These 10 Awesome Animated Batman Movies Prove That Cartoons Aren't Just For Kids

Move over live-action Batmans!

There have been a lot of blockbuster live-action Batman movies over the years, and many of them are totally rad. However, my favorite stories of the World's Greatest Detective are animated. Since the incredible Batman: the Animated Series from the early '90s (a must-see), DC has pumped out lush, funny, dark, and exciting animated movies and TV shows that – in my opinion – have made even the MCU look stale. Though the best starting point for any beginner is definitely the animated series, I put together a list of my personal favorite animated films of the Caped Crusader.

Fox Kids

10. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Parts 1 & 2 (2012)

DC Entertainment/Warner Bros. Animation

This double-feature plays out like a nightmare of an aging Bruce Wayne. Here we get Bruce and Gotham at their lowest as they're threatened by monstrous gangs, wildfires, Joker, and even Superman!

9. Batman: Year One (2011)

DC Entertainment/Warner Bros. Animation

In Year One, Bruce is a young, lost man who doesn't yet know his place in a deteriorating city. James Gordon moves to Gotham and joins the extremely corrupt police department. It also features the voices of Ben McKenzie and Bryan Cranston.

8. Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)

DC Entertainment/Warner Bros. Animation

This movie is pure fun. Harley Quinn is front and center and takes a suicide mission to its most chaotic limits. Absolute blast!

7. Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero (1998)

DC Entertainment/Warner Bros. Animation

This is one of the two feature films that were extensions of the '90s animated series. This movie continues the story of the show's best episode, Heart of Ice, and follows Mr. Freeze's quest to save his wife at all costs.

6. Batman: Hush (2019)

DC Entertainment/Warner Bros. Animation

A recent addition to the animated Batman movies, Hush is extremely dense yet fun. We get all the big characters in one exciting, twisty movie. Plus, there's finally an on-screen love story that Batman and Catwoman deserve.

5. Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021)

DC Entertainment/Warner Bros. Animation

This one might be recency bias, but I can't help but put this 2021 movie near the top. This film features a '70s setting, Kung Fu, and a great cast including Michael Jai White!

4. Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)

DC Entertainment/Warner Bros. Animation

This is a gut-wrenching, action-packed film soaked in tragedy. This is easily one of the most engrossing Batman movies out there.

3. The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Warner Animation Group/DC Entertainment/Lego System A/S

What can I say? This movie's a visual and reference theme park for all DC fans and extremely funny. Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Mariah Carey, and loads more provide the iconic voices.

2. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)

Warner Animation Group/DC Entertainment

Batman Beyond is another animated series that was made in the late '90s, set in the future when Bruce Wayne is retired from vigilante work and has a new, smart-mouth protege as the new Batman. The feature film brings back Mark Hamill's wickedly entertaining and sick-minded Joker, and the new Batman does not know what's in store for him.

1. And lastly, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

Warner Animation Group/DC Entertainment

The only theatrically released film on this list, it can be argued this is the greatest Batman film ever made. This was an extension of the animated series and brought to the screen the incredible voice talents of Kevin Conroy as Bruce/Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker. This movie is full of haunted pasts, heartbreak, hope, and stirring commentary on generational violence.