Batman movies in order of how to watch them the right way

There have been 12 Batman movies released theatrically in the past 60 years. Of course, with the newest movie in the series just released, it’s important to catch up with the character’s cinematic history and refresh yourself on the Caped Crusader’s adventures. It can seem overwhelming trying to decide which order you should watch these films in, given the number of Batmans and Robins. To help you out, we’ve put together a few different watch orders for you to consider.

We use the following information: Justice League(2016) will be replaced Zack Snyder’s Justice League Because it’s significantly more fun and interesting Batman: Mask of the Phantasm The Lego Batman MovieAlong with the other live-action Batman films, they will be included as well, since they received wide theatrical release.

The latest movies starting at Batman BeginsWatch the full series on HBO Max. You also have access to animated titles. (For fans of animated Batman films, see this list of our favorite animated Batman movies). However, for anything older you’ll have to head to Hulu to stream them, and Batman(1966) is available for rent, but can’t be streamed as part of any subscriptions.

Release Order

This is quite straightforward. It’s the literal order these movies were released in.

• Batman (1966)
• Batman (1989)
• Batman Returns
• Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
• Batman Forever
• Batman and Robin
• Batman Begins
• The Dark Knight
• The Dark Knight Rises
• Batman v Superman – Dawn of Justice
• The Lego Batman Movie
• Zack Snyder’s The Justice League
• Batman

Warner Bros.

Batman and the Multiverse of Madness

Batman movies are known for telling the same stories, often with very similar casts of characters. That’s the purpose of this watch order. The watch allows you to view all the villains, storylines, and versions of Batman movies over 60 years. The Robin storyline, ending in the middle of this watch list might prove to be the most interesting through line. Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

• Batman Begins — Origin story
• Batman v Superman – Dawn of Justice (stop immediately after Bruce Wayne’s origin story) — Origin Story
• Batman (1989) — Origin story/joker introduced
• Batman: Mask of the Phantasm — Early Batman and Joker stuff
• The Dark Knight — Joker introduced to early-to-mid career Batman
• Batman — Early-to-mid career Batman, Catwoman and Penguin
• Batman Returns — Mid career Batman, Catwoman and Penguin
• The Dark Knight Rises — Late career Batman, Catwoman, Bane, and Robin introduced
• Batman Forever — Mid career Batman, Robin introduced
• Batman (1966) — Lots of villains, lots of Robin, almost everything established
• Batman and Robin — Mid career Batman, Bane and Robin
• The Lego Batman Movie — The biggest Bat-family movie
• Zack Snyder’s Justice League — Late career Batman, Robin is dead, Bruce is haunted

Image: Warner Bros. Entertainment

Batman but, you saw a better movie each time

The Batman movies can be described as mostly excellent. Your level of enjoyment of the series’ extremes may vary, like the camp-filled Batman and RobinOr the fatally serious Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but overall they’re pretty good. Regardless, you can watch them in this order.

• Batman and Robin
• Batman Forever
• Batman v Superman – Dawn of Justice
• The Dark Knight Rises
• Batman (1966).
• Zack Snyder’s Justice League
• Lego Batman film
• Batman
• Batman (1989).
• Batman Returns
• The Dark Knight
• Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
• Batman Begins