How to Watch All Batman Movies in Chronological Order

Batman is without a doubt one of the most popular superheroes in existence. The name is recognized by everyone, be it a die-hard DC fan, or a parent of a child who is into superheroes. The first adaptation of the character to screen was 79 years ago (Batman, 1943) and since then his legacy has been etched into stone.

It’s a career milestone for several actors to have played the role of Batman, some of their popularity skyrocketing because of their iconic portrayal of the Bat. Here’s how one can watch all (most) Batman movies in chronological order. The list would be unbearably long if we included the animated films and cameo appearances so we’ll stick to the live-action movies.

Earlier Works

1. Batman (1943)

It’s not recommended to start with the earlier movies if you’re a casual viewer, but Batman (1943) is iconic for being the first ever on-screen adaptation of Batman, portrayed by Lewis Wilson. It’s a movie serial consisting of fifteen chapters that span over four hours of runtime. Watch this if you’re really into Batman movies, old films, or simply wish to witness how it all started.

2. Batman and Robin (1949)

Another fifteen-chapter serial, this one features Robert Lowery as Batman, supported by Johnny Duncan as the first adaptation of Batman’s trusty and very well-known sidekick Robin. Again, unless you’re a ‘superfan’, we don’t recommend starting with a serial, but it does exist for those who’re interested.

3. Batman: The Movie (1966)

Adam West plays Batman in the first theatrical Batman movies which isn’t a serial. For many viewers, this movie is the true beginning of Batman on the screen which makes it worth watching. It also features Catwoman, the Joker, the Penguin, and the Riddler, making it an interesting choice if you’re familiar with the characters from the newer, more mainstream films. Either way, one can’t miss this movie if they’re watching Batman chronologically.

The 80’s and the 90’s

It’s hard to digest, but when the ’70s came by, Batman was not the most popular action figure out there. Also, Batman movies rights issues and script conflicts only added to the decreasing popularity. Eventually, Tim Burton, known for his work Beetlejuice, ended up directing the next movie, which is. . .

1. Batman (1989)

At this point, the “first-ever” feel redundant but one might argue that Batman (1989) is the movie where things really began. Michael Keaton’s Batman performance is critically acclaimed, and so is the film itself. Having a $48 million budget, it grossed more than $400 million, and the Batman fandom agrees that the success is well deserved. Jack Nicholson’s Joker is equally popular among the fans. The film won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction, the 80’s equivalent of the Academy Award for Best Production Design.

2. Batman Returns (1995)

Tim Burton once again proved his directorial process in Batman Returns with this title which also received critical acclaim. It’s a direct sequel to Batman (1989) with Michael Keaton resuming his role as Batman. Despite its popularity among the fans and the movie performing reasonably well at the box office, Warner Bros. had higher expectations from it, leading to the decision of replacing Tim Burton as the director of Batman Movies, and leading the movies into a more approachable direction.

3. Batman Forever (1997)

The replacement of Tim Burton from Batman Movies was received with mixed reactions, and Michael Keaton happened to fall on the side that didn’t appreciate the new, darker tone of the movies. Val Kilmer was cast as Batman, and the movie was directed by Joel Schumacher. The reviews of the movie were equally mixed, with fans criticizing the visual effects used, in contrast to the practical effects in the previous movies. It also performed a little worse at the box office, though not significantly. The positive reviews would soon change though, with the release of the next movie of the series, Batman and Robin.

4. Batman & Robin (1997)

George Clooney replaced Val Kilmer, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, an extremely popular figure at the time, was cast as Mr. Freeze. The movie is very cartoonish though, the gags often not landing as intended, gaining the movie a position as one of the worst superhero movies ever. Art is subjective though, and some viewers might enjoy this take on Batman. The community begs to differ though, and we recommend skipping it unless you’re determined to watch every piece of media featuring Batman.

Christopher Nolan Trilogy

If you’re this far along the Batman movies binge, things get really interesting from here on. Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman is, without doubt, one of the best experiences not just of superhero movies, but of cinema itself.

1. Batman Begins (2005)

This is an origin story and a pretty good one at that. It paves the way for a signature Christopher Nolan direction, telling the story of Bruce Wayne’s becoming Batman, and contains his entire training arc. The acting is phenomenal; Christian Bale would be an immortal role for years to come. The plot, pacing, effects, all mesh together beautifully.

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

The sequel to Batman Begins, this movie is the highlight of Batman movies. The Dark Knight is one of the best movies made, ever. It has a rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 9/10 on IMDb, and earned over 1 billion dollars in revenue. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, and Heath Ledger was awarded Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Joker. It is a treat to watch, with every second of screen time adding to the sheer class this movie has.

3. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Concluding Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises doesn’t sacrifice even an inch of quality. It’s as compelling as the last two movies have fleshed-out antagonists, and wraps up Bale’s performance as Batman in a satisfying manner. Tom Hardy’s Bane gets special mention for being an absolutely remarkable villain that’s introduced in the third movie of a trilogy and goes on to steal the show with his performance.

DC Extended Universe

The DCEU is a connected universe of films taking place in the same universe, sharing characters and plot threads. Batman is played by Ben Affleck in the DCEU, and as of now does not have a dedicated movie to himself. Batman V. Superman is the closest thing to a standalone Batman movie in the DCEU, the rest of the films feature him as a supporting cast member. They include BVS: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), and the Zack Snyder Cut of Justice League (2021).

1. The Batman (2022)

When news broke out that Robert Pattinson was cast as Batman in a standalone reboot, it was met with mixed reactions. For starters, Robert Pattinson was associated for his role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga, and fans had a hard time imagining him as Batman. A history of failed reboots also added to the skepticism.

However, when the movie was released, Pattinson stunned everyone with his acting, drawing comparisons with Christian Bale himself by many fans. The film also happens to be the first to explore the detective aspect of Batman, a feature loved by fans of the comic books. The tone of the movie is marginally different than the rest of the adaptations and it works fluidly with Matt Reeves’ vision.

Conclusion

And you’re all caught upwith Batman Movies! It’s interesting to see a character evolve through the ages. From page to screen, with differences coming up in every iteration, we are close to celebrating 100 years of the character appearing in the film. Batman adaptations don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon either, and will keep on entertaining the audiences.