5 "Batman" Movies To Tide You Over 'Til The Next One Comes Out

To be honest, these are just some of my favorite Batman movies.

The Batman has been out for over a month and the reviews are a bit mixed. Though the film holds an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes with 454 reviews, some viewers go from saying it's “one of the better Batman movies ever made” to “it’s too dark and not noir enough.” These reviews might make it hard to decide whether you should see Robert Pattinson go from vampire to a bat. So if you’re debating whether to watch him, here are eight other Batman movies I recommend.

1. The Dark Knight Trilogy

DC/Warner Brs.

When someone mentions they want to watch a Batman movie, it might be safe to assume they are referring to one starring Christan Bale. Starting with the obvious one is Christopher Nolan’s Batman and his trilogy, Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). One of the best DC film trilogies to come out in the Hollywood Industry, this Batman trilogy tells the story of Batman's epic battles from his childhood to his presumed death. If that was a spoiler, I’m not sorry.

What’s good about this trilogy is that you don’t need to watch them in order. So if you just want to watch Batman’s origin story, see Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance, or watch Tom Hardy destroy Gotham City, you can pick and watch whichever one you’re feeling.

2. The Lego Batman Movie

LEGO/Warner Bros.

Another Batman film that might be popular is The Lego Batman Movie, released in 2017, starring Will Arnett, Michael Cera, and Zach Galifianakis. This Lego movie is a great one to watch if you’re looking to spend time with children or just want to have a laugh for yourself.

It starts with a monologue that only Batman could come up with before panning to a fight between Batman and The Joker. Batman hurts Joker’s feelings by telling him he’s not important in Batman’s life, leading to Joker turning himself in and getting sent to The Phantom Zone.

There was talk about a second Lego Batman Movie being in the works, but it was canceled. Now we’re left with this standalone film that pays homage to everything Batman-related. From villains rarely seen on screen and only through comics to dealing with Batman’s loneliness and lack of emotional connection as a vigilante, this movie will keep viewers entertained for its duration of 104 minutes with its action and comedic value.

3. Batman: Under The Red Hood

DC Comics/Warner Bros.

Here’s a Batman movie if you’re looking to get deeper into Batman’s character or DC Animated Universe. Released in 2010, Batman: Under the Red Hood sets the tone across the DC Animated Universe. Warning: this might not be good to watch with children — or at least just exclude the beginning scene where viewers see the Joker beat Robin to death. While dealing with Robin’s death, Batman continues to fight crime but meets his match, who hides his face under a red hood.

Starring John DiMaggio, Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, and Neil Patrick Harris, this film depicts the relationship between Batman and Robin, which you don’t usually see in action adaptations. You get a closer look at Batman and his sidekick's relationship and how they work together. In this Batman movie, viewers briefly meet Nightwing, aka Dick Grayson, the first Robin. Contrary to the Lego movie, viewers can see how close Batman’s relationships are. That, along with an epic final confrontation, makes this movie is definitely worth watching. So if you’re looking for a good mystery, this is a good one to watch.

4. The Killing Joke

DC Comics/Warner Bros/Netflix

The Killing Joke introduces a more violent and brutal tone than most Batman stories you’ve heard. Released in 2016, this is the animated adaptation of the comic book written by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland in 1988. After playing cards with a fake Joker in Arkham Asylum, Batman goes looking for The Joker, who escaped to buy an amusement park. If you thought the Joker was bad for killing Robin in the movie mentioned above, get ready to see how disturbing the Joker can be while watching this one (or while reading if you would prefer to read the comic).

This comic/film caused a debate with its ending, where Batman and the Joker share a laugh. Yup, the Joker finally told a joke that made Batman laugh, but that’s not what makes the ending ambiguous. Without giving any spoilers, viewers will be left asking themselves what Batman’s last move was and if he put an end to his rivalry with The Joker.

5. Batman Ninja

DC/Warner Bros.

You will love this one if you know Takashi Okazaki and his manga Afro Samurai. Batman Ninja, directed by Junpei Mizusaki, was released in Japan in 2018. A battle between Batman and Gorilla Grodd results in Batman being transported and chased by samurai in feudal Japan, where The Joker became a new lord. In an attempt to go back to Gotham, Batman fights the Joker and other enemies with the help of Alfred, Robin, Nightwing, and Catwoman.

There may be a chance that this film might not be for you, and if you look at the reviews, it might discourage you. This film is excellent for its mixed animation and visual details on the characters, all while paying tribute to Asian culture. One thing to keep in mind is that it might be better to watch the film with the Japanese audio and English Subtitles (dubbed over subbed, always).

Batman Ninja is perfect if you also watch anime. So, if you want to challenge yourself and your knowledge of anime, see how many anime tropes or references you can catch while watching this film. Either way, I can guarantee that you’ll be talking about it for a while after watching this one.

You can find all of these films on HBO Max, with a few spread out onto other platforms. So, if you’re not sure Robert Pattinson is the right Batman for you, watch one or all of these movies above and see which Batman suits you.