The Batman Movies, Ranked: The Top 8

Every era of Batman, ranked by movie.guru score. Capes, clowns, and one director who owns the top three.

Number one surprises absolutely nobody. I ranked it anyway, with one complaint.

1. 8
   Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)3.6

   Two icons, 151 minutes, and not one smile.

   Made $874.4 million worldwide, and Metacritic says 44. Ben Affleck's Batman is legit good. Everything around him is grim speeches and gray filters.
2. 7
   Joker (2019)7.0

   Basically a Scorsese tribute act in clown makeup.

   Critics rank it above only 58% of notable movies, audiences 75%. 122 minutes that borrow Taxi Driver's mood and The King of Comedy's plot, and Robert De Niro shows up to watch.
3. 6
   Batman Returns (1992)7.0

   Batman barely shows up in Batman Returns. Bold choice.

   Tim Burton spent $50 to $80 million of studio money on pure weirdness. Audiences rank it above 75% of notable movies. Michael Keaton mostly waits in the Batcave for his turn.
4. 5
   Batman (1989)7.8

   Everyone doubted Michael Keaton. Everyone was wrong.

   $251.2 million domestic on a $48 million budget, plus an A CinemaScore. Jack Nicholson gets top billing and earns it. Also, a Prince soundtrack. Wild choice, still works.
5. 4
   The Batman (2022)8.0

   The best detective Batman, trapped in a 176 minute runtime.

   Robert Pattinson plays him like a moody grad student with a notebook. Audiences rank it above 81% of notable movies, and it made $772.8 million worldwide.
6. 3
   The Dark Knight Rises (2012)8.0

   The biggest swing in the trilogy, and the wobbliest.

   8.4 on IMDb from 2.03 million votes, but Metacritic says 64. Anne Hathaway's Selina Kyle is the sharpest thing in it, and the logic is the loosest.
7. 2
   Batman Begins (2005)8.5

   The origin story that dragged Batman out of the neon.

   8.2 on IMDb from 1.75 million votes, and audiences rank it above 94% of notable movies. Liam Neeson trains Bruce on a glacier. The fights are chopped into confetti, though.
8. 1
   The Dark Knight (2008)9.3

   It made every superhero movie after it take itself too seriously.

   Made for $185 million, it pulled $533.3 million domestic. Critics rank it above 92% of notable movies, audiences 95%. The love triangle is the only soft spot.

$86.17 says you end up arguing about which Batman had the best car instead of the best movie.

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Current mood: ready to fight about it