By Jeremy Brown
The Dark Knight has consistently graced the silver screen as a symbol of justice and vengeance since his cinematic debut in 1966. Batman, Gotham City’s enigmatic caped crusader, has undergone a remarkable evolution, transitioning from campy portrayals to gritty, complex character studies. This article delves into the rich tapestry of Batman movies, exploring their evolution, impact on pop culture, and the enduring fascination that surrounds the iconic vigilante. This list is my opinion, (the correct opinion) on which stand alone batman movies are the best.
10. Batman returns
This movie is the first live action Batman movie I remember watching. This movie has the best rendition of the Penguin; in my opinion, Danny Devito does a great job of bringing out the underlying story of what makes Penguin tick. The Cat Woman origin story is kinda weird in my opinion, but once she is Catwoman, her character works great.
9. Batman the Long Halloween (Parts 1 and 2)
In Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One, Batman collaborates with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Police Captain Jim Gordon to investigate the Holiday Killer, who targets members of Gotham City’s Falcone crime family during holidays. In Part Two, the pressure to solve the case intensifies, especially with the emergence of Two-Face, leading Batman into conflicts with crime bosses and Gotham’s underworld as they seek to unravel the mystery and address Harvey Dent’s transformation into Two-Face. The twists and turns of this movie are fantastic, and it follows super close to many of the comics. It is a true Batman lover’s movie, but it is kind of dark so that’s why it’s so low on my list.
8. Batman (1989)
Featuring the second best joker, Jack Nickolson does a great job of showing us the creation of the Joker. The action seems underwhelming, but it was filmed 40 years ago. The music is top tier. When I think about Batman, I think of the music from this movie. Michael Keaton is a great Bruce Wayne — he really brings out the personality of Bruce — but I do not like the fact that Batman can’t rotate his neck.
7. Batman Begins
Great movie overall, but it gets overshadowed by its counterparts. The first rendition in the Christopher Nolan saga, this movie goes through Batman’s origins like we never saw them before. To be completely transparent with the reader, if someone says that they have never seen the Batman movies, I am skipping this one and going straight to The Dark Knight.
6. Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Though Batman is my favorite superhero, my favorite pop culture entity of all time is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This movie was kind of redundant, having the same plot as TMNT out of the shadows and The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but it was still awesome. Batman and the Ninja Turtles, what more could you ask for?
5. Batman (1966)
I grew up watching this movie: I had it on VHS. It’s so bad it is amazing. The movie looks like it was made in the 60s because it was, and it uses humor from the time and the bad effects to make a really great movie. And, yes, there is a scene where Batman is on a rope with a shark clamped on his leg and he sprays it with shark repellent.
4. The Batman (2022)
Though hated by many, I actually thought this movie got Batman back to the roots of Batman. He is truly the world’s greatest detective, and his villains are real people with real struggles. Also the mob ties are something we see in other films but do not get the full depth like in this film. The movie is just too long, that is my biggest fault. There are parts where it seems to trail on.
3. Dark Knight rises
Overall, an amazing movie with an outstanding villain and the plot is smooth. The twist is shocking. Honestly, the plot in my opinion is better than The Dark Knight but Bane isn’t as good as The Joker, though Bane as a villain is both intimidating and intelligent. The airplane scene is so cool though not the best opening scene on this list. Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman is my favorite rendition of the character.
2. The Lego Batman Movie
This movie not only touched my heart: it spoke to my soul. It’s hilarious cultivation in the perfect amount of humor that drives this movie to my #2 spot. The combination of the lego cinematic universe into the Batman story about growth and not relying on oneself is a great balance. The family centered themes drive its point home for me.
- The Dark Knight
The perfect movie in my opinion, Heath Ledger’s Joker is the best by far, and Christian Bale is perfect in his rendition as Bruce Wayne. The plot is great, the twists and turns are amazing, and it has the greatest opening scene of any movie ever. The movie gets you thinking by putting Batman and others characters in situations where you have to choose the better of two evils. It gets you thinking about what you would do if you were in that situation. It’s very thought provoking because, as crazy as the Joker is, he is insanely smart and cunning. He is realistic which is scary.
Last- Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker: I hate this movie. Please never watch it. It scared me as a kid, and I still have nightmares about it. I’m not kidding.
In the ever-evolving world of cinema, Batman has proven to be a timeless and iconic character, leaving an indelible mark on the history of filmmaking. From Tim Burton’s gothic masterpiece to Christopher Nolan’s epic trilogy, these films have not only entertained but have also sparked discussions on morality, identity, and the blurred lines between hero and antihero. While we’ve celebrated some of the best Batman movies in this article, the Bat-Signal continues to shine bright with new adaptations and adventures on the horizon. As fans, it’s our duty to embrace this legacy, to eagerly anticipate what the future holds for the Dark Knight, and to keep the spirit of Batman alive by supporting upcoming projects, attending screenings, and sharing our love for this iconic hero with the world. After all, Gotham needs its guardian, and the legend of Batman must endure. So, stay vigilant and keep the Bat-Signal lit — the night is darkest just before the dawn.
The Best of Batman was originally published in The Herald on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.