Batman Movies in Order: Release Order and Chronological Order

Batman movies in order of release run from Batman (1966) to The Flash (2023), and the list places every theatrical film that features the character, including four DC crossover appearances, by its US release date. Spin-offs and appearances are labeled so you can skip them.

1. Batman (1966), directed by Leslie H. Martinson, with Adam West (spin-off)
2. Batman (1989), directed by Tim Burton, with Michael Keaton
3. Batman Returns (1992), directed by Tim Burton, with Michael Keaton
4. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), directed by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, with Kevin Conroy as the voice of Batman (animated spin-off)
5. Batman Forever (1995), directed by Joel Schumacher, with Val Kilmer
6. Batman and Robin (1997), directed by Joel Schumacher, with George Clooney
7. Batman Begins (2005), directed by Christopher Nolan, with Christian Bale
8. The Dark Knight (2008), directed by Christopher Nolan, with Christian Bale
9. The Dark Knight Rises (2012), directed by Christopher Nolan, with Christian Bale
10. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), directed by Zack Snyder, with Ben Affleck (appearance)
11. The Lego Batman Movie (2017), directed by Chris McKay, with Will Arnett as the voice of Batman (animated spin-off)
12. Justice League (2017), directed by Zack Snyder, with Ben Affleck (appearance)
13. Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), directed by Zack Snyder, with Ben Affleck (appearance)
14. The Batman (2022), directed by Matt Reeves, with Robert Pattinson
15. The Flash (2023), directed by Andy Muschietti, with Michael Keaton (appearance)

The core list is eight films plus three spin-offs. Batman (1966) is classed as a spin-off, and the two animated entries, Mask of the Phantasm and The Lego Batman Movie, are the other two. The four appearances are Batman v Superman, Justice League, Zack Snyder's Justice League and The Flash, and their film pages sit in the Superman franchise section of Cinvibe where they exist.

If you want live action only, drop entries 4 and 11, which leaves 13 films. If you want the main saga alone, watch entries 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 14. For the full cast change, from Adam West through Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson, see Batman actors in order.

Release order is the simplest way in because it follows the actors, and it is what most people mean by Batman movies in order. The spacing is uneven, though: 23 years separate the first two entries, while 2016 and 2017 packed in three. The Penguin, an eight-episode HBO series that premiered on September 19, 2024, is a television show and sits outside the numbered list. For the full count and every title, see how many Batman movies there are, or return to the Batman movies hub.

If you are new to Batman, I would start with Batman Begins (2005), directed by Christopher Nolan, because it is a complete origin story and it leads straight into the next two films. That said, the right starting point depends on what you want from the character, so here is how I would split it.

You want one continuous story. Watch Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises in that order. That is also the answer to what order to watch the Batman trilogy in. The three films share Christian Bale, Michael Caine's Alfred, Gary Oldman's Gordon, Morgan Freeman's Lucius Fox and a score by Hans Zimmer, and skipping the first loses the League of Shadows setup that pays off in the third.

You want the newest take with no homework. Start with The Batman (2022). Matt Reeves places Robert Pattinson two years into the job, with Paul Dano as the Riddler, Colin Farrell as the Penguin and Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, so it works as a first film. Watch The Penguin on HBO afterward if you want more of Farrell's Oz before the sequel.

You like it gothic, then gaudy. Go with Tim Burton: Batman (1989) and Batman Returns with Michael Keaton. After that, Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever and Batman and Robin get lighter and louder, and in my opinion Batman and Robin leans hardest into camp, which plays best as a double bill with the 1966 film. If you want to see how the whole set stacks up, the Batman movies ranked page gives my full order.

You want something short and animated. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, with Kevin Conroy, is a compact way to meet the character, and The Lego Batman Movie with Will Arnett suits a family night.

You are here for the DC team ups. Watch Batman v Superman, then choose one of the two Justice League cuts. I would pick Zack Snyder's Justice League only if you have an evening to spare, since it runs 242 minutes, and I would save The Flash for last because Keaton's return lands better when you know his films.

One final practical step: pick your starting film, then check where to watch Batman in your country before you press play, because the streaming services differ between the US, UK and Australia.