So without further ado, here is the list.:
Directed by Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon
“Justice League” is a film I couldn’t even finish as I walked out of the theater about a third of the way through. This film is a tonal mess with Zack Snyder stepping away after the tragic death of his daughter and Joss Whedon reshooting most of it. A trashfire reshoot as we’ve all learned later given how he treated cast members Gal Gadot and Ray Fisher. As far Affleck’s Batman goes, he’s a tonal mess making glib out of character jokes and revealing his secret identity to random people. He is Batman in name only as there is no base to the character. This version of Batman and story is worse than “Batman & Robin” as I could at least finish that film. This film deserves to be forgotten as it only exists as a studio mandated mess that fails on nearly every level. Just watch “The Snyder Cut” which is actually good.
Directed by Joel Schumacher
“Batman & Robin” is a terrible film that doesn’t manage to pull off any of the characters. At the time I originally reviewed it I gave it a 0 / 10 but I think if I rewatched it now I might appreciate how bad it is more and score it slightly higher than that, but it is permanently here on the list as the film isn’t good. Clooney’s Batman has no characterization outside of being protective of Robin and amazing rogues like Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy and Bane are completely wasted. I can’t recommend this film as there is proper Schumacher Batman camp in his enjoyable film “Batman Forever” so just watch that instead of this. This film could have worked but it just ends up being a mess and fails on nearly every level.
Final Score: 0 / 10
Directed by Zack Snyder
“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is a mess of a film that had potential to be great. It’s biggest problems are the bad villain in Lex Luthor who has no clear or coherent goals and Batman and Superman are both murders. I get cynical older Batman inspired by The Dark Knight Returns but you need a Superman to contrast that with. The only reason Batman hates Superman is because he is an alien who is a potential threat but even that is barely explored. Affleck does a good job as cynical hardened Bruce whose Robin was killed by Joker but beyond him being vengeance and a loner there is nothing there. We don’t even see how he is as Bruce Wayne that much except for the attack on Metropolis from “Man of Steel.” Because of this his transformation to trusting Superman comes out of nowhere because it wasn’t setup well. Still, this isn’t the worst film in the world as Hans Zimmer’s score is fantastic and I can appreciate how it tried to tackle larger themes.
Final Score: 5 / 10
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Adam West’s Batman is a lot of fun and this knows it. This is a film that has the comedic rogues of Penguin, Joker, Catwoman and the Riddler who team up and must be stopped over the course of the film. Joker and Riddler’s role do feel a little redundant at times though and the camp doesn’t always work in this but Adam West’s Batman is endearing in how honest and forthright he is and you can see how much this film is a celebration of the 1960’s show. I enjoyed this film and appreciated how fun the crazy plots were even if the writing isn’t great and the fact that Robin can be annoying at times in this.
Final Score: 7 / 10
Directed by Joel Schumacher
“Batman Forever” is a film that doesn’t entirely work, but is a lot of fun. Jim Carrey’s Riddler is campy in all the right ways in how theatrical and arrogant he is and Val Kilmer’s Batman works as a man working through his trauma as he tries to make peace with the Bruce Wayne and Batman parts of himself. Batman has an actual character arc! What doesn’t work is Tommy Lee Jones is Two-Face in name only as he doesn’t even follow his own coin toss rule and his relationship to Bruce Wayne is only in backstory not ever seen on screen. This older Robin is also really annoying too and like Two-Face brings the film down. I still enjoy this film though as it mostly does work even if it isn’t good.
Final Score: 7.2 / 10
7th) Batman Returns (1992)
Directed by Tim Burton
“Batman Returns” is a mess but it is a good mess. The film is more about Catwoman and Penguin than it is Batman but it still manages to work in how they are connected that it is a good film. All of them are seeking some level of acceptance from others in who they are whether it Penguin running for mayor or Batman revealing he is Bruce to Selina. All the characters are lost, alone and broken and it makes this film a good tragedy, though it still ends with a hint of hope as one of Selina’s cats is left for Bruce, suggesting they might still be able to make a future someday. Elfman’s score elevates it all and I love Burton’s Gothic Gotham.
Final Score: 8.5 / 10
6th) Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Directed by Zack Snyder
“Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is really good and manages to fully develop the Justice League over the long runtime it is given. This film captures the arc of Ben Affleck’s Batman slowly learning to trust others so his building the team makes sense. His regret for almost killing Superman works here too as he is still bitter and hard but there is more as we see him beginning to heal as the meta-humans come trust him. He’s no longer isolated and alone and is growing. Steppenwolf works in this too as he is trying to impress Darkseid versus his one-dimension motives in the Josstice League film. The only things keeping the film from being great are the lack of “Speedforce” setup, Martha and Lois being nothing characters and Superman’s motives. Outside of these this is Zack Snyder in his element and is a good film well worth your time.
Final Score: 8.7 / 10
5th) Batman (1989)
Directed by Tim Burton
From here on we have my favorite Batman films. This is a film that captures the disconnect of Bruce Wayne and Batman so well as Michael Keaton portrays a man who doesn’t know how to be among people when he’s not in costume. In this Batman’s trauma is explored and we see how it defines him. He’s vulnerable and it adds a nice contrast to Nicholson’s Joker who only lives in his enjoyment of cruelty. This film inspired “Batman: The Animated Series” and gave us Elfman’s iconic score and the Gothic beautiful world of Burton’s Gotham. What keeps it from being perfect and rated higher is the Joker’s plan is obvious and Vicki Vale is only ever a damsel in distress. She deserved better. Still this is a favorite well worth your time.
Final Score: 9.6 / 10
4th) Batman Begins (2005)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
“Batman Begins” is the best live-action telling thus far of Batman’s origin story. In this we see how revenge defines him until Carmine Falcone shows just how corrupt Gotham is and Ra’s al Ghul gives him the training to change Gotham and fight crime. Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack brings the world to life and though we don’t get enough time with him as a rogue Murphy’s Scarecrow is iconic and defeats Batman early on in his investigation. In the end what keeps it from perfection is Ra’s was already defeated when Bruce saved his life after rejecting the League of Shadows so him being defeated again wasn’t a surprise as Bruce was already the better fighter at that point. The pacing is also slow at times and there are a few one-dimensional baddies. Still a favorite film though and an excellent start to “The Dark Knight Trilogy.”
Final Score: 9.8 / 10
3rd) The Batman (2022)
Directed by Matt Reeves
“The Batman” solves some of the problems I have with “Batman Begins” but also has problems all it’s own. This is also still a favorite movie and gives the realest feeling Gotham since the Burton films. This is Batman 2 years in as he must uncover the Riddler’s plot and save Gotham. This is a disconnected and lonely Bruce Wayne who slowly comes to realize just how much he needs people. He also goes through an arc where he questions his role as vengeance as it was vengeance against Gotham’s corruption that the Riddler built his movement on. Speaking of which like Nolan’s iconic villains Reeves has them too. Paul Dano’s broken Riddler makes sense as a villain inspired by Batman’s crusade and his story mirrors Bruce’s in other ways too. We also get another great Catwoman in Kravitz and another great Penguin in Colin Farrell. This is a film that though a dark Noir captures the hope that defines Batman as more than just a dark avenger and I can’t wait to see where Reeves takes his world from here. What keeps it from perfection is pacing and a character they bring in near the end. Still very much a favorite film though.
Final Score: 9.8 / 10
2nd) The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
“The Dark Knight Rises” is a flawed, amazing film that is one of my all-time favorites. This is a film where Bruce Wayne has an actual arc and a chance to grow beyond his mission and gives us a dark reflection of who he could have become in Tom Hardy’s iconic Bane. Bane breaks Batman and Gotham which makes the path of both healing all the more powerful as Bruce Wayne finally learns to trust, love and live again and Gotham finally faces the lies that had lead to the false peace in the city. The truth transforms characters as they show they can be more than just defined by the masks they wear. Hathaway gives an amazing performance as Catwoman too and has an arc going from selfishness and survival to fighting with Batman to save Gotham. All this of course elevated by Zimmer’s amazing score. I love this film and it and “The Dark Knight” are the films in “The Dark Knight Trilogy” that I can watch on their own where “Batman Begins” just leads me to rewatching the Trilogy. What keeps it from perfection for me is the Talia reveal and some stilted writing.
Final Score: 9.9 / 10
1st) The Dark Knight (2008)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
“The Dark Knight” remains the best Batman film for me. This is a film that defined the ideological struggle between Batman and the Joker so well. Hell, Heath Ledger’s performance was so iconic and powerful it has informed every Joker interpretation since both in comics, television and film. The story is a masterfully done tragedy that pushes Batman to his limits as we see Harvey Dent’s fall into Two-Face when he loses all hope in the system and comes to believe in only chaos and chance. We also see the possibility of hope too as the Joker’s experiment fails showing that Gotham isn’t only defined by fear and corruption but also courage, empathy and strength. This ideological fight works in the mob story seamlessly too while never losing site of the characters who drive the story in Batman, Jim Gordon, Two-Face and the Joker. All this is of course elevated by the amazing Hans Zimmer score. I’ll be surprised if any future Batman films can top this one and it is a film I always enjoy returning to rewatch.
Final Score: 10 / 10
This is my list and I’m curious what yours might be. Even in live-action there have been so many Batman stories and I can’t wait to see the stories that are told next.
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