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)