Ranking the Batchins: Best Batman Chins of All Time

Image via Complex Original

Movies: Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Actors who take on superhero roles are not often celebrated for their acting chops, but Bale changed all of that when he took on the role in Christopher Nolan’s famed Dark Knight trilogy. His performance was so convincing and one of the best parts was the actor’s outstanding choice to make the caped crusader’s voice deeper and lower than his version of Bruce Wayne. The mask Bale was given also seemed to be more covered up than the ones used in previous movies, adding to his mystery. Unfortunately, the mask overpowers the Oscar winner’s face and there’s nothing noteworthy about the areas that are still visible. There are no specific features that would set Bale apart from anyone else wearing a Batman costume. There’s nothing wrong with his chin, per se, but there’s also nothing memorable about it. No offense.    

Movies: Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992)

Most of Keaton’s appeal and handsomeness comes from his deep blue eyes, his unique eyebrows, and the top half of his face. The cowl he wore in 1989’s Batman obviously covers those features, and almost makes him unrecognizable behind the mask, which is ultimately the point of it all. His chin is not unique in any way, though, and it doesn’t really grab your attention. (He does have some of the best lips on this list, but that’s a conversation for another day.) While most people, especially in Hollywood, would opt to Botox away their laugh lines, Keaton’s work in his favor in these films. His laugh lines actually accentuate his mouth and lips in a stunning way and make the lower half of his face appear more masculine, which is ideal for a manly superhero role. His chin may not have been as memorable as others, but his lips definitely helped, and he might even look better when he’s wearing the mask.

Movie: Batman & Robin (1997)

Batman & Robin was released in 1997 and it might easily be one of the least liked Batman films ever—and let’s be honest, fans and critics weren’t wrong on that one. We’re not here to judge the movie or the acting, though, we’re here to talk about George Clooney’s chin. The actor stepped into Gotham after charming millions of women as Dr. Doug Ross in ER for years, so we already knew he had the looks to pull this off. He was handsome, that was a given, but did the Batman cowl help or hurt his appearance? Some might say an older, more seasoned Clooney would make for a great Bruce Wayne now—but I disagree. Looks-wise, he was perfect for the role then, and was so easy on the eyes. He was young, yet his salt and pepper hair made him look more refined, especially in the scenes where he wore a tux. As Batman though, the way the mask showcases his chin makes it look a bit rounder than it really is. 

The actor has a perfectly square chin that protrudes forward slightly, making it one of his strongest and most attractive features. The mask overwhelmed his face, however, and made his chin appear simply average. It is important to note that Clooney looks more like the cartoon character in Batman: The Animated Series than the other actors on this list, so he might be the most spot-on in terms of casting. I’m just glad we got to see him in a black turtleneck at one point in the film because he looked damn good in it, and so did his chin. (Honorable mention to Chris O’Donnell, who played Robin in this film. His nearly perfect jawline and chin would’ve placed him high on this list if he was cast as the lead instead.) 

Movie: The Batman (2022)

We already knew Robert Pattinson had incredible features when he played a moody vampire named Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies. But this? This is next level. He is a grown man in The Batman, and the babyface we saw when he played Cedric Diggory in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is long gone. He hasn’t aged one bit though and is somehow more attractive now than when he was a teen heartthrob. 

I’ll be honest: The main reason I went to watch The Batman in theaters was to see him wearing the mask. And during his first scene, I got my money’s worth. Pattinson’s position on this list has more to do with his sharper-than-a-knife jawline than his chin, though. He has a broad, square chin, with a faint dimple in the center, but it is his chiseled bone structure and perfectly carved cheeks that really set the stage for the Batman mask to flourish on him the way it does in the movie. He doesn’t do much for me as Bruce Wayne, since he’s playing a more emo version of his predecessors, which is unfortunate because Pattinson’s smile is his most charming feature. The actor has certainly exceeded expectations in every aspect with this character, and his chin definitely helped.

Movie: Batman Forever (1995)

Clooney was brought on to take over the role as the Dark Knight in Batman & Robin after Val Kilmer and the film’s director, Joel Schumacher, reportedly had issues working together on the Batman Forever set. Kilmer also had a scheduling conflict with another film at the time, so we only got to see him play Batman in one movie. It’s such a shame because the world really deserved to have at least one more shot at seeing Kilmer’s face killing it in that mask. Clooney might be one of Hollywood’s most desirable men but he honestly has nothing on Kilmer. I watched Batman Forever for the first time as an adult in preparation for this list, and it was surprising how quickly it dawned on me that Kilmer would be No. 1. 

Any time the man appeared on the screen, I couldn’t look away. He was just as pleasant to look at as Bruce Wayne as he was as Batman. The Top Gun star has the typical Hollywood, blond hair, blue-eyed look that made men movie stars once upon a time. Even if that’s not your type, you can’t deny Kilmer’s appeal. But it’s his lips in the Batman mask that really did it for me. His pout is fuller and has a more flattering shape than any of the other actors, and the mask only further accentuates it. His lips are so flattering that even Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman) compliments them in the movie. His entire face is so symmetrical and the cowl somehow made him even more attractive. He has an incredible jawline that leads into a perfectly, narrow-shaped chin that’s boyish yet manly. Kilmer’s version of Batman is overall the best looking out of the bunch, and his chin beats out some of the best chins Hollywood has ever seen. Sorry to those men, but Kilmer takes home the trophy for the best Batman chin.