Batman movies ranked worst to best according to fans

The much-anticipated Joker: Folie à Deux hits cinemas this weekend, marking the latest film instalment in the sprawling Batman universe.

Batman is one of the most enduring superhero characters, with countless adaptations into TV series, film and animation dating back to the 1940s. The caped crusader made his movie debut in 1966 and has run the full gamut of incarnations since then, from crime capers to angst-ridden back stories and world-saving heroics.

Some like a classic Batman adventure, others are gripped by explorations of how his villainous rivals came to be so dastardly, while the Lego version of the DC Comics character wasn't just a hit with kids. But all Batman fans have an opinion on which film is the best — so as we look ahead to Joker: Folie à Deux's release, these are the Batman film so far ranked by viewers.

Batman movies ranked worst to best

The world of Batman on screen is extensive, but these rankings only cover the main cinematic release titles.

Fans will know there have also been various series, including the 1940s Batman original and the follow-up Batman and Robin, which were both released weekly in cinemas. The list also doesn't include some of the more minor animated films and the Lego shorts such as Batman: Be-Leaguered.

14 | Batman & Robin (1997)

Languishing in last place by some way according to fans is 1997's Batman & Robin, starring George Clooney and Chris O'Donnell in the title roles. Clooney took over from Val Kilmer as Batman, and this was the only movie in the four-film run that began with 1989's Batman which had no involvement from Tim Burton.

It also starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr Freeze, Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy, and Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl - but no amount of stars packing out the cast was enough to save it from a savaging by critics and audiences alike.

IMDb rating: 3.8

13 | Batman Forever (1995)

Rated very slightly better was the movie preceding Batman & Robin, which featured Val Kilmer's turn at playing the superhero with another stellar cast of Drew Barrymore, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey and Nicole Kidman.

Batman battled classic villains Two-Face and the Riddler, with the introduction of sidekick Robin. Although it was nominated for three Oscars (in sound, effects and cinematography), Batman Forever left viewers underwhelmed.

IMDb rating: 5.4

12 | Suicide Squad (2016)

Angling away from the superhero's adventures, 2016's Suicide Squad followed the DC Comics gang of supervillains instead. It featured Batman's biggest nemesis the Joker (Jared Leto), as well as Margot Robbie playing Harley Quinn and Will Smith as Deadshot.

Somehow, the buzz around the new spin and the big-name cast didn't quite translate to a successful film as critics branded it boring, disappointing and muddled.

IMDb rating: 5.9

11 | Justice League (2017)

Another character ensemble, Justice League, received a muted response from fans when it cast Ben Affleck as Batman alongside Henry Cavill's Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Jason Momoa as Aquaman.

Zack Snyder handed over post-production to Joss Whedon after the death of his daughter, and Snyder's cut was later released on HBO Max after fans campaigned to see his original vision. It has a better fan rating of 7.9 on IMDb, despite running to four hours.

IMDb rating: 6.1

10 | Merry Little Batman (2023)

Filmmakers might love an edgier version of Batman with troubled back stories for his enemies, but the superhero is also a perennial favourite with kids who were treated to a holiday version on Prime Video in 2023.

The animated tale has Luke Wilson voicing Batman and focusses on his son Damian, left home alone on Christmas Eve while his dad is fighting crime with the Justice League. It's a fun festive take on things, but according to fans isn't a classic of the genre.

IMDb rating: 6.4

9= | Batman: The Movie (1966)

Leaving aside the 1940s serialised Batmans that were shown in cinemas weekly, this was the character's first big screen outing - but even the nostalgia factor hasn't bumped it further up the fan ratings.

Adam West and Burt Ward starred as the Dynamic Duo in this slapstick caper that saw them adventuring across air, land and sea in the fight for justice aimed firmly at a younger audience.

IMDb rating: 6.5

9= | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

This earlier Zack Snyder offering, a follow-up to Man of Steel, is tied in place with Batman: The Movie and featured many of the same cast as Justice League.

Dawn of Justice's fan rating might not be worthy of note, but it's much better than the critic response which slammed it as incoherent, haphazard and concentrating too much on special effects clashes between its main characters but not enough on plot.

IMDb rating: 6.5

8 | The Flash (2023)

Batman might have been more of a supporting character in this recent release, but he got plenty of screen time in two different timeline versions that saw both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck return to the role.

Here, his quest was to help The Flash change the past and try to save his family - as well as his super powers. It offered plenty of opportunities for DCEU superstar cameos, but some felt that the sheer number of characters watered down the key story of The Flash.

IMDb rating: 6.6

7 | Batman Returns (1992)

Getting towards the fan favourite end of the Batman spectrum, this 1992 film was Michael Keaton's return to the role and also starred Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken and Danny DeVito.

Tim Burton's sequel to his 1989 reintroduction of Batman featured DeVito as the Penguin in a role many still immediately associate with the star - although all that could change, thanks to Colin Farrell's new series The Penguin. Batman Returns might not be the top choice with many, but it's a decently respected movie amongst fans.

IMDb rating: 7.1

6 | The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Back to the kid-friendly incarnations, Lego notched up another hit in 2017 with this joke-packed animation that repaints Batman as an ego-driven bore whose life is changed by adopting an orphan. He also has to contend with the Joker's hurt feelings after admitting the villain is just not that important to him.

The voice cast reunited Arrested Development co-stars Will Arnett as Batman and Michael Cera as Robin, and has spawned many a follow-up short in the Lego superhero universe.

IMDb rating: 7.3

5 | Batman (1989)

It was a good 20 years between Batman movies in the early days and Tim Burton's adaptation was worlds away from the 1966 original, introducing Michael Keaton as the superhero and Jack Nicholson as his nemesis the Joker.

While DC Comics fans had some gripes over the details (including the Joker murdering the Waynes), many accept that whatever the film's shortcomings, it set the story up for the darker versions of it we're used to seeing today.

IMDb rating: 7.5

4= | Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

Mask of the Phantasm marked the start of the DC Animated Universe Batman films, but while there are many titles in the series this is the only one to have got a cinematic release.

Kevin Conroy is a hit with fans as the voice actor for Batman, while the film also boasts Mark Hamill as the Joker. It debuted in the same era as Tim Burton's live action movies, but the animated version was better received by most viewers.

IMDb rating: 7.8

4= | The Batman (2022)

Another decade, another actor in the role of the Caped Crusader as Robert Pattinson donned the black lycra. Previous Batman Ben Affleck had originally been lined up to write, produce, direct and star in this version, but decided it wasn't for him - leaving the way open for a reboot with a younger superhero.

The film delves into Batman's earlier crime-fighting career, battling Paul Dano as the Riddler, and also features Colin Farrell's first outing as the Penguin. It's a dar, bleak take on the story, but one that went down pretty well with critics and fans.

IMDb rating: 7.8

3 | Batman Begins (2005)

The 2005 Batman reboot from Christopher Nolan introduced Christian Bale in the lead role, with the rest of the star cast packed out by Michael Caine, Katie Holmes, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, and Cillian Murphy as the Scarecrow.

It's a dark and brooding Batman franchise and one which sees the two later parts of the trilogy amongst the fans' favourites, with this first movie the lowest rated of the three. Viewers felt the noir tale of Bruce Wayne's parents' murder through to him becoming Batman hit all the right notes that the earlier films had lacked.

IMDb rating: 8.2

2= | The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Getting into the top three, Nolan's final instalment of the Dark Knight trilogy comes out just ahead of its first part and welcomed back many of the same cast, with notable additions including Anne Hathaway as Catwoman and Tom Hardy as Bane.

Hardy's villain was the kickstarter for Batman coming out of eight years of hiding to try to save Gotham City once more, and while Nolan was reportedly reluctant to make a third film, it seems fans are glad he did.

IMDb rating: 8.4

2= | Joker (2019)

Classic villain the Joker's origin story was a huge hit when it debuted in 2019, starring Joaquin Phoenix as a failed comedian and clown descending into a mental breakdown.

It won two Oscars, including best actor for Phoenix, so its sequel Joker: Folie à Deux has been much anticipated - although reviews suggest the reception for part two which adds Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn won't be anywhere near as positive.

IMDb rating: 8.4

1 | The Dark Knight (2008)

Topping the list of fan favourite Batman films by a healthy margin is Nolan's second instalment, The Dark Knight.

Heath Ledger, who played the Joker, had died just months before the film was released but won posthumous awards for his performance including an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe for best supporting actor. It also starred Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, who Bale's Batman teamed up with to try to fight a wave of crime sweeping Gotham City.

Many critics agreed that The Dark Knight was the best comic-book adaptation ever made, and it seems the fans agree as the film has a near-perfect rating.

IMDb rating: 9.0

Joker: Folie à Deux is released in cinemas on 4 October.