There's something special about Batman movies that makes them timeless. I grew up Watching different versions of Batman, and I loved how the character evolved over time. He was always so fascinating to me with the masks, hidden identity, mysterious persona, super cool gadgets, cars, and superhero abilities. It's not just guys who like DC - girls do too! So I spent a lot of my childhood fangirling about Batman. Nowadays when I watch the movies it feels like I'm kind of old because at least 4 of them came out before was born!
These Batman films are amazing and definitely worth watching if you haven't already. If you're a new fan trying to understand where to start, read on for more information!
The very first Batman movie was released in an earlier era, 1966 to be exact (we know, mind-blowing,) and it holds the title for one of the earliest adaptations of comics. IIn other words, this shit is old. The OGBatman himself was played by Adam West back in the day and if you're ever feeling curious about its origins,-the film had its world premiere at Paramount theater located in Texas.
Many people find newer Batman movies, such as Joker (which will be discussed later), to be darker than the first Batman film. The original Batman movie is often referred to as "silly" or humorous by some fans, but most agree that they enjoyed it because of Adam West's lighthearted portrayal of their favorite superhero. Additionally, the writing was clever and witty which endeared the film to many viewers.
In 1989, Tim Burton's produced movie brought the dark side of comics to life with an allocated budget of $40-48 million. The writing and direction cleverly captivated its audience ,and this is also where the trademark audio track of Batman originates.
Jack Nicholson flawlessly played the Joker. Michael Keaton took on the role of Batman in this movie, but some (including myself) think that it was really the Joker who saved the film. This particular installment was more serious than its predecessor in terms of tone.
Batman Returns, the sequel to the smash-hit Batman, was finally released in 1992. Tim Burton outdid himself with this one; it took the franchise to a whole new level.
Catwoman and the Penguin were excellently played by Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny Devito respectively. I found the movie to be antagonistically humorous at times, but it took a turn for the worse in other parts. However, this was one of the better Batman films because humor and silliness was left behind.
Although this Batman movie was released in 1995 and directed by Joel Schumacher, some people argue that it didn't age well because it lacked substance. This approach differed from the two prior movies produced by Tim Burton, whom many say did all the hard work for nothing.
Batman (played by Val Kilmer) was successful when it came out, generating over 335 million dollars in revenue. He performed the character pretty well. Coming to the villains (muahahaha), Riddler was played by Jim Carry, and Two-Face was played by Tommy Lee Jones.
In 1997, the next installment of the Batman series was released with Joel Schumacher at its helm. George Clooney played the character of Bruce Wayne/Batman whilst Arnold Schwarzenegger and Uma Thurman took on the roles of Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy respectively. Even though Clooney bared a striking resemblance to his comic book counterpart, he failed to capture Batman's persona convincingly in his performance which reflected poorly on overall viewership ratings for the movie.
Batman finally returned to the big screen in 2005 with "Batman Begins." The movie was dark, gothic, and completely worth the 8-year wait. It also helped reintroduce Batman as a popular franchise character.
The Dark Knight (2008) was a psychological thriller that shocked audiences. With Christopher Nolan as the producer and Christian Bale playing Batman, this movie completely subverted expectations. Many viewers described The Dark Knight as dark, complex, and brilliant. Its success led to The Dark Knight Rises (2012), which while good, could not live up to its predecessor.
This film, released in 2017, was met with mixed reviews. Some people found it entertaining while others thought it fell short. Regardless, Batman (played by Ben Affleck) gave an amazing performance. The movie also included some other well-loved DC characters like Wonder Woman and Superman.
