What order must you watch Batman?

Extra actors have performed Batman in recent times 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 completely 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 initiatives taking place, and Batman Day on 16 September, it is the proper time to atone for the Batman Universe. So, we rounded up each Batman film and present and discovered the most effective order to look at all of them.

Each Batman live-action film in chronological order

NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS BELOW.

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

As an example, Warner Bros’ authentic Batman Anthology started anew with Christopher Nolan’s Trilogy earlier than giving solution to the DCEU/Affleck reboot. There may be additionally the broader DC Cinematic Universe to contemplate, the place Batman generally performs a pivotal or background position however is not really seen. Whereas Batman by no means appeared in 2017’s Marvel 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 overlook the DC Animated Universe too, which is loaded with Batman content material. Consequently, we won’t provide you with a single, clearly outlined viewing order. We have provide you with a number of orders, all starring the Caped Crusader. Skip to the underside for spoiler-free variations of those orders.

The Adam West film

This can be a standalone movie. It is a good start line for the movies in the event you actually wish to immerse your self in all issues Batman. It was supposed to be launched by twentieth Century Fox earlier than the 1966 sequence on ABC, however it 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 really premiered after the primary season of the Batman TV present, which we’ll get to later.

Batman: The Film is attention-grabbing 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 crew 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 following 25 years, through which superheroes dominate the field workplace. Curiously, three completely different actors play Batman on this “anthology”, and the movies themselves range in each theme and high quality.

There’s additionally a formidable 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 with the intention 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 bunch of gangsters led by Jack Nicholson’s Jack Napier, Batman after all responds. Within the ensuing combat, Napier is dropped right into a vat of chemical substances and left for useless.

Nonetheless, he emerges, having been reworked into the madman often called 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 finally 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 cope with, but in addition Catwoman’s thirst for vengeance in opposition to Shreck.

Batman Eternally (1995)

Michael Keaton and Tim Burton declined to return for one more Batman movie, sadly for us. This meant Batman Eternally has a a lot lighter and quirky tone than the earlier movies. Val Kilmer performs Batman this time, as he goes up in opposition to 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 go away his crime-fighting persona behind to dwell a traditional 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 sequence, 90s children may disagree. We expect Batman and Robin is price 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 enduring Alicia Silverstone. And the trio face-off in opposition to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dr. Freeze and Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy. What a solid! We even get to see their masked henchman, Bane (Jeep Swenson). Maybe the most effective half, although, is the 7,000 ice-related puns stated 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 laborious to imagine this, with the way in which most superhero franchises work immediately, however it took 5 movies for us to see the total Batman origin story on the large display. This movie follows Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne, all the way in which from the homicide of his dad and mom to his journey the world over, the place he learns to combat 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 together 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 lawyer, 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 change into a recluse since convincing Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) in charge him for Harvey Dent’s rampage, and because of this, Batman hasn’t been seen in eight years. The fact of his life-fighting criminals each night time has additionally set in for Bruce, as a go to to the physician reveals the litany of the way 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 preventing dangerous guys for 20 years. He views Superman (Henry Cavill) as an existential menace 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 Common Zod’s physique.

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

Suicide Squad (2016)

Suicide Squad follows a bunch of imprisoned criminals from the DC Universe, reminiscent of Deadshot (Will Smith) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), who’re supplied lowered sentences in return for finishing a extremely harmful mission that they are unlikely to outlive. The movie options Ben Affleck’s Batman in just a few 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 pressured to go away 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 multitude, and years later, we’re nonetheless discovering out extra in regards to the unhealthy working surroundings 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, however it’s a a lot better model of the movie. It opens two years after Superman’s loss of life, and humanity continues to be reeling from his loss. Ben Affleck’s Batman and Gal Gadot’s Marvel Girl have begun the method of forming a crew that may assist defend 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 loss of life 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 Common Zod invading Earth, however this time there’s one large distinction: There isn’t any Superman.

Standalone Batman universes

Two of the latest Batman universe movies, 2019’s Joker and 2022’s The Batn, each presently 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 just lately taken over inventive 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 another sequel a chunk, proceed increasing their very own universe, or finally 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 called the Joker. The movie additionally reveals us the loss of life of Bruce Wayne’s dad and mom as soon as once more, simply in case you have not seen it sufficient.

It is laborious to position Joker on this timeline for just a few 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, however it’s not shaping up the way you may anticipate with it reportedly being a musical. Phillips will return to direct together with Joaquin Phoenix and Woman Gaga will be a part of the solid 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 latest reboot of Batman stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne.

Directed by Matt Reeves, The Batman sees a younger Batman ending up his first yr preventing 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 sequence in chronological order

There isn’t any “proper order” right here, as they’re all disconnected and never chronological. So, we suggest 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 sequence)

That is the very first live-action Batman, and it stars Lewis Wilson. It is a 15-chapter sequence from Columbia Footage that premiered in theatres and is now accessible to look at on YouTube.

Batman and Robin (1949 – Theatrical sequence)

One other serial manufacturing from Columbia, each Batman (Robert Lowery) and Robin (Johnny Duncan) seem and go up in opposition to the Wizard. This sequence, which additionally ran in theatres, is usually often called The New Adventures of Batman and Robin the Boy Marvel. It’s presently accessible on YouTube, as effectively.

Batman (1966 to 1969 – TV sequence)

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 sequence)

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 includes a younger Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz), who’s coping with the loss of life of his dad and mom whereas being raised by Alfred (Sean Pertwee). The sequence introduces many villains who go on to trigger issues for Batman sooner or later.

Titans (2018 to current – TV sequence)

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

Pennyworth (2019 to current – TV sequence)

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 a substitute, it reveals 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 sequence than a superhero present, with Alfred, performed by Jack Bannon, being focused by a bunch trying to seize management of London. Fortuitously, he has assist from an American group led by none aside from Batman’s dad and mom.

Batwoman (2019 to current – TV sequence)

This present is a part of the CW channel’s Arrowverse, which is made up of a roster of TV reveals based mostly on characters from DC comics. The sequence’ 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 defend 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 will discover spoiler-free variations of the whole lot detailed above.

Each Batman live-action film

The Adam West Film

The Batman Movement Image Anthology

• Batman (1989)
• Batman Returns (1992)
• Batman Eternally (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 sequence

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

Bonus checklist: Animated Batman motion pictures and sequence

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

Essentially the most influential of them is 1992’s Batman: The Animated Sequence, which gave us Mark Hammil’s iconic Joker snicker 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 total checklist of animated Batman movies, check out this Wiki listing. However for a fast viewing order, see beneath.

• Batman: The Animated Sequence (1992 to 1995 – animated TV sequence)
• Batman: Underneath The Pink 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)