In My Opinion: Batman Movies
by ifilmstuf24 | created - 11 Apr 2013 | updated - 14 Sep 2013 | PublicMy Batman fandom comes not from reading the Comic-Books but from a '90s childhood of watching the Burton/Schumacher movies and the terrific Animated Series. Now that I have officially seen all the movies here are the rankings in my opinion.
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1. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
PG-13 | 164 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
Eight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman
Votes: 1,828,739 | Gross: $448.14M
The Dark Knight Rises is the riskiest Batman film yet. It takes Bruce Wayne (and company) to places that many die-hard Batman fans feel is out of character. And that is where Nolan's brilliance with this series lies; his ability to thwart expectations and take the viewer on a thundering and emotional ride.
2. Batman Returns (1992)
PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Crime, Fantasy
While Batman deals with a deformed man calling himself the Penguin wreaking havoc across Gotham with the help of a cruel businessman, a female employee of the latter becomes the Catwoman with her own vendetta.
Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken
Votes: 327,650 | Gross: $162.83M
This above "The Dark Knight"? It was a tough choice but I can't help it, this is a weird movie that fascinated, entertained, and even scared the hell outta me as a kid (the VHS cover alone gave me the willies). After re-watching it, I can say exactly the same thing. It was a hard choice putting this at #2, but there's a lot I like about Returns, and one element catapults this movie to a higher level. Christopher Walken as Max Shreck.
3. The Dark Knight (2008)
PG-13 | 152 min | Action, Crime, Drama
When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine
Votes: 2,872,743 | Gross: $534.86M
Nolan's 'The Dark Knight' was unprecedented. If 'The Avengers' is the equivalent of the throwback rousing adventures of 'Star Wars' and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', then 'The Dark Knight' is more akin to 'Jaws' with its gut-punching thrills and sharp political commentary. While it has its preachier moments, 'TDK' delivers on all fronts. Nolan creates a dark tale that is propelled by Ledger's legendary performance. Although I enjoy Rises a bit more, 'Knight' sets a high standard for Superhero cinema.
4. Batman Begins (2005)
PG-13 | 140 min | Action, Crime, Drama
After witnessing his parents' death, Bruce learns the art of fighting to confront injustice. When he returns to Gotham as Batman, he must stop a secret society that intends to destroy the city.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe, Liam Neeson
Votes: 1,579,502 | Gross: $206.85M
I actually missed out on 'Begins' in its 2005 theatrical release. I was young and turning into more of a 'Marvel' kid at the time and the 'DC' character I was getting into was Superman. So I wasn't really interested in a more reality-based Batman. I'm actually embarrassed to say that I felt the Schumacher films were superior to the Burton films at the time (like I said I was much younger). I am much older now, and with that I can say that 'Begins' is an excellent opener to Nolan's take on Batman. But the weak link is Katie Holmes, she's just... not good.
5. Batman (1989)
PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Adventure
The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being Jack Napier, a criminal who becomes the clownishly homicidal Joker.
Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl
Votes: 404,464 | Gross: $251.19M
I watched the hell out of this on vhs when I was a kid (as I did with "Returns"), so yeah I like it a lot. Keaton is very understated as Wayne and he adds a lot of menace to Batman. But ultimately it's Burton's visuals and Nicholson's Joker that steal the show. My only complaint, Kim Basinger is the weak link of the movie, adding absolutely nothing to the movie whatsoever.
6. Batman Forever (1995)
PG-13 | 121 min | Action, Adventure
Batman must battle former district attorney Harvey Dent, who is now Two-Face and Edward Nygma, The Riddler with help from an amorous psychologist and a young circus acrobat who becomes his sidekick, Robin.
Director: Joel Schumacher | Stars: Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman
Votes: 266,681 | Gross: $184.03M
This is pure escapism closer to Adam West than Tim Burton, and with that I will say that I enjoy it for that.
7. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
PG | 76 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Batman is wrongly implicated in a series of murders of mob bosses actually committed by a new vigilante assassin.
Directors: Kevin Altieri, Boyd Kirkland, Frank Paur, Dan Riba, Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm | Stars: Kevin Conroy, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Stacy Keach
Votes: 56,898 | Gross: $5.62M
8. Batman: The Movie (1966)
PG | 105 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The Dynamic Duo faces four supervillains who plan to hold the world for ransom with the help of a secret invention that instantly dehydrates people.
Director: Leslie H. Martinson | Stars: Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether, Cesar Romero
Votes: 35,813
Really good psychedelic entertainment, get the shark-repellent Bat-spray and enjoy.
9. Batman & Robin (1997)
PG-13 | 125 min | Action, Sci-Fi
Batman and Robin try to keep their relationship together even as they must stop Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from freezing Gotham City.
Director: Joel Schumacher | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman
Votes: 268,226 | Gross: $107.33M
Don't get me wrong, its a bad, horrible, fail of a movie on every level, but I'd be lying if I said "I hate it" because I really don't. Its' damn entertaining (for all the wrong reasons) and silly, so yeah.
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