In honor of The Batman, released on March 4th, I’ve compiled a list of the top three hottest Batman movies thus far. You may be surprised to see what’s garnered the most attention out of the hero’s long list of motion pictures.
If you’ve been following the progression of Batman as an on-screen hero, you may have noticed its considerable impact on the success of the DC franchise, as a whole. While many DC movies have tanked in recent years, Batman remains a must-watch for various audiences – drawing people out of their homes and into theaters for remake after remake after remake. That being said, there are a few that preponderate over the rest. These are the top three.
The Dark Knight (2008) – Ah, yes, The Dark Knight. This movie is so popular that even if you know nothing about Batman or have not seen the other movies, you’ve definitely heard about this one, at least once. The film, coincidentally, is not necessarily memorable for its plot or its visuals or even for Batman, himself. Rather, the main cause of this film’s success was actually Heath Ledger’s role as the Joker. Ledger is still commemorated for his performance, to this day, even after his unfortunate passing.
You know a movie is top tier when it’s rated 94% on Rotten Tomatoes! Critics had nothing but positive feedback for this groundbreaking film. Some of the adjectives used in the overall critic consensus were “dark,” “complex,” and “unforgettable.” One critic, in fact, refers to The Dark Knight as “the definitive movie of its genre and the best Batman film to date.” Another critic credits Heath Ledger for the film’s success: “a film is only as good as its villain, and by this standard, The Dark Knight achieves true greatness.”
Lego Batman Movie (2017) – Who knew that a Lego film would receive a 90% on the Tomatometer! If it’s not attributed to the rude humor, then it’s certainly due to the fitting voices of the Lego Batman characters.
One critic labeled this film “the Batman film we may not have wanted, but surely the Batman film that we needed.” Although it has fallen under some scrutiny for being too fast paced and incorporating perhaps too many jokes, Lego did an excellent job of ensuring that this movie reached the right audience. The father-son dynamic between Batman and Robin is a fan favorite attribute of this film and many adults who have seen this movie admit that although it shouldn’t be amusing to them, it definitely is.
The Batman (2022) – The newest Batman has taken box offices by storm since its release. One of the biggest — if not THE biggest — causes of this movie’s success, thus far, is the casting of Robert Pattinson as Batman. Although Pattinson is most notable for his role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga, it seems the recent hype around his portrayal as Bruce Wayne might have the power to overwrite years of being our go-to vampire.
Among critics, The Batman is described as a “ gripping super noir,” “grim,” and “thrillingly ambitious.” While lengthy, falling just under three hours, audience reviews have been extremely positive, commending its portrayal of beloved characters, the unique direction of the storyline, and the realistic depiction of Gotham.With DC’s success fluctuating tremendously over the years, the franchise is lucky to have seen such high numbers for so many Batman renditions, repeatedly pulling off a few top tier Batman films, over and over again. Hit the cinema as soon as possible and decide for yourself whether The Batman is truly worth the hype.