Quick answer: Batman has appeared in 17 released theatrical titles since 1943. Nine are live-action films with Batman as the lead, from Batman (1966) to The Batman (2022). The rest are two 1940s serials, two animated films and four ensemble films. The easiest way to watch is in release order, using the table below.
Biggest hit: The Dark Knight Rises ($1.08bn worldwide). Best reviewed: The Dark Knight (94% on Rotten Tomatoes). Next film: The Batman Part II, due 18 February 2028.
Batman has been on cinema screens for more than 80 years, and the films do not follow one story. Different studios and directors have rebooted him many times, so the order you watch in matters less than knowing which films belong together. This guide lists every film, explains what counts, and compares the actors, box office and reviews using facts rather than opinion.
*Counting Lewis Wilson to Robert Pattinson as leads in cinema releases, including serials. Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck each appear in more than one continuity.
Batman movies in release order
This is the master list. Box office figures appear later, so this table stays easy to scan. Serials, animated films and ensemble films are labelled so nothing is mixed up.
| Year | Film | Director | Batman | Format | Continuity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Batman | Lambert Hillyer | Lewis Wilson | Serial (15 chapters) | Standalone |
| 1949 | Batman and Robin | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Robert Lowery | Serial (15 chapters) | Sequel to the 1943 serial |
| 1966 | Batman: The Movie | Leslie H. Martinson | Adam West | Live-action feature | 1960s TV series |
| 1989 | Batman | Tim Burton | Michael Keaton | Live-action feature | Burton and Schumacher films |
| 1992 | Batman Returns | Tim Burton | Michael Keaton | Live-action feature | Burton and Schumacher films |
| 1993 | Batman: Mask of the Phantasm | Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm | Kevin Conroy (voice) | Animated feature | Batman: The Animated Series |
| 1995 | Batman Forever | Joel Schumacher | Val Kilmer | Live-action feature | Burton and Schumacher films |
| 1997 | Batman & Robin | Joel Schumacher | George Clooney | Live-action feature | Burton and Schumacher films |
| 2005 | Batman Begins | Christopher Nolan | Christian Bale | Live-action feature | Nolan trilogy |
| 2008 | The Dark Knight | Christopher Nolan | Christian Bale | Live-action feature | Nolan trilogy |
| 2012 | The Dark Knight Rises | Christopher Nolan | Christian Bale | Live-action feature | Nolan trilogy |
| 2016 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Zack Snyder | Ben Affleck | Ensemble film | DC Extended Universe (DCEU) |
| 2017 | The Lego Batman Movie | Chris McKay | Will Arnett (voice) | Animated feature | Standalone comedy |
| 2017 | Justice League | Zack Snyder (credited; film completed by Joss Whedon) | Ben Affleck | Ensemble film | DCEU |
| 2021 | Zack Snyder’s Justice League | Zack Snyder | Ben Affleck | Ensemble film (director’s cut) | DCEU |
| 2022 | The Batman | Matt Reeves | Robert Pattinson | Live-action feature | Reeves’ own continuity |
| 2023 | The Flash | Andy Muschietti | Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton | Ensemble film | DCEU and multiverse |
| 2028 (due) | The Batman Part II | Matt Reeves | Robert Pattinson | Live-action feature | Reeves’ own continuity |
What counts as a Batman movie?
Websites give different totals because they draw the line in different places. Rotten Tomatoes, for example, counts 37 Batman films because it includes many direct-to-video cartoons. This guide uses five clear groups.
- Live-action Batman films: Batman is the lead (nine films).
- Serials: the two 1940s cinema chapter plays.
- Theatrical animation: Mask of the Phantasm and The Lego Batman Movie.
- Ensemble films: Batman is a major character but not the only star.
- Adjacent films: the two Joker films. Batman is not the lead.
Direct-to-video animation is left out of the main list because those films never had a standard cinema release.
The early years: the 1940s serials
Columbia Pictures released Batman in 1943, a 15-chapter serial shown in weekly cinema instalments. Lewis Wilson played Batman and Douglas Croft played Robin. The story has a wartime flavour, and it introduced the idea of a secret Batcave entrance hidden behind a clock.
Batman and Robin followed in 1949, also in 15 chapters, with Robert Lowery as Batman and Johnny Duncan as Robin. These were low-budget action serials, so they feel very different from modern films. They matter mainly as the first time audiences saw the character on screen.
The camp era: Batman: The Movie (1966)
Batman: The Movie was a big-screen spin-off from the Adam West television series. Burt Ward played Robin, and the villains included the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler and Catwoman. The film is silly on purpose, with bright colours and deadpan jokes. It belongs to the 1960s TV world and has no link to later films.
Burton and Schumacher: 1989 to 1997
Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) made the character a dark, gothic blockbuster. Michael Keaton played Bruce Wayne and Jack Nicholson played the Joker. It was followed by Batman Returns (1992), which brought in the Penguin and Catwoman.
Joel Schumacher took over for Batman Forever (1995) with Val Kilmer, then Batman & Robin (1997) with George Clooney. The look turned brighter and the tone more cartoonish. Batman & Robin was poorly reviewed, and the series paused for several years afterwards.
| Burton (1989–1992) | Schumacher (1995–1997) | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Dark, gothic Gotham | Bright, neon Gotham |
| Batman | Michael Keaton | Val Kilmer, then George Clooney |
| Main villains | Joker, Penguin, Catwoman | Two-Face, Riddler, Mr Freeze, Poison Ivy |
| Tone | Moody and stylised | Light and playful |
| Domestic gross | $251.2m and $162.8m | $184.0m and $107.3m |
Animated films in cinemas
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) came from Batman: The Animated Series, with Kevin Conroy voicing Batman. It earned only about $5.6m in US cinemas, but fans still rate it highly. The Lego Batman Movie (2017) is a comedy that pokes fun at Batman’s history, with Will Arnett as the voice. Neither connects to the live-action films.
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012)
Nolan restarted the story with Batman Begins (2005), showing Bruce Wayne’s training and first year as Batman. The Dark Knight (2008) added Heath Ledger’s Joker and won two Oscars: Best Supporting Actor for Ledger and Sound Editing. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) ended the story with Bane.
Christian Bale played Batman in all three. The films aim for a realistic crime-thriller feel, and they are a separate world from the Burton and Schumacher films. If you only want one self-contained story, this is the trilogy to choose.
Batman in the DC Extended Universe (2016–2023)
Ben Affleck’s older, battle-worn Batman first appeared in Batman v Superman (2016), then in Justice League (2017). Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) is a longer director’s cut of that film, not a sequel. Batman also makes a brief cameo in Suicide Squad (2016).
In The Flash (2023), Affleck’s Batman appears alongside Michael Keaton’s, thanks to a multiverse storyline. That makes it the one film where two different screen Batmen meet.
Matt Reeves and The Batman (2022)
Matt Reeves’ The Batman stars Robert Pattinson as a young, detective-style Batman in a rainy, noir Gotham. It stands apart from every other film here. It earned $772.2m worldwide, the highest total of any Batman film not directed by Nolan or Snyder.
The Batman Part II has been delayed more than once and is now set for 18 February 2028, according to Variety. Pattinson returns. DC Studios is also developing The Brave and the Bold for its new DC Universe, but it has no official release date and no confirmed Batman casting.
Are the Joker films Batman movies?
No. Joker (2019) and Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) follow Arthur Fleck, not Bruce Wayne. In the first film, a young Bruce Wayne appears briefly, but Batman does not. Folie à Deux earned about $207.5m worldwide, far less than the first film, which passed $1bn. Treat both as Batman-adjacent.
Every actor who has played Batman in cinema
| Actor | Films | Years | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Wilson | Batman (serial) | 1943 | Lambert Hillyer |
| Robert Lowery | Batman and Robin (serial) | 1949 | Spencer Gordon Bennet |
| Adam West | Batman: The Movie | 1966 | Leslie H. Martinson |
| Michael Keaton | Batman, Batman Returns, The Flash | 1989, 1992, 2023 | Tim Burton; Andy Muschietti |
| Val Kilmer | Batman Forever | 1995 | Joel Schumacher |
| George Clooney | Batman & Robin | 1997 | Joel Schumacher |
| Christian Bale | Nolan trilogy | 2005–2012 | Christopher Nolan |
| Ben Affleck | Batman v Superman, Justice League (both cuts), The Flash | 2016–2023 | Zack Snyder; Andy Muschietti |
| Robert Pattinson | The Batman | 2022 | Matt Reeves |
This guide does not crown a “best” Batman, because that is a matter of taste. What the numbers do show is that Christian Bale’s three films earned about $1.19bn in the US and Canada combined, the highest of any actor.
Batman movies by box office
All figures are nominal, meaning they are not adjusted for inflation. Older films would rank higher if adjusted, so compare across decades with care. Worldwide figures are from Box Office Mojo and were checked on 2 November 2026.
| Film | Domestic gross (US and Canada) | Opening weekend |
|---|---|---|
| The Dark Knight | $533.3m | $158.4m |
| The Dark Knight Rises | $448.1m | $160.9m |
| The Batman | $369.3m | $134.0m |
| Batman v Superman | $330.4m | $166.0m |
| Batman (1989) | $251.2m (original release) | $40.5m |
| Batman Begins | $205.3m | Not listed here |
The Dark Knight Rises is the highest-grossing Batman film worldwide, while The Dark Knight leads in the US and Canada. The 1989 film’s worldwide total of $411.6m includes later re-releases.
Critic scores and awards
Critics and audiences do not always agree, and Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and CinemaScore measure different things. For example, Batman Begins has a Metacritic score of 70 and a user score of 8.3. On awards, The Dark Knight won two Oscars from eight nominations, and Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor for Joker.
How the Batman films connect
Most readers get confused here, so this is the short version. Only the groups below share a story.
| Continuity | Films | Connected to others? |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s serials | 1943 and 1949 | No. Standalone. |
| 1960s TV | 1966 film | No. Linked to the TV series only. |
| Burton and Schumacher | 1989, 1992, 1995, 1997 | Yes, with each other. |
| Nolan trilogy | 2005, 2008, 2012 | No. A separate reboot. |
| DCEU | 2016 to 2023 ensemble films | Yes, with each other. |
| Reeves | 2022 and 2028 (due) | No. A separate world. |
| New DC Universe | The Brave and the Bold (announced) | No date or casting confirmed. |
| Animation and Joker | Animated films, 2019 and 2024 | Separate from everything else. |
What order should you watch them in?
For a first-time viewer, release order is simplest, because it follows the order the films reached cinemas. If you would rather follow a story, pick one continuity at a time:
- Nolan: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises.
- Burton and Schumacher: 1989, 1992, 1995, 1997.
- DCEU: Batman v Superman, Justice League (or the 2021 cut, not both back to back), then The Flash.
- Reeves: The Batman, then Part II when it arrives.
Fans of other superhero series may like our guides to the Marvel watch order on Disney+ and the Star Wars viewing order, which use the same release-order approach. If you also enjoy the TV side of DC, see our list of Superman TV shows.
Where to watch Batman films in the UK
Streaming rights change often, so a fixed list would go out of date quickly. The quickest way to check today is to use our guide on how to find where a film is streaming in the UK, or our wider page on where to watch films in the UK. Rights differ by country, which is also why the Netflix UK and Netflix US libraries are not the same. For background, see how streaming rights work in the UK.
If a film is not on a service you pay for, it often appears for rent or purchase first, as explained in our piece on the gap between cinema and streaming in the UK. Watching the Nolan films in good quality? Our 4K streaming guide covers what you need.
Upcoming Batman films
| Project | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| The Batman Part II | In production | Due 18 February 2028. Matt Reeves directs and Robert Pattinson returns. |
| The Brave and the Bold | Announced | No release date. Andy Muschietti is reported as director, but casting is not confirmed. |
For other big releases heading to UK screens, take a look at our round-up of the most anticipated 2026 films in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How many Batman movies are there?
It depends on what you count. This guide lists 17 released theatrical titles, including two serials, two animated films and four ensemble films. Nine are live-action films led by Batman.
What is the correct order to watch the Batman movies?
Release order is the simplest. To follow a story, watch one continuity at a time, such as the Nolan trilogy on its own.
Who was the first actor to play Batman in cinema?
Lewis Wilson, in the 1943 Columbia serial Batman.
Which Batman movie made the most money?
The Dark Knight Rises earned about $1.08bn worldwide, nominal. The Dark Knight earned the most in the US and Canada.
Which Batman movie has the best reviews?
Of the films checked, The Dark Knight has the highest Rotten Tomatoes critic score at 94%.
Are Christopher Nolan’s films connected to the 1990s films?
No. Nolan’s trilogy is a fresh start with no link to the Burton and Schumacher films.
Is Joker a Batman movie?
No. Batman does not appear in Joker (2019) or Joker: Folie à Deux (2024), so they count as Batman-adjacent.
Is The Batman connected to Joker?
No. They are separate films with separate casts and stories.
Are the animated Batman films part of the same universe?
No. Mask of the Phantasm comes from the animated TV series, and The Lego Batman Movie is a standalone comedy.
What is the newest Batman movie?
As of 2 November 2026, it is The Batman (2022). The Flash (2023) features Batman, but he is not the lead.
When is The Batman Part II out?
18 February 2028, according to Variety. Dates have moved before, so check closer to the time.
Final thoughts
Batman’s screen history runs from 1940s serials to a modern noir detective, with each era reshaping the character. Start with release order if you are new, or pick the Nolan trilogy for a complete story. If you like lists of this kind, our guide to award-winning films in the UK and our picks for the best films to watch now are good places to go next.
Box office and review figures were checked on 2 November 2026 and can change. Sources: Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, AFI Catalog, The Numbers, Wikipedia and Variety.
