Batman Movies in Chronological Order – The Ultimate Viewing Guide

Are you a fan of the Dark Knight and thinking of binge-watching the Batman movies? The superhero has existed for over 85 years, and the number of cinematic works dedicated to DC Comics’ iconic masked vigilante is impressive—so much so that it can be difficult to know in what order to watch Batman movies.

This guide presents different viewing approaches to help you enjoy the Batman film universe.

Chronological Order of Batman Movies – It’s Not That Simple

Not all Batman movies follow one another! While there's a clear timeline in the comic books, the films often take creative liberties. Different movie series aren't necessarily connected and sometimes present different interpretations of Batman’s origin story—a result of the artistic choices of different directors.

Even small differences can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the Batman universe. Here are a few ways to organize your watchlist logically.

Watch All Batman Movies by Release Date

The easiest method to watch every Batman film is in order of release. This approach lets you discover how each director portrayed Batman, how the Batmobile evolved, and how different supervillains were introduced.

1966 – Batman: The Movie (Leslie H. Martinson)
1989 – Batman (Tim Burton)
1992 – Batman Returns (Tim Burton)
1995 – Batman Forever (Joel Schumacher)
1997 – Batman & Robin (Joel Schumacher)
2005 – Batman Begins (Christopher Nolan)
2008 – The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan)
2012 – The Dark Knight Rises (Christopher Nolan)
2016 – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Zack Snyder)
2017 – Justice League (Zack Snyder)
2022 – The Batman (Matt Reeves)

Coming soon:
2026 – The Batman Part II (Matt Reeves)

Alternative Viewing Order: Watch by Series

Another way to enjoy the Batman movies is to group them by series or by director. Out of the 11 core films, they can be categorized into five main cinematic universes, excluding the 1966 Adam West film.

The Burton & Schumacher Films

Batman (1989) – Michael Keaton plays a modern version of the Dark Knight.
Batman Returns (1992) – Batman faces the Penguin, played by Danny DeVito.
Batman Forever (1995) – Val Kilmer as Batman takes on Two-Face and the Riddler. Robin (Chris O’Donnell) makes his first appearance.
Batman & Robin (1997) – George Clooney dons the cape. Despite a star-studded cast (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman), it’s often considered the weakest film in the saga.

Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy

Batman Begins (2005) – Bruce Wayne’s origin story, his training, and first battles as Batman.
The Dark Knight (2008) – Widely regarded as the best Batman movie. Batman faces the Joker, now leader of Gotham’s criminals.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) – Bruce returns from exile to fight Bane and stop Ra’s al Ghul from destroying Gotham.

Zack Snyder’s DC Universe

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) – Set after Man of Steel. An aging Batman (Ben Affleck) sees Superman as a threat.
Suicide Squad (2016) – Focuses on DC villains and hints at the Justice League.
Joker (2019) – A standalone origin story of Batman’s greatest enemy, with Joaquin Phoenix.

Matt Reeves' Standalone Universe

The Batman (2022) – A gritty detective-style reboot with Robert Pattinson as a younger Bruce Wayne. He works with James Gordon and Batwoman against the Riddler and the Penguin.
The Batman Part II (2026) – Sequel in development.

Other Films & Series

Several other works expand the Batman universe:

Batman (1943) – A 15-part serial
Adam West’s Batman & Robin (TV and film)
TV series: Gotham, Titans, Batwoman, and more

A Unique Approach: Watch by Bruce Wayne’s Age

You can also build a plausible timeline by following Bruce Wayne’s age throughout the major movies:

Batman Begins
The Batman
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight Rises
Batman (1989)
Batman Returns
Batman Forever
Batman & Robin
Batman v Superman
Justice League

This lets you track Batman’s physical and emotional evolution—from young and driven (Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson), to seasoned (Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney), and finally to aging and jaded (Ben Affleck).

What Is the Order of Batman Video Games?

Want to go deeper into Gotham? The Batman Arkham video games offer immersive storytelling and action-packed gameplay:

Batman: Arkham Origins
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham VR
Batman: Arkham Knight
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

For a lighter take, try LEGO Batman (2008)—great for younger players or family fun.

Or better yet, step into the world of Gotham for real at Batman Escape, our immersive Batman escape room experience in Paris.

Batman Movies FAQ

What’s the first Batman movie?

The first Batman movie is Batman: The Movie (1966), starring Adam West and Burt Ward. Based on the TV series, it features Batman and Robin stopping the Penguin, Joker, Riddler, and Catwoman from kidnapping a UN scientist.

What’s the best Batman movie?

That depends on your taste—but many agree that The Dark Knight (2008) is the best. If you start with that, we recommend beginning the full trilogy with Batman Begins (2005).