Batman - Watch Order: Release Order

1989 - 202713 Films29h 50m3.9 Average

The complete Batman film saga spans over three decades of superhero cinema, beginning with Tim Burton's dark, gothic vision that launched the modern era of comic book adaptations. This comprehensive watch order includes every major Batman theatrical film from Michael Keaton's brooding Dark Knight through Robert Pattinson's detective-focused interpretation.

The release order showcases Batman's cinematic evolution across multiple creative visions, where each era brings its own interpretation of Gotham City and the Dark Knight, creating a fascinating study of how different filmmakers have reimagined this famous character.

1
Batman poster

Batman

19892h 6m4.2
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle

Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis when a deformed madman calling himself "The Joker" seizes control of Gotham's criminal underworld.

FantasyActionCrime
2
Batman Returns poster

Batman Returns

19922h 6m4
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Keaton, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough

Batman must face The Penguin, a sewer-dwelling gangleader intent on being accepted into Gotham society. Meanwhile, another Gotham resident finds herself transformed into Catwoman and is out for revenge...

ActionFantasy
3
Batman Forever poster

Batman Forever

19952h 1m2.8
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast: Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, Chris O'Donnell

In the looming shadows of Gotham City, two villainous souls devise twin schemes of revenge against the city's dark guardian. Two-Face, disfigured by chance and fueled by vengeance, is obsessed with destroying Batman, while the Riddler, a disillusioned genius, pursues the destruction of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Together they've hatched a plot to absorb and control the minds of all of Gotham City's residents, and only Batman and his new partner, Robin, can stop them! But the Dark Knight is hindered by a mystery from his own childhood. He must hope that a new found love can help him overcome the incident that made him what he is. In the end, he must decide: will he be Batman—forever?

ActionCrimeFantasy
4
Batman & Robin poster

Batman & Robin

19972h 5m1.9
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast: George Clooney, Uma Thurman, Chris O'Donnell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alicia Silverstone

Batman and Robin deal with relationship issues while preventing Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from attacking Gotham City.

ActionScience FictionAdventure
5
Batman Begins poster

Batman Begins

20052h 20m4.6
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman

Driven by tragedy, billionaire Bruce Wayne dedicates his life to uncovering and defeating the corruption that plagues his home, Gotham City. Unable to work within the system, he instead creates a new identity, a symbol of fear for the criminal underworld - The Batman.

ActionCrimeDrama
6
The Dark Knight poster

The Dark Knight

20082h 32m5
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.

DramaActionCrimeThriller
7
The Dark Knight Rises poster

The Dark Knight Rises

20122h 45m4.7
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway

Following the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman assumes responsibility for Dent's crimes to protect the late attorney's reputation and is subsequently hunted by the Gotham City Police Department. Eight years later, Batman encounters the mysterious Selina Kyle and the villainous Bane, a new terrorist leader who overwhelms Gotham's finest. The Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.

ActionCrimeDramaThriller
8
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice poster

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

20162h 32m3.2
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

ActionAdventureFantasy
9
Justice League poster

Justice League

20172h3.3
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller

Fuelled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince assemble a team of metahumans consisting of Barry Allen, Arthur Curry and Victor Stone to face the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and the Parademons who are on the hunt for three Mother Boxes on Earth.

ActionAdventureScience Fiction
10
Zack Snyder's Justice League poster

Zack Snyder's Justice League

20214h 2m4.9
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa

Determined to ensure Superman's ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.

ActionAdventureFantasy
11
The Batman poster

The Batman

20222h 57m4.6
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano

In his second year of fighting crime, Batman uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler.

CrimeMysteryThriller
12
The Flash poster

The Flash

20232h 24m3.8
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Ezra Miller, Sasha Calle, Michael Keaton, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston

When his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry Allen becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. In order to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry's only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?

AdventureActionScience Fiction
13
Untitled The Batman Sequel poster

Untitled The Batman Sequel

2027
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis

Sequel to the 2022 film The Batman.

MysteryDramaCrime