Batman Movies in Order

You might have noticed over the last, oh, several decades, but Batman is a pretty popular character. You also probably know the major beats by now: a murder in an alleyway, a cascading set of pearls, a billionaire playboy who moonlights as an ass-kicker with a laundry list of emotional issues that can’t be locked away in Arkham. But that hasn’t kept audiences from clamoring for more Batman,a character who has swapped actors and filmmakers almost as much as James Bond. With the success ofThe Batmanand the excitement overits upcoming sequel, it might be time for a full Bat-fresher. If you’re wondering exactly how to dive in, we’ve got you. Below, you’ll find a list of how to watch every live-action Batman movie in chronological order, followed by how to watch them in order of release. (Yes, they’rerelativelythe same, but the exact continuity between them is worth explaining.)

A quick note: The below does not include the 1966Adam West/Burt Wardteam-upBatman: The Movieor the 1993 animated featureBatman: Mask of the Phantasmbecause both fit into their respective TV chronology, but they are both great and worth watching!

The Batman Poster

The Batman

In a dark city plagued by crime and corruption, a masked crusader investigates a puzzling string of crimes linked by cryptic messages. His journey into the depths of the city’s sinister underworld reveals connections among its most powerful citizens and forces him to confront his own complex relationship with justice.

Batman Movies in Chronological Order of Events

The ’90s Movies

Of course, when we say “the ’90s,” that includes 1989, whenTim Burtonintroduced a brand-new bat in the form ofMichael Keaton’struly unhinged Bruce Wayne.Batmantakes place vaguely early on in the Caped Crusader’s crime-fighting career, on the eve of Gotham City’s 200-year anniversary. We also witnessan origin story for Batman’s greatest foe, The Joker, played here with iconic energy byJack Nicholson.

Batman Returns

Arguably the weirdest — and objectively the horniest — Batman film ever made, Burton’sBatman Returnstechnically begins 33 years in the past, as a flashback shows us the grotesque origins of Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin (Danny DeVito). The bulk of the story takes place not long after Batman, as Keaton’s Dark Knight contends with both Penguin and thebest live-action DC movie villain, ever,Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman.

Batman Forever

Batman Foreverswaps director Tim Burton forJoel Schumacher, replaces Keaton withVal Kilmerunder the cape and cowl, and introduces a brand new cocaine-rave-by-way-of-art-deco aesthetic to Gotham City. Despite the tonal whiplash,Batman Foreverdoestechnicallytake place shortly afterBatman Returns, introducing The Riddler (Jim Carrey) and Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) to Batman’s live-action rogues' gallery. The film also marks the first appearance ofChris O’Donnellas sidekick Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Robin.

Batman & Robin

ForBatman & Robin, Schumacher stayed aboard, butGeorge Clooneystepped in as Bruce Wayne. Picking up a few months afterBatman Forever, this sequel sees the titular crime-fighting duo, now a well-oiled partnership, taking on the villainous pair-up of Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman). The final chapter of this particular Batman era,Batman & Robinalso marks the only live-action appearance of Batgirl, played here byAlicia Silverstone.

The Dark Knight Trilogy

Batman Begins

DirectorChristopher Nolankicked off his critically-acclaimed trilogy with a young Bruce Wayne’s formative tumble into a bat-filled well. 14 years later, we meetChristian Bale’s Bruce as he decides to leave Gotham, traveling the world and training under Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) in the League of Shadows. After seven years,Bruce returns to Gotham and begins his crusade against crime, as Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy) amps up his fear-based experiments under the moniker Scarecrow.

The Dark Knight

Nolan’s second Batman movie kicks off about six months afterBatman Begins, as the Joker (Heath Ledger), teased in the final scene of the previous movie, is now a well-known criminal terrorizing Gotham.

The Dark Knight Rises

The concluding chapter of Nolan’s trilogy takes place eight years afterThe Dark Knight, with Bruce Wayne coming out of a long bat-retirement thanks to the arrival of a terrorist known as Bane (Tom Hardy).

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Zack Snyderbrought his Batman (Ben Affleck) to the big screen in the immediate aftermath ofMan of Steel, in which the final fight betweenSuperman (Henry Cavill)and General Zod (Michael Shannon) levels a large portion of Metropolis. InBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, we’re introduced to a Bruce Wayne deep into his crime-fighting career, a traumatized Caped Crusader who isgetting a little lax on his no-kill policies.

Suicide Squad

While the bulk ofSuicide Squadtakes place exactly one year afterBatman v Superman, the parts featuring Batman are told in flashback as he rounds up villains like Deadshot (Will Smith) andHarley Quinn (Margot Robbie).

Justice League

Batman, along with Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), attempts to put a superhero team together inJustice Leaguetwo years after the end ofBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League

See above, and for more details, headhere.

The Matt Reeves Version

What started as another entry into the DCEU with Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne eventually becameMatt Reeves' own take on the caped crusader. Switching out Affleck for a younger, more emo, Nirvana-loving Batman played byRobert Pattinson,The Batmanexplores a Year Two Batman,leaning far more into the detective side of the vigilante. Rounding out the cast isZoë Kravitzas Selina Kyle, giving Michelle Pfeiffer a run for her money,Paul Danoas the Riddler,Jeffrey Wrightas Jim Gordon,Colin Farrellas the Penguin, andAndy Serkisas Alfred. With another movie firmly in development, the possibilities of where Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne will go are endless.