Every Batman Movie Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes

Coming in last place with a 12% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "Batman & Robin" is the critics' choice for worst-ever "Batman" movie. Directed by Joel Schumacher and featuring an all-star cast led George Clooney in his first and only turn as the caped crusader, "Batman & Robin" should have been a success. After all, Schumacher had produced hits before, including "St. Elmo's Fire" and "The Lost Boys." The 1960s series proved that people could love a goofy Batman. What went wrong?

The campy dialogue, for one thing. It could have been great — if all the actors were on the same lighthearted page. Take Chris O'Donnell, who exclaims, "Hole-y rusted metal, Batman!" as he points at steel wreckage riddled with holes. It's a clearly goofy nod to a fondly remembered bit of Batman history, but he says it without any of the wink-wink-nod-nod energy needed. Clooney's wooden response and the flat gaze that follows only makes it worse.

Some actors fare better: Uma Thurman is fabulous as Poison Ivy, and Arnold Schwarzenegger is utterly committed to his groan-worthy puns. "But Batman & Robin" still falls flat. "A sniggering, exhausting, overproduced extravaganza that has virtually all of the humanity pounded out of it in the name of an endless parade of stunt sequences," Gene Siskel of The Chicago Tribune declared at the time of the premiere. A icy take to be sure, but even Mr. Freeze would agree that it is accurate.

With a 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, it's clear that the animated adaptation of "Batman: The Killing Joke" just isn't worth your time. Sure, it's really great to watch some of the most iconic Batman/Joker moments from the Alan Moore comic book be brought to life, especially with Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as these characters, but the rest of the film ... well, let's just say that all the Batgirl stuff (especially her rooftop sex scene with Batman) is completely unnecessary, inconsequential, and detracts from the point of the original story. It certainly doesn't do her (or Batman) any favors.

The Hollywood Outsider said it best: "begin where the comic does, or the joke's on you." While there's a lot of fan debate about whether or not the Batman/Batgirl romance is even something that should be possible (since, you know, she was a teenager when she first put on her cowl), most will agree that the way it was handled here was lacking to say the least. While Conroy and Hamill are incredible as always, even their vocal talents aren't enough to fix this poor adaptation of one of Batman's most compelling comic book stories, which is a real shame since this could have easily been on the same level as their "The Dark Knight Returns" adaptation.

Joel Schumacher's first Batman film fares only slightly better than his second, with "Batman Forever" coming in at 40% on the Rotten Tomatoes. This installment features Val Kilmer as Gotham's vigilante, who goes up against Jim Carrey's Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones' Two-Face. Is it better than "Batman & Robin"? Sort of. Is it good? Absolutely not.

Now, Jim Carrey's Riddler is nearly perfect. Like Thurman's Poison Ivy in "Batman & Robin," he is decadently hammy and totally at home within the cartoonish environs of "Batman Forever." Virtually every other performance, however, is forced. Chris O'Donnell's overwrought earnestness is quickly cloying, and Nicole Kidman's one-note Dr. Chase Meridien spouts psychobabble that has long been debunked. 

As Roger Ebert said in Chicago Sun-Times, the "general irreverence" of "Batman Forever" can be fun. And the soundtrack, featuring Brandy, Nick Cave, and Seal, still totally slaps, all these years later. But it's an overlong slog, insisting upon a "fun" aesthetic while not actually having any real fun. This Batman might indeed last Forever — but only as a joke.

"Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman" is just as good as it is bad. With a 60% on the Tomatometer, this "Batman: The Animated Series" continuation is a real mixed bag. The good? Well, the mystery behind the identity of Batwoman is super interesting, with a final twist you definitely won't see coming. Batman's struggle to maintain balance in Gotham, trying to fight crime bosses and supervillains alike, is classic Batman gold, and with the Tim Drake incarnation of Robin by his side, we couldn't be happier with his work. There are certainly worse Batman stories out there.

Where it gets a little iffy is some of Batman's own characterization, which makes him feel a bit more like a playboy in the mask than he does out of it. Watching him interact with Batwoman is a bit odd, but we'll forgive it after the Batman and Catwoman scenes in "The Batman." But to be honest, "Mystery of the Batwoman" just isn't anything all too special. It feels more like a standard episode of "The New Batman Adventures" than it does it's own stand-alone picture — and although the plot is pretty interesting, it drags just a bit too long.

While Joaquin Phoenix's take on the character has often been praised, "Joker" only received a 68% on Rotten Tomatoes. Whether you agree with that rating or not, we can all admit that this was something of an ... odd Joker story. Sure, everyone who's read "The Killing Joke" can get behind Joker having once been a normal person who was down-on-his-luck, but Arthur Fleck is, well, kind of pathetic. If you're a Batman fan who loves the Joker because he's witty, funny, and a constant-but-interesting thorn in Batman's side, then "Joker" is not the movie for you. Not only is there no Batman, but there isn't really a Joker here either.

Fans of "Taxi Driver" and other Martin Scorsese films (not to mention 1970s crime pictures) will definitely enjoy this one, but for classic Batman fans it might be hit-or-miss depending on which version of Joker you prefer. Truthfully, there's not much Batman-related material here other than brief references to Gotham corruption, Thomas Wayne (who is nothing like his comic book counterpart), and a strange interaction between Arthur and a young Bruce Wayne. Oh, and the Wayne murders occur again, but what else is new? If you went into "Joker" expecting to see the definitely portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime, you'll probably be disappointed.

Tim Burton's "Batman" scores a well-earned 72% on the Tomatometer, making it the first "fresh" Batman movie. Tim Burton's outsider aesthetic completely revamped the character: Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne is brooding and traumatized, his eyes beneath the mask ever-soulful as he works to avenge the deaths of his parents. The age of Adam West was ended by this portrayal, and the era of the caped crusader begun.

Jack Nicholson's Joker is a big part of the film's success. In many ways, he's as broken as Batman — he just hides it behind a rictus grin, and a never-ending supply of zingers. And while it might be difficult to imagine Kim Basinger's prima donna Vicki Vale as a war zone photographer, she does bring compassion and empathy to the role, even as she's pigeonholed as the damsel in distress. 

But what really sets Burton's "Batman" apart from every other one is its killer music. Danny Elfman's orchestral score would become iconic, especially "The Batman Theme" which lives on in a variety of Bat-related media. Prince's soundtrack, a dizzying delight, was similarly successful: It went double platinum. "Batman" revitalized the character, gave the world "Batdance," and reminded us all to never rub another man's rhubarb. What more could a fan ask for?

Many Batman fans have remarked that the "Batman: Arkham" games are some of the best adaptations of the Dark Knight out there, and we're inclined to agree. An interesting addition to this, normally video game-only, universe is "Batman: Assault on Arkham," which manages to be something of a blend between a Batman movie and a Suicide Squad movie. With a 75% on the Tomatometer, this one is great for die-hard "Arkham" fans, and even those who enjoy stories centered around DC's Task Force X (the official name for the Suicide Squad).

Set after "Arkham Origins" but before "Arkham Asylum," "Assault on Arkham" reunites Kevin Conroy's Batman with Troy Baker's Joker, as well as a host of other characters including Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Amanda Waller, the Riddler, and even Captain Boomerang. As Task Force X is sent to break into Arkham, Batman (who's actually more of a side-character in this movie) attempts to stop them. This might not be the best example of a stellar Batman animated movie, but it does wonders for the Suicide Squad (and is much better than their 2016 feature film).

An interactive "spiritual sequel" to "Batman: Under the Red Hood," "Batman: Death in the Family" is the only Batman film of its kind, giving the audience the same choice that comic book readers had in the late 1980s, to either save or kill the second Robin aka Jason Todd. With a 75% on the Tomatometer, "Death in the Family" provides the audience with three different paths: Robin Dies (like the events of "Under the Red Hood"), Robin Cheats Death (where Todd becomes a murderous vigilante similar to Hush), or Batman Saves Robin. The final option, in which Todd adopts the Red Robin moniker, gives viewers the opportunity to either take revenge on the Joker or honor Batman's dying wishes not to, each with their own respective paths. 

Like "Under the Red Hood," Batman is once again voiced by Bruce Greenwood (one of the most underrated Batman actors) and the Joker is played perfectly by John DiMaggio, but, sadly, Jensen Ackles doesn't reprise his role as Jason Todd here. Regardless, if you're looking for a unique Batman movie experience unlike any other, then check out "Batman: Death in the Family."

Burton's "Batman Returns" doesn't just impress — it manages to surpass its era-defining 1989 predecessor. Deepening and darkening Burton's neo-noir vision, the villains of "Batman Returns" are its greatest strength. The Penguin, played by a delightfully disgusting Danny DeVito, and Catwoman, delivered with manic panache by Michelle Pfeiffer, are all-star additions to Batman's rogues gallery. Michael Keaton's Batman is, if anything, the side dish they fight over in this feast of anti-heroism — and somehow, that's not a criticism. It's no wonder this installment clocks in at 80%.

Much of the film's success lies in its embrace of contradiction and extremes. Penguin's creepy coterie of followers are as terrifying as they are hilarious, encompassing animalistic people and, well, real animals. Catwoman's journey from frumpy, frazzled assistant to whip-cracking vixen is as entertainingly bizarre today as it was in 1992. Christopher Walken's villainous Max Schreck is the cherry on top of this demented ice cream sundae — the most low-key of the baddies, but still a perfect coupling of sleaze and style.

While Batman is marginalized in his own film, Keaton still summons the depth he brought to the original Burton film, securing his place as one of the best Batman actors of all time. As Newsweek wrote, "Something about the filmmaker's eccentric, surreal, childlike images seems to strike a deep chord in the mass psyche: He makes nightmares that taste like candy." We love every bite.

In "Batman Begins," certified fresh at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, we meet Bruce Wayne as a child. Herein lies the special sauce of the Nolan trilogy: A focus on Batman himself, as he journeys from shattered childhood to hardened, legendary icon. We watch him grow, searching the world for answers, on a path that would eventually lead him back to Gotham as an entirely different man. He isn't the Dark Knight just yet — but he's getting there.

The film is equal parts style, emotion, and terror, especially once the Scarecrow enters the picture and releases all of Arkham's criminally insane patients onto Gotham City's streets. The underworld of Carmine Falcone has a place in this film as well, heralding what Entertainment Weekly called "the dawning of Gotham City's age of greed." "Batman Begins" is exactly what it had to be, to pull off the lofty aims Nolan had in mind: A decisive mission statement about Batman and the world he inhabits. Audiences embraced it, and a new age began for the caped crusader — one that would change the character forever.

Coming in with an 85% on the Tomatometer (and a similar audience score), "The Batman" is the Dark Knight's most recent bout on the big screen. Directed by Matt Reeves, this gritty detective crime drama (a la "Se7en") is everything you could ask for in a Batman movie. With a cryptic mystery surrounding Gotham's criminal underbelly and elites to disturbing revelations about Bruce's own family history, this Batman film proves to be more than just your average superhero production — it's something of a masterpiece. As Batman works with Detective James Gordon to solve each of the Riddler's puzzles before Gotham descends into further chaos, our Dark Knight Detective must come to terms with his own identity as a vigilante, and decide whether or not vengeance is worth living for.

Robert Pattinson's portrayal of Batman is magnificent. Although he might seem a bit dramatic at times, his take on Gotham's Caped Crusader is interesting because there seems to be little distinction between Batman and Bruce Wayne. In "The Batman," the Dark Knight has taken over Bruce's life, leaving no room at all for the Wayne heir to live his life outside of the cowl. Film critic Rendy Jones said that, "Matt Reeves' 'The Batman' is a riveting and passionately crafted film noir that wears its inspiration on its sleeve while bringing Detective Batman to the big screen." While there's a lot more that we could say about this detective story, we can't say it much better than that.

Based on the classic Frank Miller origin story of the same name, "Batman: Year One" is as direct an adaptation as you could ask for. With interesting characters and wonderfully paced suspense, "Year One" almost puts "Batman Begins" to shame. With an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, this animated feature follows Batman during his first nights out patrolling Gotham, while at the same time a young cop named Lt. James Gordon begins to learn the ins-and-outs of the GCPD, and all that that implies. "Year One," like some of the best Batman stories, strips our hero down to the bare-essentials, reminding us that his mission was never to join the JLA or fight deranged clowns, but to take down organized crime in Gotham City.

Speaking of Gotham, "Gotham" star Ben McKenzie (who played Gordon on the series) actually voices Batman here, while Bryan Cranston takes over as James Gordon. The two make a fabulous pair and make us wish this had been made in live-action. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Eliza Dushku also lends her vocal talents to this one as Catwoman, who makes her mark on the film (and Carmine Falcone), and "Longmire" actress Katee Sackhoff plays GCPD Detective Sarah Essen, who puts Gordon more than a few sticky situations. For just his first year on the job, Batman has a lot to tackle here, but he manages to do so in style.

Recent years have seen Batman and his world grow darker as creators strive to make the character impressive, realistic, and above all, cool. But from its inclusion of Condiment King to its disco dress-up parties, "The Lego Batman Movie" embraces silliness with all its heart. Does it pull this off? Take a look at its 90% Rotten Tomatoes score. It's not just a good Batman movie — it's one of the best Batman movies ever made.

A cavalcade of characters burst from its gorgeously animated scenes, from Harley Quinn to Crazy Quilt, not to mention the Wicked Witch of the West from "The Wizard of Oz," the "Jaws" shark, Voldemort from "Harry Potter," Daleks from "Doctor Who," and even the agents from "The Matrix." This could have been overstuffed, but instead, it makes the film a raucous celebration of pop culture far and wide. Because really, Batman is pop culture. He's brooding, he's tragic, he's scary, sure — but he's also on the pajamas of millions of children. "The Lego Batman Movie" embraces this fact with love, rather than embarrassment, and it makes all the difference. Now let's get cracking on a Condiment King movie.

Do you like both the Dark Knight Detective and Bruce Lee-style 1970s kung-fu movies? Then "Batman: Soul of the Dragon" is the animated motion picture for you! With an amazing cast, a vibrant story, and a unique take on the DC Universe, "Soul of the Dragon" is something of a love-letter to the kind of martial arts films we hardly see nowadays, and it gets everything right. 

Having earned a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, this film unites Batman with his former peers, Richard Dragon, Bronze Tiger, and Lady Shiva, as they come together to battle dark forces unleashed by Kobra (no, not the "G.I. Joe" one). Unlike most Batman films that have some clear-cut closure, "Soul of the Dragon" ends with the hopeful promise that there's more out there after the credits roll, and reminds us that Batman is truly one of the most selfless heroes. It's also just a really fun movie with lots of martial art-action to keep you entertained for an hour and a half.

After nearly 60 years since their "Batman" series aired on television, "Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders" saw, well, the return of the 1960s incarnation of the Dynamic Duo played by Adam West and Burt Ward. While not a live-action romp, this animated movie reunited the actors with Julie Newmar (Catwoman) to fight crime in Gotham City once more. 

With a whopping 94% on the Tomatometer, "Return of the Caped Crusaders" is everything "Batman" fans have ever dreamed of since the series ended back in the 60s. With an authentic animation style that does total justice to the original series, and a cast of stellar vocal talents, we're grateful that these two TV Land legends got back together, especially to face off against their most heinous foes. With all the POWs, ZAPs, and WAMs you could ask for, "Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders" is an animated triumph and a touching tribute to a bygone era of superhero television.

Also earning a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes is "Batman: Under the Red Hood." Retelling the story of how Batman lost his second Robin, Jason Todd, as well as his resurrection, "Under the Red Hood" might be the absolute best that any Batman film has to offer. This heartbreaking tale pits Batman against his former protégé as the Red Hood begins to tear down Gotham's criminal empire. As the body count racks up, Batman is forced to decide whether or not he'll go along with the Red Hood's killing spree, or if he'll have to stop him with force. If anti-heroes are your thing, then this is the Batman movie for you. It's rife with moral ambiguity, grey areas, and characters being forced to decide if they'll cross the line or not.

The vocal talents of Bruce Greenwood as Batman, Jensen Ackles as the Red Hood, and John DiMaggio as the Joker bring a new life to this picture, and to each of these characters as they struggle through a war-torn Gotham City. If you have any doubts about any of the other Batman films on this list, don't think twice about "Under the Hood," which exceeds all expectations and actually manages to be better than the comic book it's based on. Truly, Jensen Ackles was born to play Jason Todd, an anti-hero with attitude that gives him more than enough range to work with. If you came for Batman, you'll stay for the Red Hood.

Another with a 100% on the Tomatometer, "Batman vs. Robin" is the exciting precursor to "Bad Blood" that pits the Dark Knight against his Boy Wonder. Another installment of the DC Original Animated Movieverse, this film is primarily an adaptation of the "Court of Owls" storyline, which deals with a shadowy secret society that has kept their talons hooked into Gotham ever since the city was built. After a new vigilante named Talon rears his hidden head, it becomes clear that he wants to co-opt Robin to his side, turning him into his own assassin/protégé.

The "Court of Owls" story is one of the best in recent Batman history, and "Batman vs. Robin" does it total justice, even if it shakes up a few details along the way. Critic Jeffrey Lyles described the film as "more a mash-up of two of the most highly regarded Batman stories in the last 20 years than its title implies," continuing on to say that the film "stands alongside the best efforts of Warner Bros. Animated." With some flashy action sequences and some compelling father-son drama, "Batman vs. Robin" is exactly as advertised.

Didn't know there was a Batman/TMNT mashup? Well, if you '90s kids out there had been holding out for a crossover between two of your favorite Saturday morning action heroes, then look no further than "Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!" With a Tomatometer score of 100%, watching Batman, Robin, and Batgirl team-up alongside Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo is everything we could ever hope for, and just as deliciously ridiculous as you could imagine. 

As Ra's al Ghul and Shredder unite to "cleanse" Gotham, the Bat-Family and the Turtles are forced to come together to defeat all of Batman's biggest rogues, as well as the Foot Clan, who are aiding the villains. The tension between the Dark Knight and the TMNT is certainly felt at the beginning, but by the film's end we're holding out hope for a sequel and wondering why we didn't get this crossover sooner.

With 100% on the Tomatometer, "Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker" is the send-off feature film for the beloved animated series "Batman Beyond." As an elderly Bruce Wayne and the young Batman Terry McGinnis deal with the resurrection of the long-thought-dead Clown Prince of Crime, Terry begins to uncover the history behind the Joker's sudden departure, and why all the other members of the Bat-family slowly left Bruce over the years. Kevin Conroy's Bruce Wayne is as grim and gripping as ever, and Will Friedle's Terry McGinnis/Batman maintains his youthful vigor from the animated series, pulling off a very different version of Batman than we've ever been used to.

Fans of the "Batman Beyond" animated series will love this one, but even if you've never seen a single episode of the cartoon there's still so much to love. Between compelling flashback sequences to Bruce's time as Batman to the final confrontation between Terry's Batman and the reborn Joker, there's plenty of action and excitement for everyone. Plus, unlike most Batman features, there are actually two different versions of "Return of the Joker," the edited version of the film, which was originally released, and the Original Uncut Version, which is just a bit better.