Over the past several decades Batman has enjoyed a lot of success on film. Yes, there have been some great live action films but I think most true Batman fans will tell you that the best Batman movies are the animated ones. From the first one, Mask of the Phantasm, to the most recent one, Batman vs Robin, there have been many actors, character designs, and villains for Batman to go through. I've watched these films many times over the years. They are endlessly entertaining for me. I never get tried of watching them, critiquing them, and gushing over them. Without further ado, I'm going to go ahead and rank them now. Please keep in mind that these are exclusively the Batman films and not the Superman/Batman or Justice League films. Here we go!
12 - BATMAN: MYSTERY OF THE BATWOMAN
I won't even lie to you. I don't care for this movie at all. I haven't watched the whole thing all the way through since I was a kid. And even then I didn't like it! I give it props for having a somewhat interesting mystery and for keeping (most) of the original cast. But even Kevin Conroy with all his bad assness couldn't save this one. I'm not even ashamed to admit that I do not own this film. But then again . . . Maybe I'll give it another shot . . . Someday . . .
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Kevin Conroy.
11 - THE BATMAN VS DRACULA
This is an interesting project. On the one hand, the producers had the unenviable task of having to follow up Batman: the Animated Series. That's like trying to follow a steak dinner with broccoli. Or something like that. Basically, you don't wanna follow the king. I like to think that the show was good. It was fun for kids. While B:TAS was a little more mature and anyone could enjoy it, The Batman was much more kid friendly. They made a companion film called The Batman vs Dracula. While I enjoy the fun of the film, it loses points for me because it just feels like a longer episode of the TV series. Whereas the other films on this list actually feel like movies, this one is just a 70 minute episode. BUT it's still fun.
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Rino Romano
10 - BATMAN: ASSAULT ON ARKHAM
Truth be told, this film would probably rank higher but it's barely a Batman movie. What wins it points is the exceptional voice cast, the Arkham setting (the games are fucking awesome), and of course Kevin Conroy's Batman. The film mostly focuses on the Suicide Squad and their mission in Arkham Asylum. One of the best characters in the film is definitely the Riddler, played wonderfully by Matthew Gray Gubler. The Riddler is one of the more challenging (or annoying) aspects of the game, so it makes sense he would play a big part of this film.
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Kevin Conroy
9 - BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT
This film doesn't really fit in with the rest of the movies but I still count it because . . . Well it's animated Batman . . . That's why! It's technically 6 short films written by different comic book and film writers and directed by Japanese directors. Although the films are separate they do have somewhat of a flowing narrative throughout. It also is technically meant to be a fill-in film in between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. It's a pretty interesting film and visually exciting to see the different takes on Bruce Wayne and Batman. The stories are well done and fit in with the "Legend" of Batman.
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Kevin Conroy
8 - SON OF BATMAN
This was the first of the "new 52" animated Bat-films. It has a decent enough story, but it loses points because the cast is good but haven't quite found their footing yet. However, Damian is a very welcome addition to animated universe. And Thomas Gibson plays Deathstroke. That's inspired casting! Jason O'Mara is still getting used to playing Batman but he does a better job in this film than he did in Justice League: War. Not to say he was bad in that film, he just was getting used to the role and voice acting in general. All in all it's a decent film, although it feels a little slow in some places. Oh and David McCallum (from NCIS as Ducky) plays Alfred. That's fucking great!
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Jason O'Mara
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Jason O'Mara
7 - BATMAN AND MR. FREEZE: SUBZERO
This is kind of an interesting subject. This film was released to be a companion to the theatrical release of Batman and Robin. However, it was released like a year later (which really made me mad as a kid, let me tell you). Now I will admit that this is definitely the superior film to Batman and Robin. However, it is a decent film but it's not the best. The story goes that Barbara Gordon is kidnapped by Mr. Freeze. She's the only suitable donor for a transplant that his dying wife. Batman and Robin rush to her rescue. Where this film loses points with me is that there is no great fight scene between Batman and Mr. Freeze. I mean, the voice acting is great and the story is really good. Lots of suspense at the end with the fire on the oil rig but uh . . . no fight . . . Little disappointing. However, there is the one scene where Batman lands on those robbers' car and makes them crash. It's awesome! Also, Nora Fries gets a happy ending so that's good.
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Kevin Conroy
6 - BATMAN VS ROBIN
Now this is where the voice cast really hit their stride! This film is far better than Son of Batman by a long shot! The story takes its cue from Grant Morrison's Batman vs Robin and Scott Snyder's Batman: The Court of Owls. It also features two previous Bat-actors in prominent roles: Kevin Conroy (from Batman: the Animated Series) as Thomas Wayne and Jeremy Sisto (from Justice League: the New Frontier) as Talon. The film set up a great "relationship" between Bruce and Damian. It seems believable that Damian would start to distrust Bruce and want to follow the Talon and join the Court of Owls. Also, the fight between the Talons and Batman was freakin sweet! That's one of my favorite Batman stories, so it was great to see it come to life. And Weird Al plays the Doll Maker. And
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Jason O'Mara
5 - BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD
It seems that no matter what happens to Batman in his life, tragedy will always follow. That is especially apparent in this film. This was the first solo animated Batman film when the DCAU started with Superman: Doomsday. It was also the first one that didn't feature a world in crisis or a city about to be destroyed. This film is very personal. Sure there are big stakes, but the movie is very emotional and plays very close to the chest. The voice cast in this film is outstanding. Bruce Greenwood is fantastic as a grizzled, hardened Batman, Neil Patrick Harris is great as a sarcastic, funny Nightwing, Jensen Ackles plays Red Hood as equal parts sympathetic and tough, and then John DiMaggio channels his inner Heath Ledger to portray a very scary, sadistic Joker. One complaint about the film is that it spends too much time on exposition but it's a small price to pay for a very well made, tragic film.
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Bruce Greenwood
4 - BATMAN: YEAR ONE
This film isn't a tragedy, per se, but it doesn't really have a happy ending either. I mean sure, Batman and Gordon become friends but it's born out of Gotham City twisting and trying to break both men. But these are tough men that love to fight back and win! This film wins a lot of points for its excellent lead actors Ben McKenzie (from Gotham) and Bryan Cranston (from Breaking Bad) as Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon respectively. Both could easily play those characters in a live action film. They really sell this film, which is arguably the most realistic of all the DCAU films. It's a very simple film, adapted pretty much straight from the comic. It's also more of a Jim Gordon story than a Bruce Wayne one. Oh and Eliza Dushku plays Selina Kyle. THAT needs to be a live action transition!
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Ben McKenzie
3 - BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS
Another Frank Miller comic brought to life. And it's brought to life quite brilliantly might I add. Another case where the voice acting is spot on. The film tries its best to feel like it was ripped out of the 80s and it succeeds. The film gives us an older Bruce Wayne that returns to a life as Batman to combat a crime wave that seems to be worsening day by day. He has to tangle with the Mutant Gang, Two-Face, the Joker, and even Superman, on orders from the government to shut him down. The fight scenes are all brutal, unforgiving, and totally bad ass. Each adversary that he faces is a different shade of Batman. Two-Face represents his struggle with duality, the Mutants represent the monster he could let himself become, the Joker represents the many mistakes and regrets he's had over the years, and Superman represents the hero that Batman should aspire to be (in a sense). Peter Weller (Robocop) plays a perfect aged Bruce Wayne and he's partnered with the wonderful Ariel Winter (Modern Family) as Carrie Kelly, the new Robin. The voice cast is exceptional and helps to bring this dark, gritty Batman tale to life. It's one film I will watch over and over again and never grow tired of.
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Peter Weller
2 - BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER
When Batman Beyond proved to be a success for Kids WB, they commissioned the producers to make a home video release. The producers obliged and came up with one of the absolute best Batman vs the Joker stories ever done. In the film, the Joker has returned to terrorize Gotham City. Terry learns terrible secrets about the last encounter between Batman and the Joker involving Tim Drake, Robin. Terry must find the Joker and stop him before he unleashes a new wave of mayhem on Gotham City. So what makes this film so great? Well, the Joker is Mark Hamill. So that's always a bonus. But the final battle between Terry and the Joker is really well done. True, it's not a bombastic, crazy fight that these films are known for, but it's much better. Terry deconstructs the Joker and makes fun of him. The film sets up a great mystery as to how the Joker has returned and even features a scene with Kevin Conroy playing Batman again. I can't stress enough how great this movie is. It's fun, exciting, and a little bit scary - just the way Mr. J likes it ;)
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Will Friedle as Batman Beyond and Kevin Conroy as Batman
1 - BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM
As I said before, some of the best Batman stories are tragedies. This is arguably one of the best Batman films ever. Some would say it IS the best Batman film. It starts off simple enough with mobsters being killed off by the mysterious Phantasm. As the film goes on we learn a lot about Bruce's history. He loved a beautiful woman and was willing to give up on the vow he made to his parents to be with her. When she left it broke his heart and he allowed himself to become the Batman. The film does not give us a happy ending. It does however, through a great speech by Alfred, give us hope for Bruce's soul. This film was the first Bat-film produced by Bruce Timm and to me it's the best. I remember going to see this in the movie theater with my mom. It wasn't till I was older that I realized how mature this film is. It's dark, tragic, and a true Batman film through and through.
BATMAN PLAYED BY - Kevin Conroy
Lucky for me, WB and DC are still producing animated Batman films. This list might get updated in a few years. For now though, I'm gonna take another day off and watch them all again.
Till Next Time!
JJ - The Comic Junkie!
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