All 'Batman' Movies in Order to Watch

Theodora
Updated on 2022-06-13
Looking to watch all Batman movies in order? You've come to the right place. Here's how and where to stream all of the Batman movies, going all the way back to Adam West's 'Batman' (1966).

You can watch all 'Batman Movies' in one place. This is the place for you. This page will show you how to stream Batman movies starting with Adam West's "Batman" (1966).

Watch All The Batman Movies

Your Marvel Cinematic Universe can be yours, featuring its almost two dozen films that weave a complicated web of character stories into one cohesive narrative. Sure, it's a towering cinematic achievement — but is it truly a timeless story? For me, the best thing about a superhero story is its ability to be told in many different ways. It's fun. Fun ways. Dour and serious. Both retro-chic and futuristic. Only one superhero can claim this level of universality, and that's The Caped Crusader.

This is right: Batman, Gotham City's protector has been the most popular superhero for over 50 years. Bruce Wayne, the nocturnal vigilante, has been one of the film's most beloved and adaptable characters, ranging from the 1960s campy interpretations to the rise of blockbuster movies in the 1990s, to the modern era of superhero reimaginings in the 21st Century.

1. "Batman: The Movie" (1966)

batman-adam-west

Even if you've never seen Batman, it's possible to have an understanding of Adam West's Batman based on all the cultural references that exist today. It's far more silly than you might think, I assure you. The Batman of the West is a far cry from the original character and its current-day form. He's incredibly silly and child-friendly, using toy-like vehicles and devices, and has simple, absurd plotlines. This feature-length version of West's Batman features a host of villains including Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, the Penguin and Lee Meriwether, Catwoman. It is a hilarious show.

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2. ''Batman'' (1989)

BATMAN RETURNS, Michael Keaton, 1992. Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection

It's difficult to understand how revolutionary Tim Burton's 1989 film Batman was if you grew up during this golden age in superhero movies. There's a new, high-budget movie almost every other month. It was the first major silver-screen portrayal of Batman. Burton created Gotham to be a scary Art Deco horror, cool and full of danger. Michael Keaton gave the role a calm seriousness that was missing in West's time, and Jack Nicholson acted the part as an eerie and comical Joker. This one was the foundation for today's super hero epics.

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3. ''Batman Returns'' (1992)

This movie is a sequel to the original Burton Batman film, which redefined the genre. It's a comical, weird Burton movie. The twin villain roles of Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny Devito, Catwoman and The Penguin respectively, are hilarious and powerful. This is a part he seemed to be born for. The story is dark and disturbing, as The Penguin rises from the sewers in an attempt to revenge his abandonment of his children. He also kidnaps all of Gotham’s firstborn children. It may lack Christopher Nolan's gritty realist, but it has a wicked charm and a Gothic sensibility.

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4. ''Batman Forever'' (1995)

Batman-Forever

By the third movie, this '90s star began to lose some of his power. Joel Schumacher took over the directorship of Tim Burton, although he was still credited with producing it. Keaton also left, but Joel Schumacher was credited as a producer. Instead of wearing the cowl and cape, Val Kilmer took over. A new cast of villains was introduced, Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent (the Gotham District Attorney) and Jim Carrey playing The Riddler. Was this movie all that it claimed to have? It had Seal's song "Kiss From A Rose" on its soundtrack. I believe that is the answer.

Jones and Carrey did not get along on set, with Jones telling Carrey, who was affable at the time that Jones could not sanction his buffoonery.

5. "Batman and Robin" (1997)

BatMan And Robin

Batman Forever was a departure from Tim Burton's dark, gothic films. Joel Schumacher took over the creative reigns for the fourth installment in the 1990s. Batman & Robin was the most outrageous version of West's classic. George Clooney donned a Batsuit and prominent bat nipples in order to fight Poison Ivy, Chris O'Donnell's Robin (Alicia Silverstone), and Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger spewed catchphrases that resembled a pull-string toy, Freeze. Both critics and viewers criticized the sequel and it brought an end of the franchise's 1990s form. However, some positive reappraisals have been made in light of Schumacher's passing.

6. ''Batman Begins'' (2005)

It was necessary to rethink the story after an eight-year hiatus. Christopher Nolan's uncompromisingly gritty and dark origin story of Batman for Christopher Nolan is a perfect example. This film draws from several comic book sources, including Frank Miller's 1987 graphic novel Batman Year One. It is grounded in reality and bares no excess. Christian Bale portrays a young Bruce Wayne, who is transformed into a scarecrow-like avenger by Cillian Murphy. Although the film was eclipsed by the sequel, it made it possible.

7. "The Dark Knight" (2008)

This is the superhero film that will end all superhero films. Nolan's dark visions of Gotham are fully realized in this psychological thriller starring Heath Ledger. This performance would only be made public after Nolan's untimely passing. Ledger's Joker was iconic, rendering all previous versions laughable — psychotic, menacing, and cruel, in a genuinely terrifying way. This is not a simple fight between heroes and villains. It's an epic, well-crafted story with many twists. The special effects are tremendous, the stakes are elevated, the performances are stunning — superhero movies simply do not get any better than this epic.

8. "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises

Some wondered if there would be a Nolan sequel after Ledger died. However, he made it possible with the impossibly grim finale. The villain Bane is responsible for holding Gotham hostage and destroying all routes into or out of Gotham. Although it wasn't as good as its predecessor, many thought it didn’t do justice to his character.

9. "Batman V Superman, Dawn Of Justice" (2016)

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, from left: Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, 

Ever wonder if Bruce Wayne was not from Gotham City but South Boston? We didn't, and we found the solution when Ben Affleck was chosen to play the role of the man in the mask. Although the plot isn't very clear, it's still worth reading: After the events of Man of Steel (the DC Extended Universe's rebooted Superman movie), Bruce Wayne perceives Superman to be a threat to the public and decides to take him down. Secretly, their rivalry is fostered through the involvement of Lex Luthor. Jesse Eisenberg portrays him in this younger version, which was one of the few positive aspects of the film.

10. ''Suicide Squad'' (2016)

BATMAN IN SUICIDE SQUAD

Batman's cinematic history has seen a lot of major stars step into the story — from Michael Keaton to Val Kilmer, George Clooney to Christian Bale, Ben Affleck to (soon) Robert Pattinson. Rarely has such a large cast of talent ever been seen in an anti-hero ensemble movie, in which The Caped Crusader makes an appearance but is not credited.

In the aftermath of Superman's passing, government intelligence is reeling and has assembled a rogues gallery of villainous imprisoned for a special task force called 'Task Force X. Bartering for leniency in their sentences, this team of villains will face off against bigger threats to the world's safety — and what a team it is. Jared Leto, Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Will Smith lead this big-name cast. Leto, who is always wild, puts his twist on the Joker character, which was no easy task after Ledger’s legendary portrayal. In a scene in the middle of credits, Affleck plays Bruce Wayne/Batman again. But this film doesn't really need him.

The film didn't find much favor from critics, but many fans loved it, and it was a box-office smash — wild, kooky, and fun.

11. ''Justice League'' (2017)

Justice-League

After the events in Batman V. Superman (spoiler alert), Batman has to form a new team. This sees Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ezra Miller, and Jason Momoa becoming the primary DC Universe superhero team. Production difficulties caused Zack Snyder to resign as director. Joss Whedon took over the role of Batman's new team. This was criticized by hardcore fans. It also led to many years of requests for Snyder's Snyder Cut, which will be released through HBO in 2021.

12. "The Lego Batman Movie" (2017)

Lego-Batman-Movie

After the dark turns of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy and DCEU films, it might surprise that Batman as toy is one of the most loved entries of Batman cinema. A spinoff of the hugely successful Lego Movie of 2014, this sees Batman (voiced by Will Arnett) taking on, as he is wont to do, the Joker — this time memorably portrayed by Zach Galifianakis. It's a film that knows its place in history, with in-joke references made to nearly all of the other films on this list — but it's also a genuinely high-quality episode of the Batman canon, toys or not.

13. ''Joker'' (2019)

JOKER, Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck

But what if there was a Batman film without Batman? You might manage it if you have Joaquin Phoenix. Gotham's always been a flexible place — sometimes it's an Art Deco dreamscape, sometimes it's Chicago, sometimes it's New York City or Pittsburgh — but in Todd Phillips' villain origin story, it's indelibly New York City in the late '70s. Gotham is broke, trash-filled, and edgy, and Phoenix's Arthur Fleck — a failed comedian struggling with mental illness — becomes its avatar as he evolves into the iconic smiling villain in this mash-up of Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. Phoenix received Academy Award nominations in Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for the movie.

Who needed The Bat after all this? We do. That's why we have another Batman film coming out in 2021. Robert Pattinson will be playing the role of The Bat in an entirely new vision.

14. "The Batman'' (2022)

THE BATMAN STREAMING MOVIE

While another Batman film may not be the right thing for the moment, it might just be what we need. It's Robert Pattinson’s turn for Batman (2022).

This Batman movie, directed by Matt Reeves is dark, serious, and twisted. Zoe Kravitz stars alongside Pattinson as Catwoman, a thief, and a nightclub waitress who crosses paths with the reclusive billionaire-turned-vigilante known as Bruce Wayne. To defeat The Riddler, a sociopathic serial killer played by Paul Dano, cat and bat have to work together

The movie premiered in theatres only on March 4, 2022. However, it is now streaming at home for HBO Max subscribers.