Batman Movies Watch Order (September 2025)

Getting all hyped up about the possible start of Batman 2’s pre-production? You might share our enthusiasm for a thorough rewatch of the Batman series! Whether you’re new to the world of the Dark Knight or have been a longtime fan, starting from the beginning will ensure an enjoyable viewing experience. Here’s a recommended order to watch the best Batman movies for maximum enjoyment.

What’s the best order to watch the Batman movies in 2025?

Following general advice and the common practice among film enthusiasts, it’s advisable to watch movies according to their release date. This way, you’ll follow along as fans originally did, and sticking to a strict chronological order can help avoid confusion, particularly when dealing with franchises like Batman that have multiple eras and interwoven timelines.

So we’ve broken down the list by release order, but also by era.

The Original Batman

Batman: The Movie (1966)

Titled “Batman: The Movie,” this film is orchestrated by Leslie Martinson following the successful TV show, and it transfers Batman (Adam West) and his partner Robin (Burt Ward) to the silver screen. This wholesome escapade pits our crime-fighting duo against a formidable alliance of their most notorious adversaries – The Joker, Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman. United in a sinister plot to seize control of the world, these villainous four employ a clandestine device capable of reducing humans to dust.

With its origins firmly rooted in the 1960s, this film exudes vibrant, over-the-top flair, featuring the Batmobile, Batcopter, and utility belts as flamboyant gadgets. There’s no shortage of humorous wit and playful satire that makes it a delight to watch. At its core, it encapsulates the essence of Silver Age comic books, offering an enduring enjoyment even today.

The Burton & Schumacher Era

Batman (1989)

The transition from the initial movie to Tim Burton’s franchise reboot took some time. During this period, the tone shifted dramatically, moving away from traditional superhero heroics and towards the distinctive elements we associate with Tim Burton – an emphasis on style, a dark and eerie ambiance, and the signature Danny Elfman soundtrack. At first, Michael Keaton was not a favorite pick to portray Bruce Wayne, given doubts about his capabilities. However, he silenced these skeptics with his compelling performance as both a wealthy tycoon and the crime-fighting Batman. And who could forget Jack Nicholson’s legendary role as the Joker?

The narrative unfolds as Gotham City spirals into anarchy when mob enforcer Jack Napier, during a skirmish with Batman, plunges into a tank of chemicals, metamorphosing into the deranged Joker. With ambitions to rule Gotham, the Joker sows fear by releasing his lethal “Smilex” gas, causing victims to perish from uncontrollable laughter. Concurrently, Bruce Wayne grapples with maintaining his dual identity while cultivating a bond with photographer Vicki Vale (played by Kim Basinger). All these events culminate in a climactic confrontation within Gotham Cathedral.

Batman Returns (1992)

In my opinion, as a movie enthusiast who’s been following the Batman saga, “Batman Returns” offers an intriguing twist with Danny DeVito’s chilling portrayal of the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer’s irresistible rendition of Catwoman. The storyline veers into a darker, more unusual territory this time around, as the deformed Penguin strives to infiltrate Gotham’s high society while harboring a sinister plot for revenge against the city that rejected him. His origin story isn’t without its peculiarities – he was raised by penguins in the sewers, a detail that leaves more questions than answers. It seems best not to probe too deeply about the penguin presence under the city. Nonetheless, it makes for an intriguing and engaging sequel.

Working alongside the corrupt businessman Max Shreck, portrayed by Christopher Walken, Penguin devises a plan to abduct Gotham’s firstborn sons. Simultaneously, we delve into Selina Kyle’s transformation journey. After being abandoned by Shreck, she metamorphoses into Catwoman, at times aligning with Batman and at others posing as a formidable adversary.

Batman Forever (1995)

After Tim Burton left after directing Batman Returns, Joel Schumacher became the new director. This change significantly altered Batman’s portrayal in the films, leading Michael Keaton to depart and Val Kilmer to join the cast instead. However, due to disputes during filming, Kilmer only appeared as Batman once, with the second film being his sole appearance in the role. It is said that he accepted the part because of his childhood affection for the comic books. While it’s hard to imagine many people behaving differently under similar circumstances, this bit of trivia is just a little fun fact.

The plot of Batman Forever is less dark and more comedic compared to Tim Burton’s films. At times, it borders on being humorous, such as when a mad scientist, portrayed by the character-rescuer Jim Carrey, chooses his villain identity and costume using a computer. In addition to Carrey’s Edward Nygma, this movie also introduces Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent, who becomes the villain Two-Face. Both these antagonists concoct evil plans to control Gotham, causing Batman to face their schemes while he simultaneously navigates a romantic mystery involving Dr. Chase Meridian (played by Nicole Kidman).

Batman & Robin (1997)

With Val Kilmer no longer involved, George Clooney takes over the role under the cape. For the most flamboyant and brightest film in this series, director Joel Schumacher makes a return to guide the production. While the 1966 movie, Batman: The Movie, had its campy moments, it was self-aware; unfortunately, this one lacks that awareness.

In turmoil, Gotham City finds itself under siege by two villains: Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who aims to freeze the world for his ailing spouse’s sake, and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman), a captivating eco-terrorist. Despite an impressive lineup of celebrities including Thurman, Schwarzenegger, Chris O’Donnell as Robin, Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl, Michael Gough as Alfred, and Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon, the film is generally regarded as the least successful among all Batman productions. It scored a mere 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is quite a blow. The movie was criticized for excessive neon lighting, too many one-liners, and an overabundance of cheesy ice-themed stunts.

Christopher Nolan era

Batman Begins (2005)

Kicking off an epoch that reshaped superhero cinema entirely, Christopher Nolan spearheaded the revamping of the Batman franchise with “Batman Begins”. This reboot brought a grittier, more authentic portrayal of Gotham City and the origins of the Dark Knight. Christian Bale takes on the role of Bruce Wayne, a rich orphan scarred by his parents’ murder, seeking to confront fear and injustice. He journeys around the world, learning from the League of Shadows under Ra’s al Ghul, played by Liam Neeson.

In simpler terms, after going back to Gotham, Bruce takes on the role of Batman to combat crime while keeping his ethical principles in check. He encounters Dr. Jonathan Crane, also known as The Scarecrow (brilliantly portrayed by Cillian Murphy), who scares people using a fear-triggering chemical. With an impressive cast including Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Tom Wilkinson, Batman Begins marked the beginning of an amazing trilogy.

The Dark Knight (2008)

In simpler terms, “The Dark Knight” stands out as the greatest Batman film in my view, and it’s likely to hold that position for quite some time. I appreciate if you take my opinion into consideration while commenting. Directed by Christopher Nolan, who collaborated with his brother Jonathan on the screenplay, “The Dark Knight” brings a fresh antagonist to life through Heath Ledger’s chilling portrayal of the Joker.

Instead of having money or power as their driving forces, unlike conventional villains, the Joker functions as an anarchist, aiming to demonstrate that even the most upright individuals can be swayed towards corruption. In Christopher Nolan’s film “The Dark Knight,” Batman joins forces with Lt. James Gordon (portrayed by Gary Oldman) and the newly elected district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) in an effort to eradicate organized crime in Gotham City. However, the Joker’s devious plans lead both Gotham and Batman into moral and ethical predicaments. In a twist of events, the Joker abducts Dent and Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), putting Batman in a challenging position that eventually leads to Dent’s transformation into the vengeful Two-Face.

Apart from the iconic pencil attack scene and the infamous trolley problem involving two ferries, The Dark Knight also presents a genuine moral dilemma concerning mass surveillance. By utilizing Lucius Fox’s technology, Batman illegally accesses cellphones to save the day, showcasing an ethical quandary that is depicted as something that should not be employed, even for noble purposes. A fascinating tidbit: the movie was released only a few years after news broke about the NSA secretly spying on Americans’ phone conversations. The film seems to subtly comment on politics, with Gotham city serving as an allegory for real-world issues.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

In the final chapter of Christopher Nolan’s epic Dark Knight Trilogy, titled “The Dark Knight Rises,” Gotham City encounters its most formidable adversary yet. Eight years have passed since the occurrences in “The Dark Knight,” and Bruce Wayne, having given up his role as Batman, lives a secluded life. For the moment, it seems that Gotham enjoys a modicum of tranquility, largely due to the legacy of Harvey Dent.

In the thrilling world of cinema, as a die-hard fan would put it, the tranquility of Gotham City takes a dramatic turn when the imposing figure of Bane, portrayed by Tom Hardy, storms in. This menacing character, known for his mastery in creating chaos, starts tearing apart Gotham, not just physically but also morally. He skillfully orchestrates a citywide siege, cutting off Gotham from the outside world, plunging it into mayhem.

Amidst the chaos, our hero Bruce Wayne finds himself battling more than just the city’s destruction. He’s dealing with debilitating injuries, grappling with self-doubts, and facing a new formidable foe. Once again, he steps up to don the cape and become the Dark Knight, ready to protect his city.

In this gripping narrative, Anne Hathaway brings Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, to life. Her character is ethically ambiguous, initially working for Bane but later choosing to aid Bruce in the fight for Gotham’s survival.

Zack Snyder’s DC Universe

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

In the Snyderverse, Batman v Superman didn’t mark the beginning but rather represented Ben Affleck’s debut as Batman. After witnessing the devastation in Metropolis, Batman grew more and more suspicious of Superman, considering him a potential danger to mankind and taking it upon himself to enforce justice against him.

Beyond Batman’s individual viewpoints, Lex Luthor, portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg, devises cunning plots that widen the divide between him and the two legendary heroes. This escalates into a confrontation where Batman leaves Superman in a state of devastation. However, while these superheroes are locked in their battle, Luthor covertly creates an even more destructive entity intended to annihilate the world. Simultaneously, Lois Lane (Amy Adams) is attempting to expose Luthor’s machinations, and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) makes her debut on the big screen, entering the conflict and subtly foreshadowing a larger alliance in the future.

Justice League (2017)

Unfortunately, the Justice League movie didn’t quite hit the mark as intended, largely due to changes in leadership during post-production. Following Batman v Superman, Zack Snyder had to step down from directing duties due to a personal tragedy and studio disagreements. Joss Whedon then took over, leading to a version of the film that was more aligned with his style rather than the original vision set by Snyder. In essence, the tonal shift feels dramatically incongruous.

After Superman’s demise in Batman v Superman, Batman (Ben Affleck) joins forces with Wonder Woman, portrayed by Gal Gadot, to create a formidable team consisting of DC Comics’ most recognizable champions. This team includes The Flash (Ezra Miller), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa). In unison, they take on Steppenwolf, a potent extraterrestrial warlord intent on merging three powerful artifacts known as Mother Boxes to metamorphose Earth into a replica of Apokolips.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Luckily, Zack Snyder was given another opportunity to unveil his film as he had initially planned. With some support from fans and a widely spread social media movement (#ReleaseTheSnyderCut), HBO – a division of Warner Bros.’ parent company – ended up releasing the director’s cut, which was close to four hours long.

In this revised version, the central storyline has been preserved, but issues with structure, pacing, and coherence from the 2017 release have been addressed and significantly improved. This iteration delves deeper into character backgrounds, providing clearer motivation for their actions – something that was a notable shortcoming before. Scenes once omitted or modified are now fully developed in this version. The comedic elements typically associated with Joss Whedon’s work have been replaced, resulting in a darker tone more fitting of the epic superhero ensemble that Zack Snyder originally intended.

Matt Reeves’ Standalone Universe

The Batman (2022)

To conclude, we delve into the Matt Reeves-created universe, commencing with “The Batman”, a reboot of the franchise that offers a grittier, more enigmatic portrayal of Gotham City and its Dark Knight. In this version, Robert Pattinson plays Bruce Wayne at an early stage in his vigilante career. Although it may not fully transform into a detective-style Batman, there’s still enough investigation at crime scenes and deciphering puzzles reminiscent of Zodiac to appease fans of mysteries. The film was successful at the box office, generating more than $770 million globally.

The narrative revolves around a notorious serial killer, recognized as the Riddler, portrayed by Paul Dano. He preys upon Gotham’s elite, leaving enigmatic clues and a trail of gruesome murders that reveal hidden corruption within the city’s power structures. In a joint effort to expose this conspiracy, Batman aligns himself with Lieutenant James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) and Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz).

Batman 2 (rumored 2027)

Not much can be said about the upcoming movie as we don’t have many details yet. However, the second installment of Batman, directed by Matt Reeves once more, will start filming in London early in 2026. It is predicted that Robert Pattinson will continue his portrayal of a grittier, detective-oriented Dark Knight in this sequel. Although plot details are currently kept secret, any news about it may only be speculation at this point.

2025-09-10 01:32