Top 20 Animated Batman Movies
There are this many Batman movies! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 animated Dark Knight films. Beware of minor spoilers ahead.
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00:00 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 animated Dark
00:10 Knight films.
00:11 We don't have to do this.
00:13 Sure we don't.
00:14 We'll only include movies that have the hero's name in the title.
00:18 Beware of minor spoilers ahead.
00:22 20.
00:24 Son of Batman A brutal attack on the League of Assassins
00:27 is enough to convince Talia al Ghul that her son Damien should stay with his dad.
00:32 Unbeknownst to Batman, that warrior-in-training was actually his kid.
00:44 The father and son duo are then forced to learn how to live and work together in Gotham
00:48 City.
00:49 All the while, Deathstroke creates a legion of man-bats to strike fear in the hearts of
00:53 all his enemies.
00:55 Despite juggling a ton of story elements, all of the story beats come together in one
00:59 fluid plot.
01:01 Damien's presence also brings out a side of the Dark Knight that isn't always seen
01:05 in his feature-length films.
01:07 Son of Batman ultimately marked the beginning of a beautiful father-son superhero partnership.
01:15 19.
01:20 Batman – Assault on Arkham Let's address the Suicide Squad-shaped elephant
01:28 in the room.
01:29 This film heavily focuses on a group of supervillains that are forced into completing a mission
01:34 for the vicious Amanda Waller.
01:36 Although most of the focus is on the bad guys, the narrative's excellent, if sparing, use
01:42 of Batman makes it worthy of your time.
01:44 The story positions the Dark Knight as a hero that's constantly one step behind all the
01:49 villains.
01:50 When he does catch up, he gives the antagonists a beatdown they won't forget.
01:58 However, Batman ultimately prevails by leaning on his smarts and making the right alliances.
02:05 This underdog Dark Knight easily reminds everyone that he's the star of the show.
02:11 18.
02:12 Batman – The Long Halloween After a killer starts executing people on major
02:17 holidays, it's up to Gotham's best detective to figure out who's responsible and why they're
02:22 going on this spree.
02:28 Along the way, Batman develops a deep relationship with Catwoman and fights off several major
02:32 villains.
02:33 He also witnesses the descent of Harvey Dent into the dangerous Two-Face persona.
02:45 Since this two-part story covers a lot of ground, it can be a lot to take in one sitting.
02:50 However, it does deserve praise for its nuanced character development and dedication to unravelling
02:55 the mystery.
02:56 Viewers unfamiliar with this holiday tale can expect great twists and a truly jaw-dropping
03:01 ending reveal.
03:02 The dark and thrilling tale is definitely worthy of watching during the Halloween season.
03:07 17.
03:09 Mystery of the Batwoman While the Dark Knight doesn't mind accepting
03:20 help every once in a while, he didn't love it when a reckless heroine wearing his symbol
03:24 came to town.
03:25 Batman tries to both steer her on the right path and try to unmask Batwoman before her
03:30 war against the underworld goes too far.
03:33 The titular mystery of her identity is handled well and keeps us guessing at every turn.
03:37 Additionally, it's fun to see fan-favourite Robin, Tim Drake, get time to shine alongside
03:43 his mentor, Batman.
03:44 The story has the added bonus of expanding the lore of the acclaimed animated Dark Knight
03:49 series.
03:50 Although this movie is criminally overlooked by the fanbase, this underrated gem gives
03:55 fans a great take on Batwoman's relationship with the caped crusader.
04:03 16.
04:04 Batman and Harley Quinn Joker's former sidekick wanted nothing more
04:19 than to live an ordinary life after being paroled.
04:22 But after her old partner in crime, Poison Ivy, starts making dangerous moves, Batman
04:27 and Nightwing decide to work with Harley to keep everyone safe.
04:30 It's hilarious to see this odd trio try to get on the same page.
04:34 However, the movie also takes the time to give a realistic look at Harley's struggle
04:39 to reform.
04:40 While the plot isn't as deep as Swamp Things, well, Swamp, it still provides plenty of laughs
04:46 and great action scenes.
04:47 The film might just have you asking for more stories where this mismatched trio protects
04:52 Gotham.
04:53 15.
05:03 Batman Vs. Robin It took three years for The Court of Owls
05:16 to go from the comics to being the center of a feature-length film.
05:20 The shadowy and ancient organization proved to be the perfect cinematic match for the
05:24 Dark Knight and his new sidekick, Damian.
05:27 While Court of Owls member Talon tried to push the young Robin to embrace vengeance,
05:32 Batman tried to keep his son fully focused on justice.
05:35 The villain's actions spark a battle between the heroes that goes from exchanging harsh
05:39 words to exchanging blows.
05:51 Batman Vs. Robin does an excellent job of unpacking the relationship between this father
05:55 and son.
05:56 Their dynamic, the sharp Court of Owls, and slick action scenes made for a movie that
06:00 delivered much more than its central premise.
06:03 14.
06:05 The Batman Vs. Dracula Have you ever wondered what would happen
06:14 if the Lord of Vampires fought a bat-inspired hero?
06:18 Well, even if you haven't, The Batman Vs. Dracula has got you covered.
06:23 This supernatural movie sees the famous vampire wake up from a long slumber and try to conquer
06:28 the world.
06:29 To help him on his quest, Dracula makes an army of vampiric soldiers that includes the
06:33 Joker.
06:41 Despite being based on a child-friendly cartoon, the movie features dark and disturbing scenes
06:46 that would be out of place in a more mature film.
06:48 The edgy material helps elevate the crossover as more than just a spooky tale for kids.
06:53 Audiences of all ages will want to take a bite out of this spine-tingling meeting of
06:57 icons.
06:59 13.
07:00 Batman – Gotham By Gaslight When we first heard there would be a film
07:05 that would put the Dark Knight in a Victorian setting, we were instantly sold.
07:09 The hero fit perfectly within a steampunk-inspired version of Gotham.
07:13 But what really makes this movie so exciting is the fact that Batman had to match wits
07:17 with the infamous Jack the Ripper.
07:32 As the tense movie continues, we're given great reimaginings of everyone from Catwoman
07:37 to Jim Gordon.
07:38 The new spins on the characters make it impossible to predict where the story will go next.
07:42 While the setting might not be for everyone, fans with open minds will love this tale of
07:47 Victorian Gotham.
07:52 12.
07:55 Superman/Batman – Public Enemies During this team-up film, Lex Luthor becomes
08:00 president, heroes agree to work for a villain, and a kryptonite meteor was spotted hurtling
08:05 towards Earth.
08:06 Since these massive problems are too big for one person to handle, Batman and Superman
08:11 work together to save the planet.
08:19 It's fun to see the Blue Boy Scout and Dark Knight combine their strengths to keep the
08:26 world from falling apart.
08:27 To make matters better, the movie brings in a wide variety of supervillains for the duo
08:32 to punch out.
08:33 All the twists and battles build up to a nail-biting fight against Lex Luthor and time itself.
08:38 Although Superman does a lot of heavy lifting, Batman's heroic actions prove why he deserves
08:43 to stand beside the Man of Steel.
08:49 11.
08:51 Batman/Gotham Knight Split into six shorts, Batman/Gotham Knight
09:05 bridges the gap between Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
09:10 With different writers and directors handling each segment, the compilation movie provides
09:14 a wide variety of experiences for fans of the hero.
09:17 Although not every story hits the mark, the strongest shorts measure up to the greatest
09:22 feature-length films out there.
09:24 Highlights include Brian Azurillo's character-driven Working Through Pain and two segments animated
09:29 by the anime studio Madhouse, one of which features a terrifying take on Killer Croc.
09:45 Both stories are supported by unique designs and emotional beats that hit harder than one
09:49 of The Dark Knight's punches.
09:52 10.
09:53 Batman/Bad Blood What should have been a routine night of crime
10:04 fighting for the caped crusader ended in a literal bang that appeared to kill the hero.
10:09 In the wake of his absence, Nightwing, Robin, and the new members of the Bat-family have
10:14 to step up to defend Gotham and find the Dark Knight.
10:17 This setup allows characters like Kate Kane and Batwing to get more screen time, and we'll
10:22 never get tired of seeing Nightwing imitate Batman.
10:27 Admittedly, the plot can be a little complicated for newcomers to the wider universe, but if
10:40 you're willing to do a little homework, you'll be rewarded with a movie where literally everyone
10:44 in the Bat-family gets a moment to shine.
10:47 9.
10:48 Batman/Return of the Caped Crusaders The Dark Knight has come a long way since
11:03 the campy adventures of the 1966 Batman TV series.
11:07 The Adam West-led show was a product of its time, but there is a certain charm to its
11:12 innocence.
11:13 Return of the Caped Crusaders marks a surprisingly effective return to this era of Batman, albeit
11:26 one that uses the original series as a launching pad to tell a hilarious story that borders
11:31 on parody.
11:32 It's particularly funny to see an edgier Dark Knight running around in a lighter and
11:37 softer era.
11:39 Return of the Caped Crusaders is not only a love letter to the 60s show, but to Batman
11:43 in general.
11:46 8.
11:48 Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Two very different worlds collided for an
11:56 excellent crossover between heroes in a half-shell and the Bat-family.
12:01 When Shredder and Ra's al Ghul enact an evil plan in Gotham, the Dark Knight initially
12:05 thinks the turtles are his enemies.
12:07 But all the heroes soon realize they need to team up to stop two supervillains from
12:11 creating mutated henchmen.
12:13 This setup allows for us to see some of Gotham's biggest icons in new animal forms.
12:28 And while the stakes are high, there's plenty of great jokes and self-aware humour.
12:32 The turtles and Batman make for such a great team that it's a wonder why they only have
12:36 one crossover movie.
12:37 We'd be happy to watch four or more crossovers between these outrageous heroes.
12:45 7.
12:49 Batman and Mr. Freeze Sub-Zero
13:01 Building upon the excellent character work established in Batman the Animated Series,
13:06 Sub-Zero brings Mr. Freeze's story to its logical conclusion, until it continued in
13:11 The New Batman Adventures.
13:13 Similar to the show's much-celebrated 'Heart of Ice' episode, Sub-Zero presents an antagonist
13:18 who is only a villain out of necessity, as Freeze proves to be willing to do anything
13:23 to save his wife.
13:29 Even with polar bears serving as henchmen, Sub-Zero manages to tell a mature tale that
13:33 can appeal to anyone regardless of their age.
13:36 The animation is unsurprisingly gorgeous, while the voice acting maintains the high
13:41 quality of the original series.
13:46 6.
13:50 Batman Year One As an adaptation of Frank Miller's iconic
14:03 graphic novel, Batman Year One sticks very close to the source material, and it's all
14:08 the better for it.
14:10 Year One splits its time between Bruce Wayne and Gordon, both of whom arrive in Gotham
14:14 with aspirations to reform the city.
14:25 While the film handles Bruce's transformation into Batman competently, Gordon's storyline
14:30 steals the show, as Lieutenant dives into the city's corrupted underbelly without the
14:34 security of anonymity.
14:37 Year One moves at a blistering pace, almost to a fault, but it does an admirable job of
14:42 showcasing the resilience and humanity of Gotham's brand new protectors.
14:50 5.
14:52 Batman Beyond - Return of the Joker Be it Batman the animated series or Batman
15:06 Beyond, the DCAU did right by the Dark Knight.
15:10 Return of the Joker brings an element of closure to Batman and Joker's legendary rivalry, as
15:15 the clown prince of crime reappears decades after his supposed death.
15:19 The haunting context behind Joker's demise and re-emergence highlight one of Bruce Wayne's
15:25 worst failures, but the film never loses sight of the fact that this is Terry McGinnis' story,
15:37 as the film culminates in an engrossing duel pitting the past versus the present and future.
15:43 Return of the Joker demonstrates Terry's individuality and worthiness as a successor to the original
15:49 Batman.
15:56 4.
16:00 The Lego Batman Movie After the success of The Lego Movie, the world
16:13 was screaming out for a spin-off, a call that Batman quickly answered to make sure that
16:18 Superman couldn't.
16:19 The ultimate loner who has been on the job for far too long, this Batman is childish,
16:24 arrogant, petty and a highly talented beatboxer.
16:38 A genuine cinematic experience, The Lego Batman Movie is gorgeously animated and tells a story
16:44 that blends many laugh-out-loud scenes with a handful of sincere moments.
16:49 It also surprisingly manages to pay homage to virtually every era of the Dark Knight.
16:54 The Lego Batman Movie goes to places conventional DC projects simply can't, expanding the Dark
17:00 Knight's rogues gallery to include the likes of Saron and Voldemort.
17:07 3.
17:09 Batman The Dark Knight Returns Parts 1 and 2
17:20 Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns is a contender for Batman's greatest graphic
17:24 novel, so any adaptation will come with lofty expectations.
17:29 Wisely split into two parts, The Dark Knight Returns films do justice to the source material's
17:33 ambitious and thematically dense narrative.
17:46 The story brilliantly captures the tension of the Cold War era.
17:49 Additionally, the dissection of the Batman mythos and his influence on society remains
17:54 impactful, as does the political commentary involving Superman.
17:58 These movies push Batman to his natural conclusion, an end point defined by violence, anarchy and
18:04 a hint of hope.
18:12 2.
18:17 Batman Under The Red Hood Few moments in Batman's storied history were
18:25 as controversial as Death in the Family, the storyline that saw the Joker kill Jason Todd.
18:31 Like the similarly titled comic, Under The Red Hood brings the former Robin back into
18:36 the fold, and his resurrection shines a critical eye on Batman's morals.
18:46 Despite balancing plenty of characters and plot threads, Under The Red Hood never feels
18:53 stretched thin as Batman goes up against a new antagonist who practices an extreme version
18:58 of the hero's vigilantism.
19:00 Under The Red Hood tells a mature story with no easy answers.
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19:31 1.
19:33 Batman – Mask Of The Phantasm While most DC animated films are direct-to-video,
19:49 Mask of the Phantasm was released in theatres and the film looks the part.
19:53 Bringing a cinematic flair to the best elements of Batman the animated series, Mask of the
19:57 Phantasm supplements a haunting gothic aesthetic with a sublime soundtrack and unbeatable voice
20:03 cast and a personal storyline.
20:14 When a strange figure begins to target mob bosses in Gotham, Bruce Wayne's past crashes
20:19 into Batman's present.
20:21 Mask of the Phantasm is not just the best animated Batman film, but one of the greatest
20:25 superhero movies of all time.
20:37 What's your favorite animated Batman film?
20:39 Shine a Bat-Signal on it in the comments below.
20:56 the comments.
21:01 [music]
21:04 (upbeat music)