Summary
- DC animated movies have delivered amazing takes on Batman and Gotham City's mythos, thanks to the innovation and risk-taking allowed by the animation format.
- Several Batman animated films also highlight the Bat Family, providing a fresh perspective on the Dark Knight's world compared to the live-action movies.
- The best Batman animated movies include titles like Mask of the Phantom, The Dark Knight Returns, and Under the Red Hood.
Every Batman animated movie shows why the Dark Knight is the DC Universe’s most popular character, as there are dozens of animated films from the most different styles centered on Bruce Wayne and Gotham City. DC’s animated movies and TV shows have explored Batman and other Justice League heroes extensively in the past decades. The many DC animated universes and continuities have arguably delivered better takes on Batman and his allies than most live-action films, mostly because the animation format allows for more innovative, risky stories.
The DC Animated Universe timeline includes some great Batman animated films. Likewise, the wide array of DCAMU movies notably contain several Batman stories, most of which highlight the Bat Family. There are also many standalone Batman animated films that either adapt classic comics or create original stories, all of which can be seen to have inspired upcoming DC animated releases as well. Here is every solo Batman animated movie, ranked worst to best.
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33 Batman: The Killing Joke Adapted An Iconic Dark Knight Story Questionably
2016
Based on one of the best and most influential Batman comic books of all time, Batman:The Killing Joke is a terrible adaptation of a classic. Having Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as Batman and Joker, respectively, The Killing Joke adaptation was the perfect setup for what could have been a fantastic movie.
Unfortunately, The Killing Joke does little to capture the essence of the comic, even though it tries to mimic the original artwork in its animation style. The Killing Joke’s opening segment, which changes the source material completely and adds a romantic relationship between Batman and Batgirl, makes it all even worse.
32 Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts Is Very Toy-Based
2015
The Batman Unlimited movie series has three installments, which all released between 2015-2016 and based around a toy line of the same name. Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts is the first of these movies, and this may be what makes it the weaker of the trio, as it feels more transparently a story made to popularize the toy series to its audience. That said, Animal Instincts also arguably had the hardest job, as robotic animals are a little less in line with Batman's usual fare, and thus stand out a little clearer.
That said, Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts still has its strengths, and includes a wider range of characters than may initially be expected based on the title alone. As such, it still has its own charm, even if audiences may be less drawn to it than some of the more prestigious Batman animated movies.
31 Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem Builds On The First Movie In The Series
2015
Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem is the second installment in the Unlimited movie series, featuring Batman facing down a range of his spookier villains on Halloween. As such, the story generally feels a little more grounded in tangible Batman lore - something helped by the appearance of the likes of Scarecrow, the Joker and Clayface. That said, there are still moments that clearly align with ensuring audiences see as much of the toyline as possible, with one notable scene having Clayface transform into a T-Rex in order to add some dinosaurs into the mix.
30 Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants Is Delightfully Over-The-Tip
2016
As the third and final movie in the Batman Unlimited lineup, it's perhaps unsurprising that Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants amps things up to be even wilder than the original two entries. The movie includes a wide range of villains, more of a concrete story than ever that actively follows on from the previous movies, and a colossal Batman mecha suit that looks like something out of a Transformers series.
As such, while Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants still has some of the downsides of the films, the manner in which it leans into its chaos makes it the most charming of the lot. Similarly, it includes a lot of moments that simply couldn't appear in other Batman movies, adding some inherent watch value through its lava-Clayface monster and mutant isopods alone.
29 Batman & Harley Quinn Adds Unusual Characterizations Of Iconic Figures
2017
Batman and Harley Quinn is part of the DC Animated Universe timeline, meaning it is canon to shows like Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League. However, despite bringing some of the original DCAU creators and voice actors, Batman and Harley Quinn is the franchise’s lowest point. The film, which features Batman, Nightwing, and Harley Quinn, sometimes feels more of a parody of those characters than an actual Batman story. Its characterizations of Bruce, Dick, and Harley were exaggerated, with comedic bits that do not work at all.
28 Batman: Death In The Family Adapts A Story That'd Already Been Adapted Before
2020
Batman:Death in the Family is a retelling of the Batman:Under the Red Hood movie, combining old and new scenes. The project, which was part of the DC Showcase animated line, was released as an interactive movie that allowed viewers to change the outcome of the story based on their decisions. Despite the interesting premise, Batman:Death in the Family is an unnecessary addition to the legacy of what was already a great movie. Between watching Batman:Death in the Family or Under the Red Hood, the latter is the correct option.
27 Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham Is Too Different To Feel Totally Like The Dark Knight
2023
Based on a DC Elseworlds comic book, Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham imagines Batman’s story as a period piece. It sees the Dark Knight and the Bat Family going up against Lovecraftian creatures, steering Batman away from the usual realism. The premise is engaging, and the original comic book was good, but The Doom That Came To Gotham does not work. Batman feels like a very different character, and even though this was the point, The Doom That Came To Gotham fails to make its premise feel as interesting as it sounded.
26 Batman: Hush Tried To Combine Continuities Into One Film
2019
Similar to The Killing Joke, Batman:Hush was based on one of the most popular Batman comic books and could have resulted in a great movie. However, Batman:Hush fails both as a standalone film and an adaptation. Set in the DC Animated Movie Universe timeline, Batman:Hush tries to combine the original story with elements from the New 52 continuity in a bland film that does not live up to the comic. One of the final entries in the DCAMU, Batman:Hush is also one of the franchise’s worst.
25 Batman: Subzero Is Good (But Not As Good As Its Source Material)
1998
Batman:Subzero revisits one of the best Batman: The Animated Series episodes, “Heart of Ice,” and sees a rematch between the DCAU Batman and Mr. Freeze. With Arnold Schwarzenegger set to play Mr. Freeze in Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin, DC Animation was tasked with having the icy villain in its next Batman movie. Interestingly, Batman & Robin’s box office failure ended up getting Batman:Subzero’s release postponed. While Batman:Subzero is a fun Batman adventure, it falls short compared to how “Heart of Ice” dealt with Mr. Freeze.
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24 Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Is A Fun Crossover Story
2019
Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have fought side by side multiple times, including in the 2019 film Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The plot is as simple and straightforward as this crossover demanded, with Ra’s Al Ghul and the Shredder serving as the main villains. While not as good as most of the Batman animated movies, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brings some great interactions to life. Seeing the turtles at the Bat Cave, or Batman fighting Shredder, could not have been cooler.
23 Batman: Mystery Of The Batwoman Is A Good Mystery With Entertaining Villains
2003
Batman:Mystery of the Batwoman is part of the DCAU, although is not as special as Batman: Mask of the Phantom or Batman Beyond:Return of the Joker. A spinoff of The New Batman Adventures, Mystery of the Batwoman sees Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake investigating a new masked vigilante. The mystery regarding Batwoman’s identity makes for a fun detective story, and the ending twist works. The action is dynamic, and seeing some of the classic Batman: TAS villains like Bane and the Penguin is always entertaining.
22 Batman: Return Of The Caped Crusaders Brought Back Adam West's Batman In Animated Form
2016
Set in the same continuity as the 1966 Batman series, Batman:Return of the Caped Crusaders brought the dynamic duo back for another adventure. Adam West and Burt Ward reprised their roles as Batman and Robin, respectively, in a movie that embraced everything that made the original show a classic. Batman ‘66’s tone worked perfectly in animation form, resulting in one of the most unique DC animated movies. Other cast members from the original show also reprised their roles.
21 Batman vs. Two-Face Amps Up Everything That Worked For Return Of The Caped Crusaders
2017
Batman vs. Two-Face was a sequel to Return of the Caped Crusaders, once again featuring Adam West and Burt Ward as the dynamic duo. The movie also featured William Shatner as Two-Face, a character that never appeared in Batman ’66. Retaining the fun and the comedy of the previous film, Batman vs. Two-Face is even better than Return of the Caped Crusaders.
20 Merry Little Batman Is A Fun Christmas DC Tale
2023
Among a selection of movies that often can appear more similar, Merry Little Batman is a refreshingly stylized cartoon take on the Dark Knight and his biological son Damian Wayne. In this world, Damian is desperately trying to convince his father that he's ready to take on the Batman mantle alongside his dad, which leads to some Home Alone-style escapades when the Wayne child is left alone in a supposedly crime-free Gotham that is swiftly revealed to be less peaceful than it may have seemed.
Merry Little Batman is a cheerful addition to the Batman lineup that provides jokes and action in a colorful and child-friendly format that can still prove just as entertaining for adults. However, its seasonal premise means it's not as universally watchable as other Batman movies at all times of the year, and its bouncier story means it lacks some of the poignancy and drama of other installments focused around the Dark Knight.
19 Batman Ninja Brings A Whole New World Visually & In Its Story
2018
With character designs from Takashi Okazaki, best known for Afro Samurai, Batman Ninja is among the most unique Batman animated movies. The combination of 3D and 2D animation made it visually different from previous Batman movies, and the story was nothing like Batman’s usual adventures. The reimagined versions of characters like the Joker and Harley Quinn resulted in a singular Batman tale that also features time travel and mechas.
18 Batman: Bad Blood Brings Less Well-Known Bat Family Members To The Spotlight
2016
Batman was at the center of multiple DCAMU movies, including Batman:Bad Blood. That said, the 2016 film was more of a Bat Family film than a Batman one. In addition, Batman:Bad Blood explored lesser-known members of the Bat Family and did not feature characters like Jason Todd or Tim Drake. Instead, the story was centered on Kate Kane, the Batwoman. Batman:Bad Blood is fast-paced, and most of the film comes down to action pieces. The same can be said about most DCAMU Batman films, but the exaggeratedly fast pacing is a bigger problem in Bad Blood.
17 Batman: Gotham By Gaslight Is A Great DC Elseworlds Story
2018
Inspired by a DC Elseworlds comic book, Batman:Gotham by Gaslight imagines Bruce Wayne in the Victorian Era. Batman has to investigate a series of mysterious murders, bringing the Dark Knight face to face with Jack the Ripper. Batman:Gotham by Gaslight is one of the darkest DC animated movies, with surprising twists and creative action scenes. Gotham by Gaslight succeeds where The Doom That Came To Gotham failed when it comes to being an adaptation of a DC Elseworlds story.
16 The Batman vs. Dracula Shows Animation Can Do What Live-Action Might Struggle With
2005
Set in the same continuity as The Batman (2005), one of the best Batman animated series, The Batman vs. Dracula is a fun film that makes the most of the animation format. A confrontation between Batman and a man who can become a bat may not have worked in live-action, but it does in this animated film. That said, those who have never watched The Batman might find the unique character designs and the overall tone of the film strange at first.
15 Son Of Batman Is A Great Introduction To Damian Wayne
2014
Son of Batman has all of the qualities and flaws of the DCAMU Batman movies. It is fast-paced, most of the scenes are action sequences, and it tries to combine New 52 storylines with new elements. That said, the good things exceed the bad ones, and Son of Batman is a good Batman movie. Damian Wayne’s first on-screen portrayal is fun and engaging, and the fighting choreography for Deathstroke is particularly great.
14 Batman vs. Robin Is An Even Better Sequel
2015
Batman vs. Robin, a direct sequel to Son of Batman, exceeds the first film. The fights are better, the story is more interesting, and the interactions between Bruce and Damian have never been better. Batman vs. Robin’s Court of Owls story is not as good and rich as the one from the New 52 comic books, but it works for a 90-minute adaptation. Batman vs. Robin is the best of the Batman DCAMU movies.
