s villains, The Riddler and Two-Face, respectively. The film also introduces Dick Grayson (aka Robin) into the series. Robin was set to appear as early as 1989, but various rewrites took him out of the script. Marlon Wayans was even officially cast for the 1989 film before being replaced by Chris O’ Donnell in this film.Batman Foreverwas much more successful thanReturns, which gave Warner Bros. the insight to fire Tim Burton and fully embrace the camp. As fans know, they would quickly regret this decision.Stream on Max
Batman & Robin (1997)
Batman and Robin
The success that stemmed from the ‘89Batmannever truly went away. The success of the sequels, as well as the animated series, proved Batman was here to stay. That is, until 1997, when one of the biggest box office bombs of all time hit theaters in the form of Batman & Robin.Joel Schumacher’s second contribution to the series embraced the camp so much, it was practically a remake of the Adam West series.
Every single wrong choice that could be made was made for this film, and fans still haven’t forgiven it. George Clooney plays Batman, a role that was so miscast Clooney himself has since apologized for it. Chris O’Donnell reprises his role as Robin, and fans have constantly critiqued his whiny and useless portrayal in this film, while Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Mr. Freeze has become infamous for the monotone delivery of ice-based puns. Every word that comes out of his mouth is an ice pun, and fans grew tired of it quickly.
Needless to say, this film was a critical and box-office failure. This film was so bad it killed the idea of comic book movies…for a year untilBladecame out. Okay, so maybe its impact is a bit exaggerated. Once the smoke cleared, Warner Bros. looked to revive the series. ManyBatmanscripts were rejected, including several that looked to continue the series. Finally, Warner decided the best thing to do was to completely reboot the series. They went about doing this by going back to the beginning.Stream on Max
