Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWatch the Batman movies in release order, but treat the list as several separate continuities rather than one timeline. For a basic marathon, choose either the 2017 theatrical Justice League or the substantially different 2021 Snyder cut—not both unless you want to compare them.
The best way to watch the Batman movies is release order, with one important qualification: these films are not one continuous story. Batman has been rebooted repeatedly, and different actors play Bruce Wayne in separate continuities. Release order lets you see those changes as audiences did without pretending that Adam West, Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson are versions of the same movie-world Batman.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Batman 80th Anniversary Collection (Blu-ray) | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Batman, The (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Batman, The (Blu-ray) | $13.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Batman: Death in the Family (Blu-ray + Digital) | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
For the main live-action marathon, watch the list below. When you reach Justice League, choose either the 2017 theatrical cut or Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021); watching both is optional comparison viewing, not a requirement to understand the story.
Batman movies in release order
| # | Film | Year | Batman | Continuity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Batman | 1966 | Adam West | 1966 television continuity |
| 2 | Batman | 1989 | Michael Keaton | Burton/Schumacher cycle |
| 3 | Batman Returns | 1992 | Michael Keaton | Burton/Schumacher cycle |
| 4 | Batman Forever | 1995 | Val Kilmer | Burton/Schumacher cycle |
| 5 | Batman & Robin | 1997 | George Clooney | Burton/Schumacher cycle |
| 6 | Batman Begins | 2005 | Christian Bale | Nolan trilogy |
| 7 | The Dark Knight | 2008 | Christian Bale | Nolan trilogy |
| 8 | The Dark Knight Rises | 2012 | Christian Bale | Nolan trilogy |
| 9 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | 2016 | Ben Affleck | DCEU |
| 10 | Justice League | 2017 | Ben Affleck | DCEU, theatrical cut |
| 11 | Zack Snyder’s Justice League | 2021 | Ben Affleck | Alternate DCEU cut |
| 12 | The Batman | 2022 | Robert Pattinson | Batman Epic Crime Saga |
| 13 | The Flash | 2023 | Ezra Miller’s film includes Michael Keaton’s Batman | DCEU/multiverse |
For a first viewing, watch either number 10 or number 11, not both. The 2021 film is a substantially different, approximately four-hour version of the same broad team-up premise. It is not merely a remaster of the 2017 theatrical release.
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1. Batman (1966)
Adam West’s Batman is a deliberately comic, self-contained adventure connected to the classic 1966–1968 television series. You do not need to watch the television episodes first. Its colorful tone, on-screen sound effects, and playful villains make it a useful historical starting point, but it does not lead into the 1989 film.
2. Batman (1989)
Tim Burton’s film, starring Michael Keaton, begins the modern live-action Batman cycle. It establishes a darker, gothic interpretation of Gotham and introduces Jack Nicholson’s version of the Joker. This is the correct starting point for the Burton films.
3. Batman Returns (1992)
Keaton returns as Batman in Burton’s direct follow-up. The film continues the same broad continuity while centering on the Penguin and Catwoman. Watch it immediately after Batman (1989) if you want the most cohesive portion of the four-film cycle.
4. Batman Forever (1995)
Val Kilmer replaces Keaton as Bruce Wayne, and Joel Schumacher takes over as director. The film remains part of the broad 1989–1997 continuity, but its brighter colors, more heightened style, and new cast make the change feel substantial.
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George Clooney takes over the cowl for the fourth film in the 1989–1997 cycle. Chris O’Donnell’s Robin continues from Batman Forever, while the movie pushes the Schumacher era’s comic-book style even further. It concludes this continuity rather than setting up Batman Begins.
If you want to own this specific run, a Batman 4-Movie Collection 1989-1997 maps to these four films only; it does not include Nolan’s trilogy or the later Batman movies. Physical editions and inventory vary by country and date.
6. Batman Begins (2005)
Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale, is a reboot. It is not a sequel to Batman & Robin. The film presents a grounded origin for Bruce Wayne’s transformation into Batman and starts the self-contained Dark Knight trilogy.
7. The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight follows directly from Batman Begins. Batman, Commissioner Gordon, and Harvey Dent attempt to contain organized crime in Gotham while the Joker destabilizes the city. Because the film builds on Bruce’s relationships and choices in Batman Begins, it should not be your first Nolan film if you plan to watch the trilogy as a story.
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8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
This is the conclusion of Nolan’s trilogy. It takes place after the events of The Dark Knight and brings Bruce Wayne’s arc to its intended endpoint. The complete Nolan sequence is therefore Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises.
For the most coherent single-continuity marathon, choose The Dark Knight Trilogy 4K Blu-ray or another edition of the three-film set. Check the disc format and regional availability before buying.
9. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Ben Affleck’s Batman enters the DC Extended Universe in this Superman-centered film. Although the title emphasizes the conflict between its two heroes, it is the beginning of Affleck’s principal Batman film appearances and should precede Justice League.
10. Justice League (2017)
The theatrical Justice League brings Batman together with Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg. It is the version released in cinemas in 2017. Watch it after Batman v Superman if you want the shorter, theatrical route through Affleck’s Batman appearances.
11. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
This is a distinct, substantially expanded cut of the team-up film, also starring Affleck. It revises and extends the material rather than simply improving the picture quality of the 2017 movie. For a normal marathon, select this or the 2017 theatrical version. If you are studying the production history or comparing cuts, watch both in either order after Batman v Superman.
12. The Batman (2022)
Matt Reeves’s The Batman stars Robert Pattinson as a younger, detective-focused Bruce Wayne. It is a separate continuity and the beginning of what DC calls the Batman Epic Crime Saga. Pattinson’s Bruce is not Christian Bale’s Bruce after the events of The Dark Knight Rises, so do not treat this as the next chapter of Nolan’s trilogy.
13. The Flash (2023)
The Flash is primarily Barry Allen’s film, but its time-travel and multiverse story brings Michael Keaton’s Batman back and includes a brief appearance by George Clooney. It is best left until the end of a release-order Batman marathon because its references and returning versions of Batman draw on earlier DC films. It is not a conventional sequel to either Justice League cut.
Batman movies by continuity
The 1966 Adam West continuity
- Batman (1966)
The television series is optional context, not required viewing. A complete-series Blu-ray is useful only for viewers who want the larger Adam West television world.
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The Burton/Schumacher continuity
- Batman (1989)
- Batman Returns (1992)
- Batman Forever (1995)
- Batman & Robin (1997)
Michael Keaton plays Batman in the first two films, while Val Kilmer and George Clooney take over for the final two. The director and tone change, but these four movies form the broad 1989–1997 film line.
Christopher Nolan’s trilogy
- Batman Begins (2005)
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
This is the clearest self-contained Batman story and the best choice if you want a complete arc without crossing between reboots.
Ben Affleck’s DCEU appearances
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
- Justice League (2017) or Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
- The Flash (2023)
The Flash is not a straightforward continuation of the team-up film, but it is the natural endpoint for a Batman-focused sequence featuring Affleck and the multiverse’s returning Batmen.
Matt Reeves’s Batman continuity
- The Batman (2022)
Within the released live-action films covered here, this is a standalone starting point. Keep it separate from the Burton, Nolan, and DCEU films.
Which order should you choose?
| If you want… | Watch this |
|---|---|
| The complete major live-action experience | The 13-film release-order list, choosing one Justice League cut |
| The most coherent story | Nolan’s trilogy: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises |
| The original modern Batman cycle | The four 1989–1997 films |
| A modern detective interpretation | Start with The Batman (2022) |
| Every major live-action version | Release order, then add Suicide Squad as an optional extra |
Where does Suicide Squad fit?
Suicide Squad (2016) includes Batman and Bruce Wayne, but Batman is not the central character. It is therefore excluded from the main Batman-movie list. Completists can watch it after Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and before either version of Justice League as an optional DCEU extra.
What about Joker, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and animation?
- Joker (2019): a young Bruce Wayne appears, but he is not Batman, and the film does not establish that this Bruce becomes Batman. It is not a Batman movie in the main list.
- Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021): Batman appears in the background, outside the scope of a list of films in which Batman has a major role.
- Animated films: do not append them to the live-action chronology. Batman animation contains separate continuities, including standalone films, the DC Animated Movie Universe, the Tomorrowverse, LEGO projects, team-ups, and anime-influenced titles.
Where to begin with animated Batman movies
If “all Batman movies” includes animation, use a separate track rather than trying to place animated Bruce Waynes between live-action films. These are strong entry points:
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) — a feature connected to Batman: The Animated Series and released theatrically.
- Batman: Year One (2011) — a standalone animated adaptation of the comic storyline.
- Son of Batman (2014) — the first Batman-centered entry in the DC Animated Movie Universe sequence identified by DC.
- Batman: The Long Halloween – Part One and Part Two (2021) — a two-part story in the Tomorrowverse Batman sequence.
- The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) — a separate animated comedy continuity.
A Batman: Mask of the Phantasm 4K release or an animated Batman collection can suit viewers building a physical-media animation shelf, but it should be treated as a separate branch from the live-action marathon. Disc availability and formats vary.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If you want to own the marathon
There is no single set that reliably represents every major live-action Batman film across all eras and cuts. Search for a Batman movies 4K collection if you want to compare current franchise bundles, but check the included titles carefully: many sets cover only a continuity subset, such as the 1989–1997 cycle or Nolan’s trilogy. Also verify whether a package contains Blu-ray discs, 4K Ultra HD discs, digital codes, or a particular cut of Justice League. Inventory, editions, and regional availability change.
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- Batman: Death In The Family
Do you need a streaming subscription?
Not necessarily, and a single service should not be assumed to carry this entire list. Film rights and catalogues vary by country and change frequently. Before starting a marathon, check each title in your territory and compare rental, purchase, disc, and subscription options. For the most reliable long-term access, physical media avoids some catalogue changes, but it requires checking region compatibility and player support.
Quick checklist for a Batman marathon
- Use release order for the full live-action list.
- Remember that the list contains several separate continuities.
- Watch Batman Begins before The Dark Knight.
- Watch Batman v Superman before either Justice League cut.
- Choose one Justice League version unless you specifically want a comparison.
- Watch The Batman as its own continuity, not as a sequel to Nolan’s trilogy.
- Leave The Flash until last in a full release-order marathon.
- Keep animated films on a separate viewing track.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best order to watch the Batman movies?
Release order is the best default because Batman has been rebooted several times. The films do not form one uninterrupted timeline, so a single chronological order of fictional events would be misleading.
Do I need to watch both versions of Justice League?
No. Watch either the 2017 theatrical cut or Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021). The 2021 film is a substantially different, expanded cut, so watch both only if you want to compare them.
Is The Batman connected to The Dark Knight trilogy?
No. The Batman is a separate continuity starring Robert Pattinson. It is not a sequel to Christian Bale’s Nolan trilogy or to Ben Affleck’s DCEU Batman films.
Which Batman movies make the best trilogy?
Watch Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. They form the most coherent self-contained Batman movie story.
Should Suicide Squad and Joker be included in a Batman movie marathon?
Suicide Squad can be added as an optional DCEU extra after Batman v Superman and before Justice League. Joker and Space Jam: A New Legacy are not part of the main list because Batman does not have a major role in them.
The Bottom Line
For most viewers, watch the major live-action Batman films in release order and choose either the 2017 Justice League or the 2021 Snyder cut. If you want one uninterrupted story instead, watch Nolan’s three-film trilogy. The animated films and most Batman cameos belong in separate lists because they do not share one master continuity.
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