Batman movies in order: The ultimate guide to watching every film

It is extraordinary how Batman refuses to fade out of the spotlight. The guy has been around pop culture since 1939, and yet, every couple of years, there’s a new movie, a new actor brooding under that cowl, and we all can’t help but show up. Batman, for one thing, is always relevant, forever reinventing himself.

The Batman movies are like a time capsule for whatever was going on in the world. You had the goofy, over-the-top 1960s stuff. Then Tim Burton came in with his dark, artsy goth vibes, and Batman was cool again.

Fast forward a bit: Joel Schumacher made everything glow, and then Christopher Nolan dragged us into gritty, “realistic” territory. Now there’s Matt Reeves, who dumped Batman straight into a moody detective novel. Then there are animated movies, and some of those are absolute bangers.

These films have poked at big ideas: justice, revenge, what it means to be broken, and still try to do good. Big-name actors, directors, and mind‑blowing takes – Batman’s film history is a terrific ride.

This guide outlines every Batman movie in order. It’s got the good, the bad, the box office disasters, and the billion-dollar hits.

Whether you’re a Bat-veteran or just wanna see what the fuss is about, dive in; Gotham’s got something for everyone.

---

The early years of Batman: Serials and camp (1943–1966)

Batman (1943 serial)

Batman’s big screen debut goes back to 1943. They rolled out this 15-part black-and-white serial (titled “Batman”), directed by Lambert Hillyer, with Lewis Wilson donning the cowl and Douglas Croft tagging along as Robin.

Columbia Pictures was behind the whole thing. It actually introduced the Batcave and Alfred—like, the OG Alfred—so, gotta give them props for setting up stuff every fan now totally takes for granted.

Sure, watching it now feels kinda like stumbling into a time machine and some pretty cringeworthy scenes, but you can’t deny it’s a huge chunk of Batman’s movie history.

Batman and Robin (1949 serial)

In 1949, Columbia Pictures dropped another Batman serial, Batman and Robin. Spencer Gordon Bennet was in the director’s chair, and they got Robert Lowery in the Bat-suit with Johnny Duncan tagging along as Robin.

This sequel kept the masked duo’s shenanigans rolling, really locking in that Batman-and-Robin dynamic. It elevated their popularity up a notch, especially with folks still buzzing from the whole post-war vibe.

Batman: The Movie (1966)

Fast forward to July 30, 1966, Batman wasn’t all brooding shadows and grim monologues. Batman: The Movie (the one with Adam West and Burt Ward) hit theaters, and it was a whole different vibe. This thing was spun off from the TV show everyone was watching back then, but it leaned into the camp.

Instead of one villain, you’ve got the whole rogues’ gallery teaming up—Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Catwoman. And they’re not even pretending to be serious. The jokes are shameless, the colors are brighter, and it just sort of winks at you the entire time.

Somehow, that goofy, over-the-top style became legendary. The film stuck around in pop culture way longer than anyone expected. Tons of comic book artists and fans still look back at it.

---

The Burton-Schumacher era (1989–1997)

Batman ditched the campy vibe and got all brooding and moody again in the late ’80s and ’90s. You had Tim Burton kicking things off with that gothic, creepy flavor, and then Joel Schumacher swoops in and does his own flashy, neon-soaked thing. Those two set the whole mood for Batman back then.

Batman (1989)

Tim Burton’s Batman dropped on June 23, 1989, and it kind of blew people’s minds. You had Michael Keaton as Batman—super broody, a little weird, but it totally worked. Jack Nicholson rolled in as the Joker, chewing up every scene. Kim Basinger is there too.

Burton went full goth with the mood, different from the cheesy stuff before. And the movie made a ton of cash. People point to this flick as the one that kicked off the superhero blockbuster craze we’re drowning in today.

Batman Returns (1992)

The movie was followed on June 19, 1992. Tim Burton was still calling the shots, and Michael Keaton was back in the batsuit. This time, Danny DeVito waddled in as the Penguin, plus Michelle Pfeiffer absolutely owned Catwoman. The whole vibe gets way moodier and more artsy. Critics loved it, though it was considered too dark for some younger viewers.

Batman Forever (1995)

Batman Forever dropped on June 16, 1995— the one where Joel Schumacher went all in with neon lights and pushed the camp factor to max. Val Kilmer slipped into the Batsuit, and you’ve got this fantastic lineup: Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face, Jim Carrey as the Riddler, and Nicole Kidman rounding out the cast.

Schumacher ditched the gloom and doom, swapping in glitzy colors, wacky set pieces, and much overacting. Fans were all over the place about it—some loved the ride, others wanted to burn the Batmobile.

Still, the movie raked in a pile of cash and finally brought Robin into the mix.

Batman & Robin (1997)

Batman & Robin crashed into theaters on June 20, 1997—Schumacher still in the director’s chair, George Clooney doing his best bat-squint, and a spectacular cast: Schwarzenegger hamming it up as Mr. Freeze, Uma Thurman being all playful as Poison Ivy, and of course, Chris O’Donnell tagging along again.

People roasted this movie for being all neon, stuffed with ice puns and action figures. It almost nuked Batman for good. Still, over the years, people started loving it for exactly how ridiculous it is.

Now it’s got this weird cult status, sitting in Batman lore.

---

The Nolan trilogy (2005–2012)

Batman Begins (2005)

Dropped on June 15, 2005, this flick marked Christopher Nolan’s first swing at Batman, and he knocked it out of the park. Christian Bale went full brooding billionaire, Michael Caine brought that classic butler sass, Liam Neeson did his mysterious mentor thing, and Katie Holmes was there too.

After eight years of Batman-free cinema, Nolan ditched the camp and gave us a gritty, real-deal origin story. Suddenly, Bruce Wayne’s pain actually made sense, and the whole thing just felt... bigger.

Critics loved it, fans went wild, and superhero movies haven’t been the same since. Batman was cool again.

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight dropped on July 18, 2008. Christopher Nolan was back in the director’s chair, and Christian Bale suited up again. This time, Heath Ledger rolled in as the Joker, with Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal joining the scene.

Calling it a “cultural phenomenon” almost feels like an understatement. People still argue it’s not just the best Batman film, but maybe the top superhero movie, period.

Ledger’s Joker totally changed the game—no exaggeration. The film dove hard into big ideas like chaos, morality, and sacrifice, and it hit a nerve.

The Oscars pretty much had to hand Ledger that statue.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises dropped on July 20, 2012, and capped off Nolan’s Batman saga. You’ve got Christian Bale doing his brooding billionaire thing, Tom Hardy mumbling through a mask as Bane, Anne Hathaway stealing scenes as Catwoman, and Marion Cotillard… well, that twist was something.

The movie dives deep into legacy, pain, and hope. It’s big, loud, and tries to hit you right in the feels. However, people were kind of divided on this one, as some loved it, some thought it was a bit much compared to The Dark Knight.

But in the end, it is still a solid send-off for a trilogy that totally flipped the superhero movie game.

---

The DCEU and multiverse Batman (2016–2023)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Dropped back in March 2016, Zack Snyder was at the helm, with Ben Affleck rocking the cowl, Henry Cavill doing his Superman thing, and Gal Gadot making her debut as Wonder Woman.

This was the film where Affleck’s older, crankier Batman squared off with Superman. Critics were super split. Some loved it, some just wanted to roast it.

Suicide Squad (2016)

Suicide Squad was released on August 5, 2016. David Ayer was at the helm, and you had a mix of Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto doing his... thing, and Ben Affleck popping in as Batman for a hot minute. His cameo kind of just hammered home that all these DC movies were supposed to be part of the same tangled universe. Whether that actually worked is debatable.

Justice League (2017) & Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Fast forward to Justice League in 2017. Zack Snyder started out directing, but then Joss Whedon came in to finish the job and reshoot a bunch of stuff. The cast was a DC all-star team: Affleck, Cavill, Gadot, Momoa, Miller, Fisher—the whole crew.

Then, because of Internet pressure, Snyder’s cut was released in 2021. Four hours. Some fans went nuts for it, loving the darker vibe and deeper character stuff. Others, not so much. Both versions have their diehards and their haters—DC fans never agree on anything.

The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Meanwhile, The Lego Batman Movie showed up in February 2017 and just... nailed it. Chris McKay directed, and Will Arnett owned Batman’s voice. Michael Cera featured as Robin. The film is a love letter to all things Batman, loaded with jokes and surprisingly heartfelt moments. Critics and fans ate it up—some people legit call it one of the best Batman movies ever.

The Batman (2022)

Jump to 2022, and The Batman lands, directed by Matt Reeves. Robert Pattinson takes a break from brooding over vampires to brood as a younger, super-emo Batman. Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, and Colin Farrell—all crushed it. The movie leans hard into that detective noir vibe, which feels right for Batman. People loved the mood, performances, and the whole “World’s Greatest Detective” angle. Critics seemed pretty happy, too.

The Flash (2023)

And then there’s The Flash in 2023—Andy Muschietti directing, Ezra Miller running around (literally), and Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck show up as different Batmen. It’s like a greatest hits album for Batman on the big screen. Fans got to see Keaton suit up again, which is the nostalgia play of the century. The movie leaned into the alternate universe thing and just went for it.

---

The Reeves era and beyond (2022–2025)

The Batman: Part II (Upcoming, 2027)

The Batman: Part II is, apparently, aiming for a 2027 release. Word on the street is they plan to start shooting sometime in late 2025. Robert Pattinson’s back in the cowl.

Matt Reeves is reportedly tweaking the script, and James Gunn has said he’s seen some drafts, and he’s hyped—called the story “great.”

---

Animated Batman films: Key highlights

While this guide is about the live-action Bat-flicks, skipping over the animated stuff is blasphemy. There are a few you just can’t ignore if you’re even remotely into Gotham:

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993): Straight-up legendary. It’s a love letter to Batman: The Animated Series, and many fans will die on the hill that it’s the best Batman movie, period.

Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010): This one goes hard—think heavy emotional punches, real consequences, and some serious grown-up themes.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2012–2013): Two parts, all grit. Frank Miller’s classic graphic novel comes to life, and it’s as brutal and moody as you’d hope.

So do yourself a favor—don’t sleep on these.

---

How to watch: Chronological and release order

Release order of live-action Batman movies

• Batman (1943 Serial)
• Batman and Robin (1949 Serial)
• Batman: The Movie (1966)
• Batman (1989)
• Batman Returns (1992)
• Batman Forever (1995)
• Batman & Robin (1997)
• Batman Begins (2005)
• The Dark Knight (2008)
• The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
• Suicide Squad (2016)
• Justice League (2017)
• Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
• The Batman (2022)
• The Flash (2023)

Chronological order (by story timeline)

Trying to piece together the Batman movies in order is difficult. Thanks, multiverse. Anyway, if you’re up for a wild binge, here’s how we’d roll with it:

First, you've got Michael Keaton’s glory days: Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).

Then, it gets neon and campy with Schumacher’s run: Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997).

After that, things get all gritty and brooding with Nolan’s trilogy: Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

Now, the DCEU rollercoaster— Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad, Justice League (pick your poison with the original or Zack Snyder’s cut), and The Flash.

Finally, you’ve got The Batman (2022), which is its own moody universe. Totally standalone.