Nolan's Top 10: Batman Movies

I love the Batman mythos so much. Choosing justice over revenge, all the redemption arcs of the Robins, the redeemable villains, the fact that he’s literally me; it’s incredible.

Bruce Wayne has been immortalized on the big screen as a billionaire playboy by day and, a crimefighter by night dozens of times.

How are you ever to know where to start?

I’m going to break down the top ten films to watch to get to know me better.

Sorry, I meant Batman.

No. 10 Batman: The Movie (1966)

Respect your elders, right?

It’s campy. It’s corny. It’s cheesy. But man, I adore this movie.

An all-star cast of villains that come up with a truly terrible evil plan to test Adam West’s ‘Detective Skills,’ and introduce us to Bat-Shark Repellent – an all-time favorite in my utility belt.

I can’t sit here and tell you this is a fantastic movie nearly 60 years after it was made, however, it does perfectly encapsulate the early golden era Batman feel.

Enjoy the goofiness, it only gets darker from here.

No. 9 Batman Returns (1992)

Tim Burton’s second crack at Gotham brings us a truly disgusting, heavily gothic Gotham City.

Danny Devito is by no means the worst rendition of the Penguin, but I can’t say he’s my favorite. However, I love Michelle Pfiiffer’s Catwoman – a villain I have grown tired of seeing as my romantic foil in nearly every live-action Gotham.

You either love or hate Michael Keaton’s performance as Batman, and he admittedly is not among my favorites, but that gorgeous Batsuit gets the job done.

Don’t get me wrong – this is a lovely film. Sequels are hard. Burton did a fine job in this one but ultimately failed to recapture what he had going in his first go-around.

No. 8 Under the Red Hood (2010)

Dear reader – you cannot fix Jason Todd. Don’t think differently.

Sorry for the spoiler, but if you couldn’t put together that Batman’s second Robin serves as the anti-hero/drug lord/mercenary, then you may not have the detective skills to keep up with me.

Very classic DCAMU art style and direction, can’t say the twist is surprising, but the ending…talk about some incredible dialogue and performances between Bats, Jason and a villain I won’t spoil.

(Spoiler, it’s the Joker)

No. 7 Batman Begins (2005)

This may come as a shock to some, but The Dark Knight might just make an appearance later down this list.

That movie wouldn’t be nearly as good as it is without the dirty work Batman Begins does.

Dark and grounded, this look at Gotham suffers from not looking at Gotham enough. Liam Neeson does a cool Ra’s al Guhl, Bale begins his iconic depiction of me and Cillian Murphy brings an underrated performance as the Scarecrow.

Truly a well-made film, but one that I wish spent more time exploring Gotham as its character.

I hope there’s another Christopher Nolan film that shows us the city.

(Spoiler, there is)

No. 6 Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

Come on, you knew I was getting Kevin Conroy’s beautiful voice in this list somewhere.

Batman: The Animated Series is one of, nay, the most influential Batman television series to date. The stories are given to bring new life to my friends and foes alike. Luckily enough, this universe found its way to the big screen, and it truly did not disappoint.

Early years Batman is always fun to explore, and Mask of the Phantasm does it so well. This story not only shows the struggles Bruce has as Batman, but also the struggles I have being Bruce.

The biggest issue for me is the lack of intrigue surrounding the twist villain. I won’t spoil who it is.

(What were you expecting? I bet you were expecting a spoiler here nerd.)

No. 5 Batman (1989)

Most certainly ruffling feathers with this one.

This is the most important film that has ever been made about Batman. It is only my fifth favorite.

Sure, plenty of darker books had been written about me up to this point, but none dared try to make it in film form. Superhero movies were corny (See No. 10), and couldn’t be taken seriously.

Tim Burton did not care.

Keaton Batman, again, is not my favorite. Jack Nicholson Joker however…wow. Sure it may be goofier than the Joker we’ve grown to know in the 21st century, but this gangster approach to the Clown Prince of Crime is so fresh and different.

I cannot believe this is only number five on this list.

No. 4 Batman: The Long Halloween (Parts I and II, 2021)

Yeah yeah yeah, it’s two different movies. It’s my list, and ‘Nolan’s Top 11’ just doesn’t have a great ring to it.

In my opinion, this is the best direct comic-to-movie Batman adaptation by miles – very true to its source material.

It’s another look into my early days of crime fighting and shows the rise of prolific A-listers in the rogues gallery. A gritty look into a Gotham that feels like it’s hurting that is so refreshing in animated form.

The big bad in this one does a good job but doesn’t stick out to me as the most memorable character in these two films.

This is easily the best version of Harvey Dent’s transformation into my personal favorite Batman villain – Two-Face.

No. 3 The Batman (2022)

The Batman is the most excited I have ever been to see a movie in theaters, and I can happily say it did not disappoint.

Matt Reeves spins a world that feels so alive yet so fantastical. Robert Pattinson is not someone I ever saw dawning the cowl but knocked it out of the park. Paul Dano’s Riddler was such a risk, but it paid off dividends.

The music. The colors. The pacing. This is how you do an ‘early years’ look into my crime-fighting journey.

Now please, Mr. Reeves, do not force a Joker on us in the next film. I beg.

No. 2 The Dark Knight (2008)

If feathers weren’t yet ruffled, they are now.

This is the greatest superhero movie ever made. It is only my second favorite.

Bale is brilliant as Batman, but even better as Bruce Wayne. Morgan Freeman puts on my favorite ever Lucius Fox interpretation. The relationship between right and wrong is portrayed so well. The city feels so alive.

Ok, fine. I’ll talk about the Joker.

Heath Ledger’s legendary performance is comfortably the best supervillain to ever grace the big screen. The scenes speak for themselves: the bank heist, the pencil trick, the hospital, the story of the scar, burning to mob money, the boat scene and the final battle.

Rest in Peace Heath, you will never be forgotten.

No. 1 The Lego Batman Movie (20170

Please don’t click away.

This is the best-animated movie. Ever. I’m not sorry.

This is the most pure look into the family aspect of Batman. Ever. I’m not sorry.

This movie is a love letter to Batman as a franchise and deserves to be respected as such.

If you’ve read this far, yes. I am Batman.

Nolan Collery is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism, to contact him please email njc5848@psu.edu