Outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, perhaps the most popular Superhero IP in today’s culture is Batman. Bruce Wayne has been and will continue to be a phenomenon for decades, through comic-books, shows and of course, movies. Since 1966, Batman movies have been a spearhead in bringing the Superhero genre to the forefront of cinema like it is today.
Over the years the films have developed in style and had highlights and low points. A good way of seeing these developments as film fans is Rotten Tomatoes. It is a great way of getting opinions on films. Just as important as the more used Tomatometer is the audience score. These scores often fluctuate and the Batman franchise is no exception. Here are all the live-action Batman films ranked according to their audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
BATMAN AND ROBIN - 16%
Notoriously one of the weakest comic book films ever, Batman And Robin is truly an awful movie. George Clooney, despite his naturally Bruce Wayne-esque demeanor, gave arguably the worst live-action Batman performance ever, with the supporting cast not exactly winning Oscars.
Uma Thurman gives perhaps the only salvageable performance of the film. However, that is not close to being enough to make up for the poor script, over the top campiness, the poor acting and the convoluted mess of a story the film presents. Unsurprisingly the bottom of the list, this movie just is not good, and critic and fan opinions confirm this.
BATMAN FOREVER - 32%
The first of Joel Schumacher’s Batman flicks were not that much better. Batman Forever was wacky, loud, cartoonish and ultimately very boring. Kilmer could not live up to Keaton, Schumacher could not do as well as Burton, and the film is lackluster compared to the series’ beginnings.
Whatever production issues might have been happening at the time did nothing but harm the film. Perhaps there is some mindless fun to be found in Carey’s Riddler, but ultimately the film falls flat and it is not just critics that know it.
BATMAN: THE MOVIE - 62%
Full of gags and campiness, Batman: The Movie is made for enthusiasts of the Caped Crusader’s then TV show. The problem then is that the film hardly translates for a modern audience who are used to and have come to adore, a darker, grittier Batman.
The campiness and cheesiness in the film are pushed almost to a fault and if its comedy is not for you then neither is this film. Ultimately, that is what held the score for this niche, cult film back. Its tongue-in-cheek nature will either entertain fans or turn them completely off.
BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE - 63%
With a Tomatometer lower than Batman Forever and 35% lower than its audience score, Batman v Superman feels like a waste. A story with potential driven by two of the most iconic heroes there is, Batman v Superman fails to deliver in a multitude of ways.
The action in the film is entertaining and if you temper expectations the film may be enjoyable. However, the best part of this film involves a hero whose name is not in the title and the predictable, poorly executed narrative with an over-reliance on CGI lets the film down.
JUSTICE LEAGUE - 72%
With a small jump in scores comes Justice League, the DCEU’s failed answer to The Avengers, qualifying as a Batman film due to Batfleck being in a leading role. The audience score surpasses its critical score by 32%, a testament to the popcorn action entertainment some filmgoers enjoyed.
However, a poor story and tonal inconsistency combined with predictable storytelling and one-dimensional everything lurking behind this dark, murky aesthetic make this film disappointing for a lot of comic book and movie fans. But the audience score is not bad and it is clear a lot of filmgoers enjoyed some casual entertainment.
BATMAN RETURNS - 73%
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics prefer Batman Returns but audiences far prefer its predecessor. Danny DeVito steals the show in Tim Burton’s second outing as the director of the protector of Gotham with Michael Keaton delivering another great performance.
The film is dark and strange with perfect casting in DeVito, Walken, Pfeiffer and Keaton and one of the best examples of duality between Bruce Wayne and Batman in film. The film crosses the line into creepy which may put some fans off. Add in arguments that the film is bloated and cartoonish and it drags the audience score lower than its predecessor and its Tomatometer.
BATMAN - 84%
Tim Burton’s first take on the iconic DC hero was more beloved by fans if Rotten Tomatoes is to be believed. The movie to this day is iconic as people argue its worth next to Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, Keaton is compared to Bale, and Nicholson is compared to Ledger.
Batman is brooding, stylish and entertainment with a great Keaton performance and a fantastic Nicholson outing. Perhaps not as understood or loved by a new generation, the film holds a place in many fans’ hearts. There is objectively some cringeworthy stuff to get past with some strange if not unnecessary plot points. The Joker origin hurts the film for some people. Nonetheless, this film stuck with most fans as a classic of the genre.
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - 90%
Unsurprisingly taking the top spots are the entries into Christopher Nolan’s iconic trilogy and coming in third is it is great ending The Dark Knight Rises. Perhaps getting a bad rep by some for its ending and some of the arguable plot holes the movie presents, the film is ultimately great and a fitting end to the trilogy.
Anchored by another great Christian Bale performance and an arguably iconic outing by Tom Hardy as Bane, Nolan’s third installment offers an ambitious and thought-out narrative. It has powerful action and great character work from the leads, Michael Caine, Anne Hathaway and even Joseph Gordon Levitt. While some have issues with the reveal that Bane is not the true mastermind, in the end, the film still maintains an extremely high quality and is loved by a lot of fans.
BATMAN BEGINS - 94%
Seemingly lost in the past few years, people seem to not talk about Batman Begins much anymore, and nowhere near as much it deserves. Batman Begins is one of the best superhero origin stories and films ever. It is dark and gritty while also maintaining massive entertainment value and a level of complexity which shows the understanding of the character and his story.
It is the perfect entry into the trilogy, Bale is fantastic as Bruce Wayne in this film and is a great, great Batman. Nolan is the real star behind it all, reinvigorating Batman and helping kick off the Superhero boom that followed. The script and performances all work excellently and it paved the way for what followed. Perhaps surprising to some, the film has the same audience score as the number one entry on this list, and it deserves the love it receives.
THE DARK KNIGHT - 94%
Did anyone expect any different? Edging out Batman Begins due to a higher Tomatometer and more audience reviews, The Dark Knight is one of, if not the finest Batman film, one of cinemas best sequels, and one of, if not the best superhero films of all time. It is one of Nolan’s many masterpieces and gave way for the greatest performance in a comic-book film ever.
Heath Ledger’s iconic portrayal of the joker stands as this film’s legacy, however, the other components of the film make sure that Ledger’s performance does not take away from it. Bale and the supporting performances are great, Nolan’s script is flawless, the action is brilliant and it is a gorgeously gritty picture. Succeeding as both an iconic superhero film and a brilliantly compelling crime journey, the film is as memorable as it is amazing and resonates with both critics and audiences alike.
