What order must you watch Batman?

Extra actors have performed Batman lately than ever earlier than.

Robert Pattinson, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, and George Clooney all performed Bruce Wayne within the final two years. (Three appeared within the new Flash film as totally different variations of Batman from different multiverses.) Plus, James Gunn has plans for the character now that he is taken over the DCU, with a brand new movie titled The Courageous and The Daring. There’s additionally a sequel to 2022’s The Batman, due out in 2025.

With so many Batman tasks occurring, and Batman Day on 16 September, it is the right time to compensate for the Batman Universe. So, we rounded up each Batman film and present and discovered the most effective order to observe all of them.

Each Batman live-action film in chronological order

NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS BELOW.

To be sincere, this bought sophisticated shortly. Not like some movie franchises, comparable to Marvel’s, there is not a singular chronology to observe, particularly in relation to the live-action Batman movies, which have been repeatedly rebooted.

As an example, Warner Bros’ unique Batman Anthology started anew with Christopher Nolan’s Trilogy earlier than giving method to the DCEU/Affleck reboot. There’s additionally the broader DC Cinematic Universe to think about, the place Batman typically performs a pivotal or background position however is not truly seen. Whereas Batman by no means appeared in 2017’s Surprise Girl, he did instigate the movie’s plot.

Then, there’s 2023’s The Flash, which sees Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, and George Clooney all return as Batman. And let’s not neglect the DC Animated Universe too, which is loaded with Batman content material. Because of this, we will not provide you with a single, clearly outlined viewing order. We have give you a number of orders, all starring the Caped Crusader. Skip to the underside for spoiler-free variations of those orders.

The Adam West film

It is a standalone movie. It is a good place to begin for the movies in the event you actually wish to immerse your self in all issues Batman. It was meant to be launched by twentieth Century Fox earlier than the 1966 collection on ABC, but it surely hit cinemas two months after season one.

Batman: The Film (1966)

The character of Batman first appeared in Detective Comics No. 27 in 1939. He was initially named the “Bat-Man,” although can be known as the Caped Crusader or The Darkish Knight. It wasn’t till 1966 that Adam West took on the position in a live-action movie, starring alongside Burt Ward as Robin. The movie truly premiered after the primary season of the Batman TV present, which we’ll get to later.

Batman: The Film is fascinating as a result of it options not one however 4 of Batman’s most well-known nemeses: The Riddler, The Penguin, Catwoman, and Cesar Romero’s Joker. This group of supervillains all group as much as attempt to defeat Batman, with the hopes of taking on the world.

The Batman Movement Image Anthology

Warner Bros kicked off the unique cinematic universe of live-action Batman movies with the discharge of Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989. That movie, and the three movies that observe, actually set the stage for the subsequent 25 years, wherein superheroes dominate the field workplace. Curiously, three totally different actors play Batman on this “anthology”, and the movies themselves range in each theme and high quality.

There’s additionally a powerful assortment of actors featured, from Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson to Jim Carrey and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Batman (1989)

That is the primary “trendy” Batman movie. It sees Michael Keaton tackle the mantle of the Caped Crusader as a way to clear up the streets of Gotham forward of its bicentennial. When a gunfight breaks out on the Axis Chemical plant between the police and a gaggle of gangsters led by Jack Nicholson’s Jack Napier, Batman after all responds. Within the ensuing battle, Napier is dropped right into a vat of chemical substances and left for useless.

Nonetheless, he emerges, having been reworked into the madman often known as the Joker. It is as much as Batman to cease him earlier than he poisons the inhabitants of Gotham with a lethal Smylex fuel that causes hysterical laughter in its victims earlier than they in the end perish.

Batman Returns (1992)

After defeating the Joker, Michael Keaton’s Batman should battle his subsequent foe, The Penguin, performed by Danny Devito, who partnered with a seedy millionaire, Max Shreck (Christopher Walken), to flee the sewers beneath Gotham. Batman started a romantic relationship with Shreck’s secretary, Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman, performed by Michelle Pfeiffer), and ultimately, it is not simply the Penguin’s plot to abduct and homicide the firstborn sons of Gotham residents that Batman should deal with, but additionally Catwoman’s thirst for vengeance towards Shreck.

Batman Without end (1995)

Michael Keaton and Tim Burton declined to return for an additional Batman movie, sadly for us. This meant Batman Without end has a a lot lighter and quirky tone than the earlier movies. Val Kilmer performs Batman this time, as he goes up towards each Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and the Riddler (Jim Carrey). This movie additionally introduces Robin (performed by Chris O’Donnell) to a modern-day viewers.

Whereas Batman makes an attempt to depart his crime-fighting persona behind to reside a standard life with Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), the Riddler discovers his true identification, because of a brainwave gadget he invented, which results in Chase’s seize and Bruce’s realization that he’ll at all times be Batman.

Batman and Robin (1997)

Whereas usually derided as absolutely the worst providing within the Batman collection, 90s youngsters may disagree. We predict Batman and Robin is value a rewatch.

George Clooney performs Batman right here, however Chris O’Donnell returns as Robin. The nice guys additionally add a Batgirl to their lineup, the long-lasting Alicia Silverstone. And the trio face-off towards Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dr. Freeze and Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy. What a forged! We even get to see their masked henchman, Bane (Jeep Swenson). Maybe the most effective half, although, is the 7,000 ice-related puns mentioned by Dr. Freeze.

The Darkish Knight Trilogy

With the tip of the primary Batman Anthology, additionally got here the tip of bat nipples. There was a plan for a fifth movie, centered across the villain Scarecrow, which marinated for practically a decade till Christopher Nolan took over and introduced the Batman franchise to unprecedented heights.

Batman Begins (2005)

So, it is exhausting to consider this, with the best way most superhero franchises work right this moment, but it surely took 5 movies for us to see the complete Batman origin story on the massive display screen. This movie follows Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne, all the best way from the homicide of his dad and mom to his journey the world over, the place he learns to battle and is recruited into the League of Shadows by Liam Neeson’s Henri Ducard.

As soon as he lastly returns dwelling, he should battle the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy), who makes use of a mind-altering toxin to trigger terrifying hallucinations.

The Darkish Knight (2008)

This movie serves as a crowning achievement for maybe all superhero movies. We see Batman face-off along with his most harmful nemesis, the Joker, who’s performed by the late Heath Ledger. Joker assumes management of Gotham’s organized crime world, hatches a devious plot, and disfigures the town’s district legal professional, Harvey Dent, all whereas making an attempt to drive Batman to interrupt his solely rule: Refusing to kill any of his enemies.

The Darkish Knight Rises (2012)

The Darkish Knight Trilogy involves its conclusion with the arrival of Bane (Tom Hardy) within the metropolis of Gotham. Bruce Wayne has develop into a recluse since convincing Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) in charge him for Harvey Dent’s rampage, and in consequence, Batman hasn’t been seen in eight years. The fact of his life-fighting criminals each evening has additionally set in for Bruce, as a go to to the physician exhibits the litany of how his physique has begun to interrupt down. This leaves him wholly unprepared to face Bane, a former member of the League of Shadows, who involves Gotham to finish Ra’s Al Ghul’s plan of destroying the town.

Prolonged DC Cinematic Universe

When Christopher Nolan’s The Darkish Knight was launched, one other little-known firm you in all probability by no means heard about, Marvel, started making its personal comedian movies. So, it made sense for DC, with its big backlog of characters, to create its personal wider cinematic universe with Batman tie-ins.

Batman vs Superman: Daybreak of Justice (2016)

Batman vs Superman picks up 18 months after the occasions of 2013’s Man of Metal. Ben Affleck portrays a model of Bruce Wayne who has been combating dangerous guys for 20 years. He views Superman (Henry Cavill) as an existential risk to humanity. In the meantime, Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) is making his personal plans for coping with Superman, together with acquiring a bunch of kryptonite and having access to Basic Zod’s physique.

Batman learns of the stash of kryptonite at Lexcorp and steals it, permitting him to create a Kryptonite-powered swimsuit to defeat Superman.

Suicide Squad (2016)

Suicide Squad follows a gaggle of imprisoned criminals from the DC Universe, comparable to Deadshot (Will Smith) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), who’re supplied decreased sentences in return for finishing a extremely harmful mission that they are unlikely to outlive. The movie options Ben Affleck’s Batman in a number of scenes whereas constructing as much as the formation of the Justice League.

Justice League (2017) and Zach Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

The primary Justice League started with Zack Snyder directing, however he was compelled to depart the manufacturing following a tragedy. Joss Whedon then got here on to complete the movie, and all of it turned out fairly badly. The movie was a large number, and years later, we’re nonetheless discovering out extra in regards to the unhealthy working setting that Whedon fostered on set.

This leads us to the Snyder Minimize, launched in 2021 on HBO Max. It is 4 hours lengthy and much from good, but it surely’s a a lot better model of the movie. It opens two years after Superman’s demise, and humanity remains to be reeling from his loss. Ben Affleck’s Batman and Gal Gadot’s Surprise Girl have begun the method of forming a group that may assist shield humanity from threats they might by no means hope to face on their very own.

The Flash

the Flash

The Flash sees Ezra Miller return because the Barry Allen, aka the Flash.

Barry goes to his childhood dwelling, the place he makes use of his speed-force powers to alter the previous to cease his mom’s demise and his father’s wrongful imprisonment for her homicide. When he is nearly completed, his plan he is stopped by an unknown assailant that leaves him stranded in an alternate timeline’s model of 2013. That places him simply forward of the occasions of The Man of Metal, which sees Michael Shannon’s Basic Zod invading Earth, however this time there’s one massive distinction: There is no Superman.

Standalone Batman universes

Two of the newest Batman universe movies, 2019’s Joker and 2022’s The Batn, each at the moment have sequels within the works. These movies happen in their very own universe away from the occasions of different DC and Batman movies. James Gunn has additionally not too long ago taken over artistic management of what’s now being referred to as DC motion pictures, and it is too early to say whether or not these universes will get yet another sequel a chunk, proceed increasing their very own universe, or ultimately be a part of Gunn’s new DC movie universe.

Joker (2019)

Joker is an origin story for Batman’s biggest villain.

It follows Arthur Fleck, performed by Joaquin Phoenix, a disturbed man hoping to be a comic. We see him remodel into the madman often known as the Joker. The movie additionally exhibits us the demise of Bruce Wayne’s dad and mom as soon as once more, simply in case you have not seen it sufficient.

It is exhausting to put Joker on this timeline for a number of causes.

It is an origin story set in 1981 — however when author/director Todd Phillips wrote the script, he wished it to be a standalone movie that had nothing to do with the DC Prolonged Universe. Nonetheless, within the time since then, a sequel has began manufacturing, but it surely’s not shaping up the way you may count on with it reportedly being a musical. Phillips will return to direct together with Joaquin Phoenix and Girl Gaga will be a part of the forged for Joker: Folie à Deux which is due out 4 October 2024. Joker was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and gained two of them

The Batman (2022)

The newest reboot of Batman stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne.

Directed by Matt Reeves, The Batman sees a younger Batman ending up his first yr combating crime as he groups up with Commissioner Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) and Batwoman (Zoe Kravitz) to tackle The Riddler (Paul Dano) and The Penguin (Colin Farrell).

A sequel with each Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson is ready to hit theatres in 2025.

Each Batman live-action collection in chronological order

There is no such thing as a “proper order” right here, as they’re all disconnected and never chronological. So, we advocate watching them so as of launch. You’ll be able to watch these earlier than or after the movies. It will not make a distinction, however maybe watch 1966’s Batman earlier than Batman: The Film.

The Batman (1943 – Theatrical collection)

That is the very first live-action Batman, and it stars Lewis Wilson. It is a 15-chapter collection from Columbia Footage that premiered in theatres and is now out there to observe on YouTube.

Batman and Robin (1949 – Theatrical collection)

One other serial manufacturing from Columbia, each Batman (Robert Lowery) and Robin (Johnny Duncan) seem and go up towards the Wizard. This collection, which additionally ran in theatres, is usually often known as The New Adventures of Batman and Robin the Boy Surprise. It’s at the moment out there on YouTube, as nicely.

Batman (1966 to 1969 – TV collection)

That is Adam West’s first look because the Caped Crusader – even earlier than his live-action 1966 movie. He maintains the position for 3 seasons on ABC, providing a extra comedic take, particularly in comparison with the fashionable variations of the Darkish Knight.

Gotham (2014 to 2019 – TV collection)

Gotham premiered in 2014 on Fox and follows a younger Commissioner Gordon (Ben McKenzie) as he begins out his profession within the aftermath of the homicide of Bruce Wayne’s dad and mom. It additionally incorporates a younger Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz), who’s coping with the demise of his dad and mom whereas being raised by Alfred (Sean Pertwee). The collection introduces many villains who go on to trigger issues for Batman sooner or later.

Titans (2018 to current – TV collection)

Titans airs on The CW and follows the story of Dick Grayson, in any other case often known as Batman’s sidekick, Robin. He left that mantle behind, although, and have become the chief of the group of heroes often known as the Titans. A serious storyline within the present relies round Dick’s former life as Robin and his relationship with Bruce Wayne, performed by Iain Glen in Titans.

Pennyworth (2019 to current – TV collection)

Should you’ve ever puzzled how Alfred raised Bruce Wayne, then Epix has a present for you: Pennyworth. It follows the butler, however lengthy earlier than he was a butler. As an alternative, it exhibits him as a younger man recent out of serving as a member of the SAS and making an attempt to begin a safety firm in 1960.

The present is extra of a spy-thriller collection than a superhero present, with Alfred, performed by Jack Bannon, being focused by a gaggle seeking to seize management of London. Thankfully, he has assist from an American group led by none apart from Batman’s dad and mom.

Batwoman (2019 to current – TV collection)

This present is a part of the CW channel’s Arrowverse, which is made up of a roster of TV exhibits primarily based on characters from DC comics. The collection’ second season debuted in January 2021, and the CW has already ordered a 3rd season. It follows Kate Kane, who’s Bruce Wayne’s cousin. She decides to take up the mantle and shield Gotham in Batman’s absence. Ruby Rose performed Kate Kane for the primary season however was changed by Wallis Day for the second season and subsequent episodes.

Spoiler-free model: Each Batman viewing order

Beneath, you may discover spoiler-free variations of every thing detailed above.

Each Batman live-action film

The Adam West Film

The Batman Movement Image Anthology

• Batman (1989)
• Batman Returns (1992)
• Batman Without end (1995)
• Batman & Robin (1997)

Christopher Nolan’s Darkish Knight Trilogy

• Batman Begins (2005)
• The Darkish Knight (2008)
• The Darkish Knight Rises (2012)

Prolonged DC Cinematic Universe

• Batman vs Superman: Daybreak of Justice (2016)
• Suicide Squad (2016)
• Justice League (2017)
• Flash (2023)

Standalone Batman movies

• Joker (2019)
• The Batman (2022)

Each Batman live-action collection

• The Batman (1943 – theatrical collection)
• Batman and Robin (1949 – theatrical collection)
• Batman (1966 to 1969 – TV collection)
• Gotham (2014 to 2019 – TV collection)
• Titans (2018 to current – TV collection)
• Pennyworth (2019 to current – TV collection)
• Batwoman (2019 to current – TV collection)

Bonus record: Animated Batman motion pictures and collection

OK, so there’s a laundry record of animated Batman movies and collection that vary in high quality and significance.

Probably the most influential of them is 1992’s Batman: The Animated Sequence, which gave us Mark Hammil’s iconic Joker snort and created the character Harley Quinn, whereas additionally spawning a litany of spin-offs. In the meantime, there are numerous animated movies, that are direct variations of the comics, though essentially the most notable exception is the extraordinarily financially profitable Lego Batman.

If you wish to see the complete record of animated Batman movies, check out this Wiki listing. However for a fast viewing order, see under.

• Batman: The Animated Sequence (1992 to 1995 – animated TV collection)
• Batman: Beneath The Purple Hood (2010 – animated movie)
• Batman: Yr One (2011 – animated movie)
• The Darkish Knight Returns (2012 – animated movie)
• Batman: The Killing Joke (2016 – animated movie)
• Lego Batman (2017 – animated movie)