We’re getting one step closer to the DCU’s Batman, with Clayface officially taking us to Gotham City at last. That will undoubtedly be a big deal for DC’s latest big screen universe, because Batman is easily DC’s biggest name. Technically, Batman’s been appearing in film since the 1940s; Columbia Pictures created the first film adaptations in 1943 and 1949, but these weren’t really what we’d consider to be movies in the modern sense. You have to head to 1966 for a proper movie, when Adam West played Bruce Wayne. Many fans still insist West is the best live-action Batman of all time.
But do our readers agree? Over the last week, Screen Rant has been asking our readers to have their say on the best Batman in film. Since 1966, there have been seven: Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and (most recently) Robert Pattinson. Every Batman has their own fanbase, every iteration is slightly different, and each Batman inhabits a version of Gotham that’s designed for them. Here’s how Screen Rant’s readers assess the different Batmen.
7
George Clooney
Batman & Robin (1997)
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It shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise for George Clooney to come last in this ranking; appearing only in Batman & Robin, Clooney has spent years apologizing for ruining Batman. To be fair to Clooney, it’s not really his fault; he’s a skilled actor, but he had the misfortune of working in a movie that essentially symbolizes the collapse of the Batman franchise. The script was poor, depended on absurdly camp humor, and there was a complete lack of the dark atmosphere that had become central to Batman. This was a deliberate decision by the studio, but it was a poor one.
Director Joel Schumacher deliberately created a movie that embraced the camp brightness of the Adam West version — even though the world had moved on. Like all the cast, Clooney’s Batman is exaggerated to the point where he almost feels like a joke on the character; the costume itself is the stuff of parodies, with the absurd bat-nipples. Still, Clooney’s Batman reputation has improved quite a bit over the years, albeit not for his performance. His humorous apologies have won people over, making audiences look on him with fondness even as they roll their eyes at his Batman.
6
Val Kilmer
Batman Forever (1995)
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Next we have Val Kilmer’s Batman, a solid version of the Dark Knight who again suffers because of the campier, more lightweight tone of Batman Forever. Warner Bros. pivoted towards a more family-friendly approach the Burton and Keaton movies, and it was certainly a success in the box office; the film grossed $336.6 million in the global box office, against a budget of just $100 million. The problem, though, is that — like Batman & Robin — it’s largely forgettable.
In truth, Kilmer never had much of a chance. He was coming straight after Keaton’s Batman, and his more restrained, psychologically introspective approach just wasn’t what critics and audiences expected from Batman. There’s been something of a reappraisal of this Bruce Wayne after Kilner’s death last year, with many viewers revisiting it and recognizing how well he understood the conflict between the character’s two personas. His understated performance grounded Batman Forever, meaning the campiness of Two-Face and the Riddler didn’t dominate. Still, that wasn’t enough to give Kilmer’s Batman a higher ranking here.
5
Adam West
Batman (1966)
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Holy heartbreak, it’s time for a surprise; Adam West’s iconic interpretation of Batman comes in fifth place according to Screen Rant readers. Seen as the iconic Batman until 1989, West’s is a deeply moral character who indulges in all the craziness and campiness of 1960s superhero action. West plays the part straight, and that’s his genius; he can say the most absurd lines, and respond to the most ridiculous situations, with all the gravity you’d expect of a Hollywood icon.
Sixty years later, West’s Batman is still a joy to watch. But let’s be honest; this is the Batman of years gone by, long before Bruce Wayne really became the Dark Knight, and Gotham lacks the kind of tone and character modern viewers are used to. West’s Batman was definitive for decades, but the character and his world have evolved so much since 1966, perhaps explaining why this Batman comes so low down in Screen Rant readers’ rankings.
4
Ben Affleck
Batman V Superman (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
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Time for another surprise; Ben Affleck comes fourth in Screen Rant readers’ rankings. This is despite the vocal support he’s often had from Zack Snyder’s fanbase, and perhaps shows that the era of Affleck really is over. A phenomenal actor, Affleck’s Batman was deliberately a darker version of the Dark Knight, one who’d abandoned his no-killing rule and even believed Superman too dangerous to live after the events of Man of Steel. This Batman began as a antagonist in a superhero versus match, with Superman’s inspiration reshaping him in a pretty interesting way.
But Affleck’s Batman didn’t really have a chance, largely because of the chaos at Warner Bros. Snyder left Justice League due to a family trauma, and Joss Whedon took over, creating a Batman V Superman sequel that proved to be practically unwatchable. Snyder eventually released his own cut on HBO Max, but even that came in for mixed reception. Affleck’s solo Batman movie collapsed, meaning this will always go down in history as the Batman who never fulfilled his potential (through no fault of his own).
3
Robert Pattinson
The Batman (2022)
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In third place, we have the most recent live-action Batman; Robert Pattinson, who appears in Matt Reeves’ The Batman (and is currently filming the slow-to-release The Batman II). Affleck may be a Batman at the end of his career, but Pattinson’s is one who has just begun. The casting was originally received with a great deal of skepticism (the actor is most famous for Twilight, after all). Those doubts disappeared after The Batman, and Pattinson’s performance was one of the reasons the film received such popular and critical acclaim.
Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne is a man haunted by trauma, and there’s a brooding intensity to the character that other versions have rarely nailed. The traditional Bruce Wayne keeps up the facade of being a wealthy playboy, but this version has yet to figure out how to live that double-life. As a result, he’s frequently sleep-deprived, and viewers are left with a sense he’s truly haunted by the things he’s doing to keep Gotham safe. Reeve’s skilled directing imbues every scene with brutal intensity, explaining why this Batman is so popular here at Screen Rant.
2
Michael Keaton
Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), The Flash (2023)
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In second place, we have one of the most iconic Batmen of all time. There was a 23-year gap between Adam West’s Batman and the Dark Knight’s return to the big screen, and Michael Keaton was an initially unpopular choice who essentially redefined Batman for a new generation. His Batman was dark and brooding, wonderfully intense, and there was a degree of moral complexity to him that audiences simply weren’t used to. Keaton’s Batman dominates every scene he’s in, and appears to do so effortlessly. It helps that he’s surrounded by an all-star cast in two movies made by the legendary Tim Burton.
Even Warner Bros. know Keaton is the classic Batman. They brought him back for The Flash and Batgirl; the less said about The Flash, the better, while Batgirl was sadly never released. Still, the more recent performances clearly haven’t damaged Keaton’s appeal. To Screen Rant readers, he’s the second-best live-action Batman of all time, one whose adventures they still enjoy today.
1
Christian Bale
Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
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To be fair to all other Batmen in this list, Christian Bale has an advantage over them all: he’s the star of Christopher Nolan’s epic Dark Knight trilogy, and he got to tell the full story of his Batman. We see Bale’s Batman begin his career, traveling the world to learn how to fight before returning to Gotham to save it from Ra’s al Ghul; we see him retire, saving Gotham from disaster and choosing to step out of the limelight. There’s a completeness to this Batman that really makes him stand out. Even better, every film is made by the same team, meaning this feels like a single, cohesive narrative.
Bale has several advantages working in his favor, then. But the truth is, he’s top of this ranking because he’s also a phenomenal actor in his own right. Somehow, Bale captures the character of both Bruce Wayne and Batman, treading the balance between the wealthy playboy and the brutal vigilante. Even now, over 20 years since his debut and two Batmen later, Bale’s Batman remains definitive. Looking back, it’s quite possible he’ll never be beaten; when Screen Rant perhaps run this Batman poll in 20 years’ time, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him still ranked .
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