Batman is one of the most popular superheroes of all time. Because of this, he's had more appearances on the big screen than most superheroes.
Batman's first theatrical appearance was 1943's movie serial, starring Lewis Wilson as Batman and Douglas Croft as Robin. Although the serial is mostly forgotten, it was responsible for the creation of Alfred, played by William Austin, and the Batcave.
The second Batman movie serial was 1949's Batman and Robin, starring Robert Lowery as Batman and Johnny Duncan as Robin.
In 1966, a movie based on the Batman television series, called Batman: The Movie, came out. Adam West reprised his role as Batman and Burt Ward returned as Robin, but Lee Meriwether played Catwoman instead of Julie Newmar.
In 1989, Michael Keaton played Batman in Batman. The film, which co-starred Oscar winner Jack Nicholson as the Joker, was responsible for superhero films becoming a popular trend in Hollywood. Michael Keaton returned as Batman in 1992's Batman Returns. The film made money, but the film's dark content led to controversy among families.
In 1993, there was Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, the first animated Batman film. It was a film version of 1992's Batman: The Animated Series. Kevin Conroy voiced Batman.
In 1995, Val Kilmer played Batman and Chris O'Donnell in Batman Forever. a film which tried to be more family-friendly than Batman Returns. Batman Forever's success led to 1997's Batman and Robin. Chris O'Donnell returned as Robin, but Val Kilmer was replaced by George Clooney. Batman and Robin got bad reviews and didn't make make as much money as the Tim Burton Batman films, which left to Batman taking a break from the big screen.
In 2004, Halle Berry played an original version of Catwoman, named Patience Phillips, in Catwoman. The film didn't have Batman.
In 2005, Christian Bale played Batman in Batman Begins. The film made a decent amount of money and got great reviews, so in 2008, there was a sequel called The Dark Knight. Christian Bale returned for the film. Heath Ledger won an Oscar for his performance as the Joker. To this day, The Dark Knight is considered to be the best Batman film, as well as one of the best superhero films of all time. Christian Bale's time as Batman concluded in the last film of the trilogy, 2012's The Dark Knight Rises.
Will Arnett voiced a parody of Batman in 2014's The Lego Movie, as well as 2017's The Lego Batman Movie and 2019's The Lego Movie: Part Two.
In 2016, Ben Affleck played Batman in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. In the same year, Ben Affleck played Batman in Suicide Squad, a film which starred various Batman rogues. In 2017, Ben Affleck played Batman in Justice League. Ben considered retiring from Batman after that, but he returned for some extra scenes in 2021's director's cut of Justice League. Both he and Michael Keaton are scheduled to appear as Batman in 2022's Flash film.
Some of the Batman animated films were released in theaters for a brief period of time, including 2016's Batman: The Killing Joke and Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, as well as 2017's Batman and Harley Quinn.
In 2019, there was a Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix, who won an Oscar for his performance. Dante Pereira-Olson played a young Bruce Wayne in a couple of scenes.
Robert Pattinson is set to play Batman in 2022's The Batman film, which is expected to be followed by sequels.
Batman's first theatrical appearance was 1943's movie serial, starring Lewis Wilson as Batman and Douglas Croft as Robin. Although the serial is mostly forgotten, it was responsible for the creation of Alfred, played by William Austin, and the Batcave.
The second Batman movie serial was 1949's Batman and Robin, starring Robert Lowery as Batman and Johnny Duncan as Robin.
In 1966, a movie based on the Batman television series, called Batman: The Movie, came out. Adam West reprised his role as Batman and Burt Ward returned as Robin, but Lee Meriwether played Catwoman instead of Julie Newmar.
In 1989, Michael Keaton played Batman in Batman. The film, which co-starred Oscar winner Jack Nicholson as the Joker, was responsible for superhero films becoming a popular trend in Hollywood. Michael Keaton returned as Batman in 1992's Batman Returns. The film made money, but the film's dark content led to controversy among families.
In 1993, there was Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, the first animated Batman film. It was a film version of 1992's Batman: The Animated Series. Kevin Conroy voiced Batman.
In 1995, Val Kilmer played Batman and Chris O'Donnell in Batman Forever. a film which tried to be more family-friendly than Batman Returns. Batman Forever's success led to 1997's Batman and Robin. Chris O'Donnell returned as Robin, but Val Kilmer was replaced by George Clooney. Batman and Robin got bad reviews and didn't make make as much money as the Tim Burton Batman films, which left to Batman taking a break from the big screen.
In 2004, Halle Berry played an original version of Catwoman, named Patience Phillips, in Catwoman. The film didn't have Batman.
In 2005, Christian Bale played Batman in Batman Begins. The film made a decent amount of money and got great reviews, so in 2008, there was a sequel called The Dark Knight. Christian Bale returned for the film. Heath Ledger won an Oscar for his performance as the Joker. To this day, The Dark Knight is considered to be the best Batman film, as well as one of the best superhero films of all time. Christian Bale's time as Batman concluded in the last film of the trilogy, 2012's The Dark Knight Rises.
Will Arnett voiced a parody of Batman in 2014's The Lego Movie, as well as 2017's The Lego Batman Movie and 2019's The Lego Movie: Part Two.
In 2016, Ben Affleck played Batman in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. In the same year, Ben Affleck played Batman in Suicide Squad, a film which starred various Batman rogues. In 2017, Ben Affleck played Batman in Justice League. Ben considered retiring from Batman after that, but he returned for some extra scenes in 2021's director's cut of Justice League. Both he and Michael Keaton are scheduled to appear as Batman in 2022's Flash film.
Some of the Batman animated films were released in theaters for a brief period of time, including 2016's Batman: The Killing Joke and Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, as well as 2017's Batman and Harley Quinn.
In 2019, there was a Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix, who won an Oscar for his performance. Dante Pereira-Olson played a young Bruce Wayne in a couple of scenes.
Robert Pattinson is set to play Batman in 2022's The Batman film, which is expected to be followed by sequels.
