Superheroes rank simply among the many hottest characters within the historical past of recent cinema, partaking each younger and grownup audiences with action-packed productions. Over the years, many superhero films have change into blockbusters, to the purpose of spawning advanced universes which have ceaselessly modified the trade, such because the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe, which increase 12 months by 12 months with the premiere of recent productions.
There are actually many fashionable superheroes, and whereas everybody within the viewers has their favourite, it’s protected to say that Batman is among the many hottest of all time. But that is not all: this iconic character has firmly put in himself in fashionable tradition as among the best fictional characters ever, and he is additionally among the many most commercially profitable ones.
Since he was created again in 1939 by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, this DC Comics character has starred in every kind of productions, from comics to films, TV sequence, video video games, and all types of merchandising articles. Over the years, his franchise has change into one of many highest-grossing on the earth. As for cinema, Batman has been starring in productions since 1943, when the primary serial movie below his title was launched.
So far, he has been the primary character in 15 movies and appeared in a number of extra, the most recent being Matt Reeves’ 2022 movie The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson. Throughout historical past, he has been portrayed by stars equivalent to Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christian Bale, amongst many different performers. Although not all Batman films have been met with the specified viewers reception upon launch, lots of the franchise’s productions have stood out for turning into large box-office hits. Here are the highest-grossing ones.
10 Batman & Robin (1997) — $238M
Warner Bros.
Joel Schumacher’s 1997 Batman & Robin could have made its method to the record of highest-grossing movies within the franchise, besides, this manufacturing went down in historical past as one in every of its worst reviewed movies, to the purpose the place its main man really apologized for his efficiency within the movie. Batman & Robin is the fourth installment of the unique Batman movie sequence, and stars George Clooney and Chris O’Donnell within the title roles, alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone, and Michael Gough. In this movie, Batman and Robin set out on a mission to cease evil villains Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy earlier than they achieve management of Gotham City.
Batman & Robin was critically panned, garnering a number of nominations and awards on the Golden Raspberry Awards and the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. Its efficiency was so disappointing that Warner Bros. determined to drag the plug on a sequel, which was going to be titled Batman Unchained. Following the flop of this manufacturing, Clooney acknowledged that he would by no means play a superhero once more.
Related: All Batman Animated Series in Order
9 Batman Returns (1992) — $266.8M
Warner Bros.
Back in 1989, Tim Burton took the helm of Batman, making the movie an immediate hit. As a end result, he got here again three years later to direct its sequel, Batman Returns, albeit on the situation that he would get pleasure from artistic liberty. And whereas this new manufacturing was not as overwhelmingly fashionable as the primary movie, it nonetheless managed to change into one of many highest-grossing movies of 1992. Michael Keaton heads the forged once more because the titular character, joined by Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, and Michael Gough.
This time, Batman has to face the crime boss Oswald Cobblepot, higher referred to as the Penguin, as he embarks on a troubled affair with Selina Kyle, a vengeful girl who additionally goes by Catwoman. Batman Returns was nominated on the Academy Awards within the Best Makeup and Best Visual Effects classes, and it additionally acquired 4 Saturn Award nominations, however didn’t rating any statuettes.
8 The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) — $312M
Warner Bros. Pictures
The LEGO Batman Movie is the primary spin-off in The LEGO Movie franchise, which kicked off in 2014. This 2017 manufacturing marked Chris McKay’s directorial debut and featured Will Arnett heading the voice forged as Batman, a job he carried out within the first movie, joined by Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes.
In this manufacturing, Batman should battle the Joker as soon as once more, however so as to cease the villain and save Gotham City, he should be taught to work side-by-side along with his allies. The LEGO Batman Movie grew to become a box-office hit that additionally delighted critics, garnering a number of nominations and some awards.
7 Batman Forever (1995) — $336.5M
Warner Bros. Pictures
1995 marked the premiere of Batman Forever, the third film within the preliminary movie sequence, and the sequel to Batman Returns. This time, Burton serves as producer, with Schumacher heading the mission as director. Val Kilmer replaces Keaton within the title position, joined by Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, and Chris O’Donnell.
Batman Forever follows the favored DC hero on his mission to cease two notorious villains, Two-Face and the Riddler, though he’ll rely on Dick Grayson, an orphaned acrobat who emerges as his most loyal sidekick. Although this manufacturing was met with combined evaluations, it carried out very effectively on the field workplace, which prompted the event of its not-so-popular sequel, Batman & Robin. It additionally earned Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Sound.
6 Batman Begins (2005) — $373M
Warner Bros. Pictures
Following the disappointing response to Batman & Robin in 1997, Warner Bros. determined to droop all Batman-related initiatives, till Christopher Nolan got here alongside and, in 2005, took the world by storm with the primary installment of The Dark Knight Trilogy, Batman Begins. This manufacturing not solely contributed to the DC superhero’s recognition, but additionally grew to become one of many biggest movies of the 2000s, consolidating Nolan as a prestigious director and Christian Bale, the movie’s star, as one of the acclaimed main actors of the time.
Batman Begins depicts the origin of Bruce Wayne and his journey to change into Batman, and pits him in opposition to two extraordinarily highly effective villains plotting to destroy Gotham City. Bale stars alongside Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, and Cillian Murphy, amongst different actors. Besides turning into a box-office hit, this manufacturing earned rave evaluations from critics, and was nominated for Best Cinematography on the Academy Awards.
5 Batman (1989) — $411M
Warner Bros.
Back in 1988, Burton was simply beginning to achieve notoriety as a director because of the success of Beetlejuice. That’s why Warner Bros. provided him the prospect to direct Batman, his greatest mission as much as that second. For this movie, Burton and his producers opted to forged Keaton, a really controversial transfer on the time, because the actor was usually perceived as a comedic determine. But, in opposition to all odds, Keaton handled audiences to one of the fashionable performances within the character’s historical past.
Batman kicked off Warner Bros.’ first Batman movie sequence, and in addition to Keaton’s efficiency, the forged options Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, and Pat Hingle. The film introduces Batman on his mission to take down the Joker, brilliantly portrayed by Nicholson. Batman took dwelling the Academy Award for Best Art Direction, amongst many different accolades.
Related: Batman Returns: Why It Was So Good (& So Controversial) During Its Release
4 The Batman (2022) — $765M
Warner Bros. Pictures
When phrase acquired out that Robert Pattinson can be the brand new actor to tackle the position of Batman, issues have been very a lot the identical as when Keaton was introduced again in 1989. But identical to Keaton, Pattinson rose to the problem of this position, his first one in a serious manufacturing since his involvement within the teen movie sequence Twilight. The Batman is a 2022 movie directed by Matt Reeves that follows a younger Bruce Wayne in his early years preventing crime in Gotham City, as he takes on a mysterious killer who calls himself the Riddler. Joining Pattinson within the forged of this fashionable manufacturing are Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Colin Farrell, Peter Sarsgaard, and Andy Serkis.
This reboot of the Batman movie franchise grew to become a essential and viewers hit, prompting the event of a universe that will probably be rounded out with two sequels and various TV sequence specializing in characters equivalent to The Penguin. The second installment of this reboot is due in October 2025.
3 Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) — $873M
Warner Bros. Pictures
2016 marked the premiere of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, the second movie within the DCEU and the sequel to 2013’s Man of Steel. This manufacturing, directed by Zack Snyder, options Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill main the forged as Batman and Superman, joined by Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, and Gal Gadot, amongst different actors.
It is ready a number of years after Superman destroyed Metropolis within the midst of his struggle with General Zod, which convinces Bruce Wayne that Superman is extra a menace to society than a hero, and prompts him to take issues into his personal fingers. Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice grew to become a box-office hit and one of many highest-grossing productions of its 12 months of launch, besides, its essential reception was not so good as anticipated.
2 The Dark Knight (2008) — $1.006B
Warner Bros. Pictures
Following the overwhelming success of Batman Begins in 2005, The Dark Knight, the second installment in Nolan’s trilogy, hit theaters in 2008, turning into the highest-grossing movie of that 12 months and the most well-liked superhero movie on the time. In it, Bale reprised the position of Batman, who should now face the Joker, brilliantly performed by Heath Ledger. Initially, Ledger’s casting was controversial, as he was not thought-about as much as the duty of enjoying this notorious villain, and, after all, he proved everybody fallacious.
Ledger handed away a number of months earlier than the discharge of The Dark Knight, however he did earn a number of accolades following his demise, together with an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. Joining Bale and Ledger within the forged of this manufacturing are Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Morgan Freeman.
1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) — $1.082B
Warner Bros. Pictures
Rounding out this record because the highest-grossing Batman film of all time is The Dark Knight Rises, the conclusion to Nolan’s trilogy that surpassed its predecessor as the most well-liked manufacturing in Batman’s franchise. This movie takes place eight years after the occasions of The Dark Knight, with Batman framed as accountable for Harvey Dent’s demise, which compelled him to maintain a really low profile. But when a terrorist and a cat burglar arrive in Gotham City, he has to emerge from the shadows and defend the town as soon as once more.
Joining Bale on this manufacturing are Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Morgan Freeman. To date, The Dark Knight Rises stays on the high of the record of Nolan’s highest-grossing movies.
First seem at The Highest-Grossing Batman Movies of All Time
