All Batman Movies Ranked By Box Office

Summary

• The most financially successful Batman movie earned $1,082,228,107 worldwide.
• Its success is attributed to the popularity of its predecessor and anticipation for the franchise’s conclusion.
• Other Batman movies have been much less profitable.

The Batman movies have varied a lot throughout the years, particularly regarding overall box office performance, which highlights a surprising forerunner as the most profitable Batman movie ever. The first Batman movie appeared in 1966, and DC’s Caped Crusader has been a cinematic staple ever since. Following this, Batman movies have varied from the bizarre to the brilliant, often with surprising box office results.

Batman has appeared in a litany of live-action movies, alongside a string of widely acclaimed animated Batman movies and franchises. The most popular of these reign supreme in the DCU timeline as some of the greatest comic book movies ever made. However, several Batman movies boast shockingly impressive box office results (via The Numbers), despite being infamous for their unfavorable critical reception.

10 Batman: The Movie (1966)

$1,377,800

Batman: The Movie,” released in 1966, was a feature film adaptation of the popular Batman television series starring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. The movie, characterized by its campy and comedic tone, pitted the dynamic duo against a coalition of their iconic foes, including the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, and Catwoman. Despite its appeal to fans of the TV show, Batman: The Movie earned the least at the box office.

At the time of its release, the movie industry was vastly different, with smaller budgets and box office returns compared to modern blockbusters. Additionally, the campy style of Batman: The Movie contrasts sharply with the darker, more serious tone of later Batman movies, which have drawn larger audiences and higher earnings. Consequently, Batman: The Movie only earned $1,377,800 worldwide.

9 Batman & Robin (1997)

$238,317,814

Batman & Robin is widely regarded as the worst Batman movie ever. Directed by Joel Schumacher and starring George Clooney as Batman, the movie was criticized for its campy tone, over-the-top performances, and excessive use of puns and gimmicks. The movie featured Batman and Robin facing off against villains, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and Bane, but failed to resonate with audiences and critics alike, earning only $238,317,814 at the worldwide box office.

Batman & Robin’s poor performance can be attributed to several factors, including its departure from the darker, more serious tone established in Tim Burton’s Batman films. The emphasis on merchandising and spectacle over coherent storytelling and character development further alienated the audience. Additionally, negative word-of-mouth and harsh reviews contributed to its underwhelming box office returns, making Batman & Robin a cautionary tale in the franchise’s history.

8 Batman Returns (1992)

$266,824,291

Batman Returns only grossed $266,824,291 worldwide, making it one of the lowest-performing Batman movies financially, despite the enormous popularity of its predecessor. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Batman, the film featured standout performances by Danny DeVito as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, which received widespread critical acclaim. However, several factors contributed to its relatively modest box office performance.

Batman Returns had a darker, more gothic tone than Batman (1989), with a storyline and visual style that some audiences found too intense and disturbing, particularly for younger viewers. The movie’s marketing and merchandise, which targeted children, clashed with the mature content, leading to controversy and backlash from parents and family groups. Despite its artistic achievements and strong performances, these issues hindered its commercial success, prompting Warner Bros. to take a different direction in subsequent Batman films.

7 Batman Forever (1995)

$336,529,144

Batman Forever grossed $336,529,144 worldwide, outperforming its predecessor Batman Returns financially. Directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Val Kilmer as Batman, the film introduced a more colorful and playful tone compared to the Burton films. Despite its higher earnings, Batman Forever is often considered one of the weaker-performing Batman movies critically.

Batman Forever’s relative box office success can be attributed to its marketing, which capitalized on the popularity of the Batman franchise and featured a star-studded cast including Jim Carrey as the Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face. The departure from the darker themes and the introduction of a more campy style divided audiences, but was far more suitable for a younger audience. While Batman Forever managed to surpass Batman Returns in earnings, it did not achieve the same critical acclaim or cultural impact.

6 Batman Begins (2005)

$356,770,593

Batman Begins earned $356,770,593 at the worldwide box office, marking it as the sixth most profitable Batman movie at the time. The first in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy starring Christian Bale as Batman, Batman Begins rebooted the franchise with a darker, more realistic aesthetic, focusing on the origin story of Bruce Wayne’s transformation into Batman. Batman Begins was praised for its depth, character development, and mature storytelling, distinguishing itself from the more colorful and outlandish previous installments.

Batman Begins’ success can be attributed to its strong narrative, compelling performances, particularly by Bale, Michael Caine, and Liam Neeson, and Nolan’s visionary direction. The movie was notable for its gritty, realistic departure from typical superhero fare, proffering the first cinematic Batman who could exist in real life. Batman Begins effectively revitalized the Batman franchise, setting the stage for its triumphant sequels.

5 Batman (1989)

$411,348,924

Batman (1989) was the first Batman movie directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton. It also boasted Jack Nicholson as the Joker, and earned $411,348,924 at the worldwide box office – making it the fifth most profitable Batman movie ever. Its success was bolstered by an incredibly effective marketing campaign that dominated the summer, often referred to as the “Summer of Batman.” Considering its enormous success and the cultural phenomenon it became, it’s surprising that Batman didn’t earn even more.

Batman‘s marketing blitz included everything from toys and clothing to the iconic Bat-symbol plastered everywhere, creating immense anticipation. The movie’s financial performance, while impressive, reflects the era’s box office standards. Subsequent Batman films benefited from a larger global market and inflation, which helped boost their earnings. Nonetheless, Batman (1989) remains a landmark in cinematic history and a pivotal moment for the superhero genre.

4 The Batman (2022)

$765,950,479

2022’s The Batman has earned an incredibly favorable reputation, but only ranks fourth in terms of profitability, earning $765,950,479 at the worldwide box office. Introducing Robert Pattinson as the titular hero, The Batman presented a bleaker, more detective-focused take on the iconic superhero. Despite its impressive earnings, the box office performance was somewhat lower than many might have expected given the film’s critical acclaim.

Several factors could explain The Batman’s box office performance. The release occurred during a period of global uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected cinema attendance. Additionally, The Batman had a grittier, more niche appeal compared to the more broadly marketed superhero films. The film’s lengthy runtime and slower pace might have also limited its repeat viewings. Regardless, The Batman performed admirably, seeding the storytelling within this new interpretation of Gotham City.

3 Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)

$872,395,091

Staggeringly, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice managed to earn $872,395,091 at the worldwide box office, becoming the third most profitable Batman movie ever. Directed by Zack Snyder and featuring Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman, the film was highly anticipated due to the iconic clash between two of the most beloved superheroes. The movie’s financial success is surprising considering that Batman v Superman received generally poor reviews from critics.

Batman v Superman was criticized for its convoluted plot, excessive dark tone, and perceived lack of character development. However, the film achieved an impressive box office performance. This can be attributed to the immense hype surrounding the meeting of Batman and Superman on the big screen for the first time, as well as the overall popularity of the DC Extended Universe. More pertinently, Batman v Superman began gathering superheroes for the first live-action Justice League.

2 The Dark Knight (2008)

$1,007,695,772

Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed The Dark Knight smashed audience and critical expectations, becoming one of the highest regarded superhero movies of all time. The Dark Knight earned an impressive $1,007,695,772 worldwide, though this does make it the second most profitable Batman movie. Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as the Joker garnered widespread praise, contributing significantly to the film’s massive appeal and success and earning several accolades.

Despite its monumental box office performance and critical acclaim, it is somewhat surprising that The Dark Knight isn’t the highest-grossing Batman film. This can be attributed to the record-breaking success of its sequel, which capitalized on The Dark Knight’s success. Indeed, The Dark Knight set a new standard for superhero films, combining a compelling narrative, complex characters, and outstanding performances, thus solidifying Batman’s place in another cinematic generation and paving the way for its successor.

1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

$1,082,228,107

The Dark Knight Rises concluded Nolan’s Batman trilogy and stands as the most financially successful Batman movie ever, earning an impressive $1,082,228,107 worldwide. Its immense profitability can be attributed largely to the overwhelming popularity and critical acclaim of its predecessor, The Dark Knight. The strong foundation laid by Heath Ledger’s performance in the previous movie created significant anticipation, ensuring that audiences were eager to see the trilogy’s conclusion.

Audiences had high expectations following The Dark Knight, particularly as The Dark Knight Rises would introduce Tom Hardy as the formidable villain Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. Consequently, audiences were fervent for The Dark Knight Rises, and the movie quickly became the most profitable Batman movie ever. The combination of legacy, narrative closure, and star-studded performances solidified The Dark Knight Rise as a monumental entry in the Batman franchise, achieving record-breaking box office numbers.

Source: The Numbers