While Batman is far from DC Comics’ only hero, he’s arguably the most famous. Bob Kane and Bill Finger’s heroic creation first appeared in the colorful pages of Detective Comics #27 in 1939. Patrolling Gotham’s crime-ridden streets isn’t easy, but the Caped Crusader has been at it for decades after making his jump to the big screen in 1943.
Every iteration of Batman brings something different to the table, and fans have their favorite versions of the playboy turned vigilante. Here is where to watch every live-action Batman movie in order across streaming services like Max and Apple TV+.
The Batman (1943)
While many credit Adam West with Batman’s first live-action portrayal, the Caped Crusader’s first live-action debut actually comes in 1943’s The Batman. Lewis Wilson stars as Batman alongside Douglas Croft’s Robin as the duo thwarts Dr. Draka’s (J. Carrol Naish) sinister zombie creation plans. Columbia Pictures tells the story across a 15-chapter movie serial, which introduces another familiar DC face in Alfred (William Austin). Reminiscent of today’s TV series, each segment released in theaters and ended on a doozy of a cliffhanger. Despite critics’ complaints about Robin’s age and Batman’s Boston accent, The Batman won the hearts of fans and earned a sequel in 1949.
Batman and Robin (1949)
Long before Joel Schumacher’s rather infamous Batman & Robin, Columbia Pictures released the similarly titled Batman and Robin in 1949. The 15-chapter sequel to 1943’s The Batman features the titular duo going head-to-head against The Wizard, a villain with a knack for using electronic devices for malicious purposes. Colombia recast the title roles, with Robert Lowery donning Batman’s cape and Johnny Duncan slipping into Robin’s tights. Unlike its predecessor, Batman and Robin features a number of notable DC names, including Vicki Vale (Jane Adams), Jim Gordon (Lyle Talbot), and, of course, Alfred (played by an uncredited Eric Wilton).
Batman (1966)
While the early serials widened Batman’s public reach, the Adam West-starring Batman series catapulted him into fame. One season later, Batman was released in 1966. The plot sees Batman (West) and Robin (Burt Ward) face off against a plethora of villains, including Joker (Cesar Romero), Penguin (Burgess Meredith), Riddler (Frank Gorshin), and Catwoman (Lee Meriwether). Much like the series, the movie embraces a campy, tongue-in-cheek interpretation of the Caped Crusader and his foes. With Robin delivering the expected cheese with lines like “Holy Long John Silver! A pirate periscope,” this West and Ward vehicle rightly remains a superhero classic.
Batman (1989)
After a two-decade absence from the big screen, the Caped Crusader returns in what would become Warner Bros.’ first Batman film series. Tim Burton’s Batman pits the hero (Michael Keaton) against The Joker (Jack Nicholson) in a loose retelling of “The Man Behind the Red Hood” from Detective Comics #168. The film marks a big departure from the campy, colorful adaptations of the 1960s, returning Batman to his darker, pulpier roots. It also features the first live-action appearance of notable Batman foe Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams). Despite playing hard and loose with the hero’s origin, Batman’s fresh style earned a follow-up.
Batman Returns (1992)
Batman Returns cranks the dial upward in terms of darkness and casting. Micheal Keaton returns as the Caped Crusader. This time, he finds himself in the midst of Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Max Shreck’s (Christopher Walken) plan to take over Gotham. While all the villains are formidable, Catwoman steals the show due to a stellar performance from Michelle Pfeiffer. As far as Gotham goes, Burton’s signature whimsical gothic style is on full display. Often described as an “anti-blockbuster,” Batman Returns set out to create its own world. Although polarizing for some, the movie undoubtedly features the most iconic versions of Penguin and Catwoman in cinema.
Batman Forever (1995)
Batman Forever is the third movie in Warner Bros.’ Batman series, yet you wouldn’t know it based on appearances. Joel Schumacher’s onboarding as director came with a hard left turn in tone. Forgoing the darker vibes of its predecessors, Batman Forever favors camp and over-the-top villains reminiscent of the 1960s. Val Kilmer replaces Keaton as Batman, who must contend with Riddler (Jim Carrey) and Two-Face’s (Tommy Lee Jones) plot to take over Gotham with a brain-warping device. While the plot is just as silly as it sounds, audiences have more issues with the costume design. Whose idea was it to add nipples to Batman and Robin’s suits?
Batman & Robin (1997)
Joel Schumacher returns in the fourth and final installment of the quadrilogy started by Burton in 1989. Batman & Robin ushers in a new set of actors for its titular characters, with George Clooney and Chris O’Donnell taking over the Batman and Robin mantles, respectively. This time, the heroes confront Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy’s (Uma Thurman) combined efforts to take over the world. For the first time since the ’60s, Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone) fights alongside the duo in live-action. Unfortunately, Batman & Robin’s legacy is one of infamy. Considered by many as one of the worst superhero movies ever made, it earned a host of Razzie nominations upon release.
Batman Begins (2005)
After another long stretch of no live-action movies, Warner Bros. settled on Christopher Nolan to reboot the series. Batman Begins kicks off Nolan’s acclaimed The Dark Knight trilogy, starring Christian Bale as Batman and establishing Michael Caine as Alfred, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox. As teased in the title, the movie chronicles Batman’s origin story and his later fight against Ra’s al Ghul (Liam Neeson) and Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy). In another moment of whiplash, Batman Begins rejects camp in favor of a more realistic portrayal of the hero and his rogues gallery that audiences and critics were hungry for.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Christopher Nolan’s second installment delves further into Gotham politics as Jim Gordon (Oldman) and Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) work to combat organized crime. However, The Dark Knight ultimately becomes a cat-and-mouse game between Joker (Heath Ledger) and Batman (Bale). If Batman Begins was a success, The Dark Knight was a record-breaking smash hit responsible for revitalizing the superhero genre, thanks to its complex exploration of morality. It walked away with a plethora of Oscar nominations and two wins for Best Supporting Actor and Best Sound Editing. Ledger’s performance was particularly praised, with his role as Joker standing out in a filmography largely composed of romantic dramas.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The Dark Knight Rises features Batman (Bale) during the tail end of his crime-fighting career. Now retired, it’s not until Bane’s (Tom Hardy) sharp rise of power and threat of nuclear destruction that Bruce Wayne reprises his vigilante role. Although it didn’t garner the same amount of awards as The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises remains the highest-grossing Batman movie to date. Much like its trilogy predecessors, the film offers a gritty, realistic portrayal of Gotham and its inhabitants. It’s a story about the cost and complexities of heroism in a world darkened by greed and destruction. Overall, The Dark Knight Rises provides a satisfying conclusion to Nolan’s trilogy.
The Batman (2022)
Director Matt Reeves offers a less-seasoned, broodier version of Batman played by Robert Pattinson. Only in his second year of crime fighting, the Caped Crusader’s quest to reveal the Riddler (Paul Dano) leads to a bigger organized crime conspiracy that sees him crossing paths with complex figures like Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz). Following in Nolan’s footsteps, Reeves builds a dark, realistic picture of Gotham while embracing Batman’s noir origins as a detective. Well-loved by critics and audiences, The Batman sparked the start of a new trilogy and a larger universe of Batman-related media.
Batman’s Other Live-Action Movie Appearances
While not starring in a solo Batman movie, Ben Affleck is a notable name in DC film history. He’s appeared in supporting roles in the following films:
Affleck, Clooney, and Keaton also had cameos in The Flash.
Where To Watch The Best Batman Movies Online
To discover more about TV shows and movies currently streaming in the US, check out the JustWatch streaming guide! You can filter your search by streaming service, genre, price, age rating, and score. Be sure to build your watchlist and receive helpful notifications on what to watch next based on your preferences!
