The world will never get enough of Batman. Ever since artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger introduced the character to the world in Detective Comics #27, he has retained his status one of the two most popular DC heroes, alongside Superman. Because of the never-ending demand for Batman content, new movies and shows about the Gotham crime fighter are made every year or two. Currently, there are over 50 Batman productions for fans to enjoy, with more certain to come.
Batman fans will be glad that they have plenty to munch on, but the high supply creates a problem for those only seeking the most flawless movies and shows. Thankfully, Rotten Tomatoes eases the work of searching through the pile.
Fans looking to ignore panned movies like Batman & Robin and Batman V. Superman can easily watch better projects with 100% scores on the aggregation site. All they have to do is peep at the list below and search their favorite streaming services (mostly Max in this case).
10 Batman vs. Robin (2015)
Bruce Wayne has a major parenting problem in Batman vs. Robin. His son, Damian Wayne, feels that Batman’s No-Kill rule is rubbish, so he vows to be his own man.
His thirst for independence isn’t such a good idea, considering that Gotham is now dominated by the Court of Owls, a gang that revels in thrills of the ultra-violent criminal kind. Whether it’s bludgeoning people to death or cutting throats, the members keep going overboard, and after learning about Damian’s disgruntlement, they try to manipulate him into joining them.
Some of the Best Fights in the DC Landscape
This chilly visualization of a morally ambiguous Gotham is a disturbing yet absorbing film. From cinema-centric publications to news platforms, all reviews wax lyrical about its fight scenes and general tone.
Forbes points out that “the climactic battle has some especially impressive close-up scenes of Batman in hand-to-hand combat that are among the best yet in these DC animated releases,” while Cinema Crazed describes it as “a very good DCU animated offering with brisk action, good pacing, and compelling character drama.”
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9 Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the crossover no one knew they wanted but everyone’s glad they got. Here, Batman, Robin, and Batgirl team up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to stop Ra’s al Ghul, and the Foot Clan, led by Shredder. Ra’s and Shredder are revealed to have struck an agreement. Ra’s will make Shredder immortal by providing him with access to the Lazarus Pit. In return, Shredder will construct a machine capable of spraying the Techno Cosmic Research Institute (TCRI) mutagen all over Gotham, causing the citizens to become mutants.
The Unlikely Team-Up Works Just Fine
From its unnerving, atmospheric opening shot of a power generator being stolen, to its frightening denouement, this partly-nightmarish, partly-comical animated flick is one modish work of art. A few notable reviews used by Rotten Tomatoes come from Blu-ray.com and Horror Queers.
The former describes it as “a stylized extravaganza that’s peppered with enjoyable characters and major showdowns, giving fans the breezy, bruising adventure they’ve been waiting for,” while the latter venerates it for its “brilliant mix of animation styles.”
8 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
Talented people rarely resist the temptation to come out of retirement and Bruce Wayne follows the same trajectory in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: Part 1. After a decade of sitting back and enjoying coffee from his butler, Alfred Pennyworth, he decides to don the cape once again. The problem is he is 55 now and less flexible. Gotham has also changed a lot. There is a new police commissioner who loathes vigilantes and a dangerous mutant group that doesn’t respect elders.
Doing Justice to the Source Material
The Dark Knight Returns: Part 1 is somewhat of a curtain raiser that’s better than the main show, an amuse-gueule that awakens the taste buds. Rob’s Movie Vault backs this up, noting that “this first half is essentially throat-clearing before the operatic finale, adding, “The pacing seems abrupt and rapid.”
A Stream on Demand article article compares it to the source material, concluding that the creator of the original work must have been proud. The piece reads: “It would take a far more daring approach to really do justice to Miller’s groundbreaking work, which is defined as much by his graphic design as by his writing, but this is at the very least interesting and at best unexpected.”
7 Batman: Bad Blood (2016)
Bruce Wayne is missing in Batman: Bad Blood. All of his cronies thus get busy. Alfred covers for him while Robin patrols the streets, breaking the ankles of criminals, though not as efficiently as his mentor. Meanwhile, Batwoman plays detective, combing through all the evidence, aiming to find out what happened to the greatest hero the city has ever known.
No Batman, No Problem
With note-perfect voice performances from the entire cast, Batman: Bad Blood is a modern-day gem luminously wrapped with tension and great dialogue. A Starburst review acknowledges the fact that the movie “manages to make you realize why you love Batman and his world so much yet without even really featuring the main course himself.”
That’s quite accurate, since Batwoman and Alfred are so intriguing they make it easy to forget Batman ever existed. Aisle Seat, on the other hand, brings up the never-ending Marvel vs DC debate, claiming that when it comes to the animated space, the latter is the true king and this movie right here is the perfect example. “So much is made of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but what DC is doing with these animated features is much more organic,” the article reads.
6 Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)
Hugo Strange’s experiment gone wrong leaves Harvey Dent both mentally and physically scarred in Batman vs. Two-Face. As the effects of the accident dawn on him, he acquires harsh insights about his life. With half his face having become ogre-like, he resolves to spend the rest of his life breaking laws rather than punishing those who do. This prompts Batman (modeled after the Adam West version from the ‘60s) to go after him.
A Perfect Nod to the ‘60s
Serving as a sequel to Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, this animated Batman movie outdoes many other DC offerings for atmosphere and, ultimately, characterization. Various digital publications single out other elements for praise.
We Got This Covered showers adoration, explaining that the movie “not only surpasses its predecessor, but it also may very well be the best DC animated film to be released in 2017.” Elsewhere, IGN commends the actors, stating: “William Shatner’s Two-Face/Harvey Dent is nicely realized and fits in well with this particular take on the Batman world, while Adam West brings his affable charm and unassailable good humor to his iconic take on the character one last time.”
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5 Batman: The Long Halloween: Part One (2021)
There is a serial killer on the loose in Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One. His name is Holiday, and true to the noun, he only commits murders on holidays throughout the years. The killer happens to be meticulous, so Batman has his work cut out for him. He suspects everyone, from the Joker to Carmine Falcone and his family, but struggles to pin any of them.
Jensen Ackles is Batman
Playing out like a classic film noir, The Long Halloween, Part One is a satisfying tale that brings out the best of Batman’s detective side. Though dealing with strong, often sore emotions, this ambitious story unfolds with warmth and a comforting reminder that no matter how bad things get, Batman will always fix them. The film also benefits from having Jensen Ackles as the lead, since there have often been jokes about him having a “Batman voice.”
A Lamplight Review article that the movie “looks terrific and has a refreshingly new voice cast in place that helps offset the parts of the film that feel overdone and too familiar.” Elsewhere. Read Steady Cut was more economical with the praise. Its precise take reads: “The film might not be perfect, but at least it feels like it understands its own appeal.”
4 Batman: The Long Halloween: Part Two (2021)
In The Long Halloween, Part Two, Batman continues his high-stakes investigations with the help of Harvey Dent and Jim Gordon. The killer is targeting members of the Falcone family, which is at war with the Maroni family. To the public and the press, these seem like mere mob-related hits, but Batman feels there is more than meets the eye, so he digs deeper. Meanwhile, an Arkham Asylum breach causes more villains to spill out onto the streets.
A Worthy Sequel
It isn’t uncommon for sequels to be underwhelming, especially if the original movie was flawless. Thankfully, The Long Halloween, Part Two matches the first installment in scares, twists, and thrills. Told with relish in a decidedly unpredictable manner, the story stays captivating every single minute.
Among the many great reviews is one by Flickering Myth, which sums up things plainly, declaring that this is “a great Batman experience and, combined with Part One makes it one of the best Batman films made, live-action films included.” An equally luminescent review comes from SuperHeroHype. The website concludes, “The Long Halloween: Part 2 delivers its gut punch in a manner that creeps up on the viewer.”
3 Batman Beyond (1999 – 2001)
Age eventually catches up with everyone and in Batman Beyond, Bruce Wayne can no longer do the things he used to. He is frail and in his 70s. He also lives in solitary isolation at Wayne Manor with his dog, Ace. Thankfully, he no longer needs to step out much. Most of his enemies are now dead or behind bars. Gotham has also evolved into a megalopolis where tech takes care of everything. After much convincing, he decides to pass on the Batman mantle to 16-year-old Terry McGuiness.
The New Generation Does Well
One of DC’s nuttiest productions, Batman Beyond has all the hair-raising action sequences and plots you’d expect from any story set in Gotham. Entertainment Weekly described it as “the smartest cartoon kicking,” adding that it will “have you pouring a steaming mug of coffee and shouldering aside any nearby children to catch all the fresh fun and action.”
IGN appreciated the fact that it’s “rich with thoughtful, complex characters, great villains, and the usual action, adventure, and mystery we’ve grown to love about Batman.”
2 Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)
Batman: Under the Red Hood begins with the Joker’s brutal murder of the second Robin, Jason Todd. Soon, a new mysterious vigilante named Red Hood emerges. He is no fan of Batman. Neither is he a fan of Gotham’s numerous criminals. When Red Hood starts slaughtering everyone, Batman is forced to act. Soon, he uncovers the vigilante’s identity, the biggest shocker of them all.
Something for Everyone
Under the Red Hood is bombastic and straightforward enough for younger viewers, yet sufficiently bloody and heavily-themed for adults. The Deep Focus Review confirms this in its article, noting that the movie “offers a one-shot experience that’s easily disposable for general audiences.
Groucho Reviews provides a more general take, claiming that “with its colorful, exciting action and well-defined emotional underpinnings, Batman: Under the Red Hood is the best yet in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.”
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1 Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
Widely considered one of the greatest Batman movies ever made, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker bridges the Batman Beyond TV show with the final season of The New Adventures of Batman & Robin. Shortly after taking on the demanding role of Batman, Terry McGuiness squares off against the original Joker. Things get tough for the young Caped Crusader as the Joker kidnaps him, tortures and attempts to mentally rewire him.
One of the Most Intriguing DC Storylines
Directed by Curt Geda, and boasting a cultured, chilling screenplay from comic writer, Paul Dini, Return of the Joker remains a first-rate, immersive, psychological shocker. It has the kind of story that would have saved the DCEU if it had been used. Sadly, Snyder and company never thought that far.
Your Movies shares the same opinion, declaring that this is a “surprising animated film that would have made a great live-action Batman movie.” Over at Apollo Guide, the team was impressed with how much Terry’s world had evolved. Their review reads, “If the premise of Batman Beyond was originally a gimmick, it has become one that is equally innovative and carefully crafted.”
