Arguably the most celebrated superhero and comic book character of all time, Batman is only behind the likes of James Bond when it comes to different portrayals up on the big screen. With a flurry of different actors taking on the role, as well as a plethora of writers and directors bringing their own versions of Gotham and the Caped Crusader to fans, there have been a whole host of unique live-action Batman flicks throughout the decades.
10. Batman & Robin (1997)
If you watch Batman & Robin more than once, it's probably because it's a guilty pleasure rather than something you can genuinely celebrate and enjoy. Whilst the cast is made up of some truly talented big names - including George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Alicia Silverstone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Uma Thurman - they weren't given the best script, or indeed costumes, to work with. The bat nipples on a strange version of the Batsuit, for example, have gone down in history for all the wrong reasons...
9. Batman Forever (1995)
Val Kilmer's first foray into the DC Universe came in Batman Forever, with Chris O'Donnell starring alongside him as crime-fighting partner Robin. Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey are a wonderful Two-Face and The Riddler, but even their infectious personalities cannot save what is unfortunately one of the worst Bat-flicks to come to cinemagoers.
8. Batman: The Movie (1966)
The late Adam West will forever be known as one of the best Batman actors to have ever lived. Following his success in the Batman television series, a film was released (which was actually supposed to come first to serve as an introduction, but was delayed), and was a lot of fun. It's not the best Batman movie around, but it's certainly worth a watch if you haven't seen it before.
7. Justice League (2017)
Justice League served as an introduction to many of the heroes that will be making up the DC cinematic Universe in the coming years, and included Ben Affleck's final foray as the World's Greatest Detective. Despite stepping down from the role, he has been without a doubt one of the most physically domineering versions of the Caped Crusader we've ever seen. As much flack as Justice League got, Affleck's portrayal is amongst the best.
6. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Though the majority of critics panned the 'Martha' twist, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is, at its core, a very, very good movie. There's plenty of action, and the Dark Knight finally meeting up with the Man Of Steel on the big screen for the first time. This is one that will continue to enjoy a cult following, and probably be more appreciated in the coming decades, rather than proving to be an instant hit. Let's also hope for the Zack Snyder cut to drop at some point!
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5. Batman Begins (2005)
Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy kicked off in 2005, introducing the world to Christian Bale's Batman, who would go on to become the majority of audiences' favourite portrayal of the superhero. Serving as an origin story for the vigilante, audiences were drawn into the dark and disruptive world that Nolan would continue to showcase throughout his series.
4. Batman (1989)
As the first instalment of Warner Bros.' initial Batman film series, this 1989 release hired Tim Burton as a director, and brought on Michael Keaton as the titular character. Jack Nicholson was brought in to tackle Joker, and to this day, captivates those new to the film with his stunning portrayal.
3. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The conclusion to Christopher Nolan's series saw the spotlight stolen by Tom Hardy, in the role of Bane. Though his voice and lines were a little comical at times, he played the villain perfectly, offering up the strongest competition to Batman that the hero had ever seen. We also got to see Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, and an actually satisfying conclusion to a groundbreaking trilogy.
2. Batman Returns (1992)
If you've not seen Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, and Danny DeVito as Penguin, you are sorely missing out. The pair bring Tim Burton's gothic Gotham to life in a way we've never seen happen again, bringing the audience on-side at times, despite being the villains of the piece. Michael Keaton also impresses, in what is without a doubt one of his best big screen performances to-date.
1. The Dark Knight (2008)
We couldn't have the list topped by any other movie. The brilliant Heath Ledger as Joker, coupled with a slick storyline and gripping action, meant that director Christopher Nolan's second movie, The Dark Knight, has worked its way into the hearts of all who have seen it. Knowing that Ledger was scheduled to make a return in The Dark Knight Rises is tragic, following his untimely death, but he still leaves behind a legacy that will forever go untarnished.
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