One of the most recognizable heroes in DC and the superhero universe, Batman is not only Gotham’s vigilante but a comic book star. Played by various actors such as Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, Robert Patterson, George Clooney, etc., Batman has continued to inspire generations of all ages. If you’ve ever wanted to watch the whole pantheon of Batman films, check out our ranking of the fifteen best Batman movies in order of IMDb scores.
15. Batman & Robin (1997)
Coming in fifteenth on our best Batman movies list is Batman & Robin. In the film, Batman and Robin fight against crime in Gotham while also trying to fight against tension in their relationship. Among the many villains they face are Poison Ivy, who can make anyone fall in love with her, and Mr. Freeze, who will freeze anything in his way of achieving his goal.
–IMDb score: 3.8
14. Batman Forever (1995)
Next on our best Batman movies list is the 1995 classic Batman Forever, where Batman must battle Two-Face and The Riddler. Originally District Attorney Harvey Dent, Two-Face believes Batman caused the courtroom accident that left him disfigured on one side, while Edward Nygma, a computer genius and former employee of Bruce Wayne, is ready to drain information from the brains of Gotham. It’s up to Batman and the new addition, Robin, to take down the bad guys.
–IMDb score: 5.4
13. Justice League (2017)
Our thirteenth selection for best Batman movies jumps forward in the DC timeline with Justice League. Fueled by Superman’s selfless act and his renewed faith in humanity, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of Diana Prince to face a new enemy: Steppenwolf and his Parademons, looking to capture Earth. Batman and Wonder Woman recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this threat, including Aquaman, Cyborg, and The Flash. But will it be too late?
–IMDb score: 6.1
12. Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
Get ready for an animated film with our twelfth choice for best Batman movies, Batman: The Killing Joke. Our favorite green-haired villain and Batman’s greatest enemy, The Joker, is back. This time, the Clown Prince of Crime is after Commissioner Gordon and his family in a quest to drive them crazy. Batman must find Joker’s secret hideout and save them before it’s too late.
–IMDb score: 6.4
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11. Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
One of the most anticipated films on our best Batman movies list is Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, pitting two DC greats against one another. Set nearly two years after Superman’s battle with Zod, the collateral damage has left many citizens angry, including Bruce Wayne. Convinced he is a threat to humanity, Batman embarks on a vendetta to end Superman’s reign on Earth, while the conniving Lex Luthor also lays plans against the Man of Steel.
–IMDb score: 6.5
10. Batman (1966)
One of the first film adaptations of the DC superhero was in 1966 in Batman. The film follows the adventures of entrepreneur Bruce Wayne, also known as Batman, and his young ward Dick Grayson, who is Batman’s sidekick Robin the boy wonder. Racing to the Police Commissioner’s aid, the duo must take on villains including the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, and the Catwoman.
–IMDb score: 6.5
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9. Batman Returns (1992)
Earning the ninth spot on the best Batman movies list is Batman Returns. The monstrous Penguin decides to team up with wicked businessman Max Shreck to take down Batman once and for all. When Shreck’s timid assistant, Selina Kyle, learns of the plot though, Shreck tries to kill her, but she turns into the Catwoman instead. Teaming up with the Penguin and Shreck, unexpected sparks fly between Catwoman and Batman and complicate things.
–IMDb score: 7.1
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8. The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Take a trip into the world of bricks with our eighth selection, The Lego Batman Movie. Big changes are brewing in Gotham City, and if Batman wants to save the city from the Joker’s evil schemes, he will have to learn how to work with others and loosen up. Perhaps his new superhero sidekick Robin and loyal butler Alfred can show him a thing or two, to become a better hero.
–IMDb score: 7.3
7. Batman (1989)
Travel back to 1989 for our seventh selection of the best Batman movies, Batman. Crime boss Carl Grissom runs Gotham, but there is a new fighter in town, Batman. Working alongside Grissom is Jack Napier, a man who is not entirely sane. When the two have a falling out, Napier falls to his apparent death in a vat of chemicals. However, he soon appears as The Joker, ready to reign terror in Gotham City that only Batman can stop.
–IMDb score: 7.5
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6. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Back for another animated feature film is the sixth selection for best Batman movies, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. Set during the 1940s, Batman must contend with another masked vigilante in town, who is running through the city, knocking off prominent mob figures. When officials misinterpret him as Batman, the true hero must stick to the shadows while his alter ego, Bruce Wayne is reunited with Andrea Beaumont.
–IMDb score: 7.8
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5. The Batman (2022)
Reaching the top five best Batman movies is The Batman, one of the more recent installments to the franchise. Fighting at night has turned Bruce Wayne into a nocturnal animal, bringing him face to face with his biggest threat so far, a manic killer known as The Riddler. The villain is filled with rage, planning on exposing the corrupt system while picking off key political figures. Working with both new and familiar faces, Bruce must track down the The Riddler, while also diving into his father’s legacy and Bruce’s impact on Gotham as The Batman.
–IMDb score: 7.8
4. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2024)
The most recent film on our best Batman movies list is Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Determined to prove Superman’s sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world against Steppenwolf, DeSaad, and Darkseid. The task proves difficult, especially when each recruit must face the demons of their past to be released from their past. Once united, it’s up to Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, and The Flash to save the world.
–IMDb score: 7.9
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3. Batman Begins (2005)
Jumping into the top three for best Batman movies is Batman Begins. After watching his parents perish, billionaire playboy, Bruce Wayne moves to Asia, where he is mentored by Henri Ducard and Ra’s Al Ghul on how to fight evil. Returning home, Bruce adopts the persona of a bat to strike fear in criminals and the corrupt, later becoming the icon Batman. A secret group is planning to destroy Gotham, and it’s up to Batman to save the day.
–IMDb score: 8.2
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2. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Second on our list of best Batman movies is The Dark Knight Rises, taking place eight years after Batman and Commissioner Gordon vanished into the night. Taking responsibility for the death of Harvey Dent, Batman sacrificed everything for the “greater good.” However, the appearance of a cunning cat burglar and a merciless terrorist named Bane will force Batman out of exile and back into a fight he may not be able to win.
–IMDb score: 8.4
1. The Dark Knight (2008)
Last but not least on our list of best Batman movies is The Dark Knight, the second film of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. Set a year after the events of Batman Begins, Batman, Lieutenant Gordon, and District Attorney Dent have started to round up the criminals that plague Gotham City. However, a new mastermind has joined the party, known only as The Joker. Batman’s fight against the maniac becomes deeply personal, pushing him to the limits both physically and mentally.
–IMDb score: 9.0