Ranking the Batmen: Best Batman Actors of All Time

Image via Complex

Where to See Him: Batman & Robin

Even with attempts to reclaim Joel Schumacher’s Batman sequel as a camp classic (the art deco-influenced production design remains incredible and Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy is a masterclass in scenery-chewing commitment), George Clooney’s performance of Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman & Robin doesn’t work because the movie doesn’t work. Clooney gives it his best; the inherent charisma is pitch-perfect for Schumacher’s suave billionaire playboy, while his Batman conveys the joy of getting to play with all his wonderful toys. It’s a shame the rest of the movie can’t rise to his level. 

Where to See Him: Batman Forever

Schumacher’s first Batman film is both a live-action cartoon and a worthy spiritual successor to Adam West’s spirited show thanks to the absurdity of Jim Carrey’s Riddler—and a better than you remember Val Kilmer. Having to linger in the shadow of Michael Keaton’s initial rendition, Kilmer makes the role his own thanks to the physicality he brought, setting a new bar for how Batman should look and move in the cowl. Kilmer helps to better ground Forever, as Carrey threatens to steer it off course at every single turn. Perhaps we’d look upon Kilmer more fondly if he wasn’t saddled with such a manic movie.

Where to See Him: Batman (‘60s television series)

As discussed in our Joker ranking, Adam West perfectly inhabited the ability to bring the zany stories seen in the Silver and Golden age Batman comics to life. Those stories are few and far between nowadays—mainly because West’s joyous performance seems out of place in our modern era. Nevertheless, West captures the thrill of what it was like to have a billionaire’s checkbook and to fight crime as a Zorro-like figure—who never took himself too seriously. More cartoonish than even Batman: The Animated Series, West’s Batman will always have an important place in the annuals of character’s history.

Where to See Him: The Lego Movie, The Lego Batman Movie, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

Some of the best Batman stories involve actively grappling with the overall legacy of the character, reshaping it into something new. We should consider Will Arnett’s Batman the same way, as the Lego-ized version engages with his storied history—and reconstructs it brick by brick. Lego Batman lives entirely alone and is defined by his love of building with dark hues and a constant reminder he’s full of darkness and has no parents—until he finds belonging in both his friends and his adopted family. It’s a bit of a thematic one note to play—and the metacommentary might wear on some—but we find it to be a smart and savvy way to play with the expectations surrounding one of pop culture’s most beloved characters.

Where to See Him: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, Zack Snyder’s Justice League

The Zack Snyder era of Batman is full of ups and downs, but a definitive high is Ben Affleck’s Batman. Batffleck is one of the more unique takes on the character; older, grizzled, and full of pain, this Batman brands his victims in a brutal fashion to convey his unrelenting style of vengeance. Bulky as hell—with a suit to match—Batffleck is a bruiser, aptly translating the look and feel of the Batman seen in Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. His physicality alone makes his Batman believable as the only person who could or would be capable of squaring up in a fight against Superman. For as dour as Affleck is, Zack Snyder’s Justice League spends a considerable amount of time deconstructing this menacing take; the result is a decidedly more heroic version, one that lets the humanity of Bruce Wanye shine through. It’s a nuanced portrait of the character—and one that’s bound to age better the further away audiences are from the fracas surrounding the Snyder saga.

Where to See Him: The Batman

The ink is still incredibly wet on Robert Pattinson’s Batman tenure, but the actor’s bold take strongly resonates even in his debut. Director Matt Reeves largely extricates the Bruce Wayne component from the overall Batman equation, resulting in a mask-heavy flick for Pattinson to brood around in. The actor plays Batman like a curse, stuck in a state of gloom for a majority of the film’s running time. Pattinson’s more investigative-focused Dark Knight allows for new dimensions, ones which help further separate his performance from other actors on this list. If nothing else, Pattinson has firmly established the character as his own—and we’re curious to see how this fresh new take will grow and develop over future sequels.

Where to See Him: Batman, Batman Returns

You never forget your first. Reviled at the time of his casting—Keaton’s resume prior to Batman featured mostly comedic roles—the actor soon endeared himself to the masses with a captivating performance. Keaton’s Bruce Wayne/Batman is barely holding it together, often seeing years of anger and grief explode out when he least anticipates it. Despite his thread-bare emotionality, Keaton still believes in being a hero. The way in which he leaps into action is reminiscent of the swashbuckling adventures of pulp novels. The merger of these two halves results in a compelling performance, one whose legacy looms large over all portrayals of the character. It will be fascinating to see how Keaton will reinterpret his rendition when he reprises his role in both The Flash and Batgirl later this year.

Where to See Him: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises

Christain Bale is one of our finest actors, bringing a method (read: serious actor) approach to blockbuster movies. His level of intensity is perfectly well suited for Christopher Nolan’s diorama-like filmmaking and results in a Batman with whom you’d never want to see in a dark alley. But for all of Bale’s bluster, he infuses his Bruce with both an incredible public veneer (asshole Bruce Wayne is an inspired choice) and a real vulnerability. More than any other version, Bale’s Bats gets beaten—only to rise, time and time again. To quote another famous hero, he could do this all day. Perhaps that’s why Bale resonates—he’s truly the hero we need.

Where to See Him: Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman Beyond, Return of the Joker, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited

Across decades of animation, Conroy has played every single side of the World’s Greatest Detective—whether it be crusader, hero, the symbol, the dispatcher of vengeance, or even the investigator—and done in a way that’s often viewed as defining take on the character. Conroy’s (excellent) voice acting has resulted in a nuanced take on both Batman and Bruce Wayne, understanding that one couldn’t truly exist without another. While Conroy’s dual-act still grapples with the same depth of pain, he’s firmly the hero—acting with good intentions to protect Gotham and its citizens. Throughout his nearly 30-year career, he’s been able to dive deep into the emotionality—and, most critically, the humanity—of Batman, shaping layer after layer of this beloved character. With voice alone, Conroy ensures Batman lives on in the imagination of millions of Batman fans. “I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman,” he once famously declared. That statement remains unequivocally correct.