Numerous individuals have taken on the role of Batman across various mediums such as movies, TV shows, animations, video games, and even radio dramas. The following are the talented performers who have embodied the iconic character of the Caped Crusader.
Warning: The following content contains significant spoilers for The Flash.
Golly gee, Batman! The Caped Crusader has seen more actors donning his cape on the silver screen than any other superhero in history. However, most of them have only graced us with their presence for a single film. Following “The Dark Knight Rises,” Christian Bale made history by becoming the first actor to portray Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego in more than two movies. At that time, Michael Keaton was his only competition, having reprised the role just once.
Now, Ben Affleck has surpassed Bale’s record with his appearance as Batman in “The Flash” movie, marking his fourth time wearing the iconic cape and cowl. While these films may not solely focus on the Caped Crusader, they still count! Meanwhile, Keaton matches Bale’s three appearances, with a significantly larger role in “The Flash” compared to Affleck. Robert Pattinson is also catching up, with a planned trilogy of “The Batman” films.
But before we delve into more Batman history, as Warner Bros. gears up to launch another Batman franchise with “The Brave and the Bold,” let’s first pay tribute to all the actors who have brought the Dark Knight to life on the big screen.
Lewis G. Wilson
Wilson holds the distinction of being the first and youngest actor to portray the adult Batman, but unfortunately, his portrayal was considered the least successful. At the age of 23, this relatively unknown actor took on the cape and cowl in the 1943 Columbia serial “Batman,” consisting of 15 parts. While he possessed the appearance of a dashing playboy, his physique leaned more towards Danny DeVito’s portrayal of the Penguin. Critics noted Wilson’s “thick about the middle” build, which perhaps led to the peculiar placement of his utility belt just below his chest. Another point of contention was his voice, deemed too high and accompanied by a noticeable Boston accent. Little did they know, such criticism regarding Batman’s voice would resurface in the future.
Following his stint as Batman, Wilson’s acting career failed to gain traction. Many of his roles remained uncredited, and his most significant subsequent film role came in the 1951 cult classic “Bowanga Bowanga.” A few years later, he left the entertainment industry entirely. His son, Michael G. Wilson, however, found success in Hollywood as the executive producer of the James Bond series. Lewis G. Wilson passed away in 2000.
Adam West
Undoubtedly, the individual who spent the most time in the Batcave was William West Anderson, more commonly known as Adam West. Depending on your perspective, you may either adore him for his quirky charm or criticize him for tarnishing Batman’s image for several decades. His campy and exaggerated portrayal of Gotham’s vigilante infiltrated nearly every medium, including a 1966 movie and various animated series.
According to legend, producer William Dozier chose West after witnessing his portrayal of a James Bond-esque spy named Captain Q in a Nestlé Quik TV advertisement. He triumphed over his future “Wonder Woman” co-star, Lyle Waggoner, to secure the role. Curiously, Dozier, who supposedly held a disdain for comic books, believed that the only path to success for the show was through campiness. So, any blame for that lies with him.
In a twist of fate, West was offered the role of James Bond in “Diamonds Are Forever” in 1970. However, he declined, stating in his autobiography that he believed Bond should always be portrayed by a British actor. Talk about a regrettable career decision, Batman!
After the conclusion of the “Batman” series in 1968, West found himself trapped in the depths of typecasting. At one point, he had no choice but to make public appearances as the Caped Crusader to make a living. However, in 1977, he returned to the small screen as Batman, lending his voice to “The New Adventures of Batman” and other shows like “Super Friends.”
West’s revival as a pop-culture icon began in the early 1990s when he starred as a washed-up TV action hero in the pilot episode of “Lookwell,” produced by Conan O’Brien and Robert Smigel. Although the show wasn’t picked up, it gained a cult following online (you can check it out here). He made regular appearances as “Mayor West” on “Family Guy” and reprised his role as Batman in two outstanding animated features that expanded on the show’s continuity: “Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders” and “Batman vs. Two-Face” (with William Shatner as the special guest villain). West passed away in 2017, but his Bat-legacy remains immortal.
Robert Lowery
In the subsequent serial titled “Batman & Robin” released in 1949, Lowery took over the role from Lewis. Unlike his predecessor, Lowery was a seasoned actor at the age of 36, having already appeared in notable films such as “The Mark of Zorro” (1940), “The Mummy’s Ghost” (1944), and “Dangerous Passage” (1944). He filled out the Batsuit more convincingly than Lewis, with his utility belt positioned where one would expect to find it on a superhero.
Although Lowery didn’t portray Batman in another serial, he had the opportunity to wear the cape once again and create superhero history in the process. In 1956, he guest-starred in an episode of “The Adventures of Superman” alongside George Reeves, marking the first time a Batman actor and a Superman actor shared screen time. (Interestingly, the two actors had also appeared together before donning their superhero personas in a World War II anti-VD propaganda film called “Sex Hygiene”).
Following his portrayal of Batman, Lowery continued to enjoy a successful career in movies and television for another two decades. He passed away in 1971.
Michael Keaton
It took more than two decades for Adam West to relinquish his exclusivity over the role of Batman.
When the announcement came that director Tim Burton (who, like Dozier, was not a fan of comic books) and Michael Keaton were set to star in 1989’s “Batman,” fans went absolutely wild, fearing that their beloved superhero would be subjected to the Adam West treatment once more. Keaton’s casting sparked intense controversy, resulting in 50,000 protest letters flooding Warner Bros.’ offices. To appease the skeptics, Bob Kane, the co-creator of Batman, was hired as the film’s creative consultant. And in case you’re curious, here’s a lengthy list of other excellent castings that fans initially doubted.
Numerous Hollywood stars were considered for the role of Batman, including Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Charlie Sheen, Pierce Brosnan, Tom Selleck, and Bill Murray. However, producer Jon Peters ultimately chose Keaton because he desired “a guy who’s a real person who happens to put on this weird armor. A guy who’s funny and scary. Keaton’s both. He’s got that explosive, insane side.” The studio and the fans needn’t have worried. Keaton’s performance received rave reviews, and “Batman” triumphed at the box office. Variety magazine praised, “Michael Keaton captures the haunted intensity of the character, and seems particularly lonely and obsessive without Robin around to share his exploits.” Keaton was rewarded by becoming the first actor to reprise the role on the big screen. In 1992’s “Batman Returns,” Keaton once again garnered critical acclaim.
Over 30 years later, Keaton returned to the role, portraying an older Batman who had retired after transforming Gotham City into one of the safest places on Earth (in an alternate timeline to Barry Allen’s). “The Flash” effectively serves as a farewell to Keaton’s Batman, incorporating nods to his previous cinematic endeavors as well as providing insights into what transpired between “Batman Returns” and this latest big-screen adventure.
Interestingly, “The Flash” wasn’t originally intended to mark the conclusion of Keaton’s tenure in the Batcave. He was initially slated to appear in the HBO Max movie “Batgirl,” starring alongside Leslie Grace. However, despite being nearly completed, Warner Bros. axed the film as a tax write-off. As a result, leaked photos from the set of “Batgirl” serve as the remaining remnants of Keaton’s Batman in that particular project.
Rumors suggested that Keaton’s involvement in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) would extend beyond “Batgirl,” with a reported appearance in “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” also in the works. In fact, there were reports of the actor becoming THE Batman of the DCEU, taking over as the leading man of that cinematic universe after Ben Affleck’s departure. However, now that “The Flash” has provided a definitive conclusion to Keaton‘s time in the Batcave, and with Warner Bros. revamping the DCU into a fresh direction, including a complete reboot of the Batman franchise in “The Brave and the Bold,” it appears highly unlikely that we will see Keaton donning the Batsuit again.
Kevin Conroy
Kevin Conroy’s portrayal of Batman is so convincing that many fans consider him the ultimate Batman, as his voice has continued to shape every subsequent interpretation since his original stint in the late ’90s and early 2000s cartoons. Conroy first lent his voice to the superhero in “Batman: The Animated Series,” which premiered in 1992. Since then, he has voiced the character in three other Batman series, numerous animated films, and the highly acclaimed Arkham video games, which propelled the Dark Knight into mainstream gaming.
Even now, many regard Conroy’s performance in the animated feature film “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” as the definitive portrayal of the character. Whether one agrees or not, it is undeniable that Conroy’s iconic voice has made an everlasting impression on Gotham City and its devoted fanbase. For those who longed to see Conroy don the Batman suit in live-action, their wish was granted when he portrayed a version of Bruce Wayne inspired by “Kingdom Come” in the Arrowverse crossover adaptation of “Crisis on Infinite Earths”!
Val Kilmer
When director Joel Schumacher took over the Batman franchise, Michael Keaton decided to step away from the role. Several actors, including Daniel Day-Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, William Baldwin, and Johnny Depp, were reportedly considered as potential replacements. However, Val Kilmer ultimately landed the part, although he turned out to be the most forgettable Batman of the modern era. Go ahead, try to recall his performance. See? It’s difficult, isn’t it?
Schumacher became interested in Kilmer for 1995’s Batman Forever after seeing his portrayal of Doc Holiday in Tombstone, a character also played by Adam West before he took on the role of Batman in the TV series. Allegedly, Kilmer accepted the role without even reading the script or knowing who the new director was. However, Schumacher quickly learned about Kilmer’s reputation as the two clashed on set. Schumacher later described Kilmer as “childish and impossible,” citing conflicts with various crew members and a two-week silent treatment after the director asked him to behave more respectfully.
Kilmer’s performance received mixed reviews. The New York Times noted, “The prime costume is now worn by Val Kilmer, who makes a good Batman but not a better one than Michael Keaton.” However, Bob Kane, the creator of Batman, held a different opinion, stating that he believed Kilmer did the best job among all the actors who had played Batman up to that point.
Although the movie performed better at the box office than Batman Returns, Kilmer’s time as the Caped Crusader was short-lived. Due to his difficult attitude and concerns about the superhero’s screen time compared to the villains, he departed the Batcave for good. Instead of filming Batman & Robin in 1997, Kilmer chose to star in The Saint.
After his tenure as Batman, Kilmer’s career experienced a decline, although it was likely his involvement in 1996’s The Island of Dr. Moreau that played a larger role in that downturn than his role in Batman Forever.
George Clooney
George Clooney’s movie career was just taking off when he landed the role of Batman in 1997’s Batman & Robin, following his breakthrough performance in Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn the previous year. The producers likely believed they had secured a major coup by casting the up-and-coming movie star. However, both the producers and Clooney may now regret that decision.
Batman & Robin turned out to be a disaster, plagued by campiness, terrible puns, and the infamous Bat-nipples. Clooney himself once joked that he helped kill the franchise and referred to the movie as “a waste of money.”
Critics and fans agreed with the negative reception. In 1997, Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “George Clooney is the big zero of the film and should go down in history as the George Lazenby of the series.” Batman & Robin received 11 nominations at the Razzie Awards and is often ranked among the worst films of all time. It also performed the poorest at the box office compared to other modern Batman movies.
However, the failure of Batman & Robin did little to harm Clooney’s career. After the film, he went on to achieve superstardom, starring in movies like Out of Sight (which featured a cameo from Michael Keaton), Three Kings, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? in the following three years alone. Clooney’s career has remained strong since then. Interestingly, he even makes a return as Batman in The Flash!
Yes, that’s not a joke. Although his appearance in The Flash is essentially a final gag before the credits roll. After Barry alters the timeline in the film, he discovers that certain things have been irreversibly changed, including Clooney’s Bruce Wayne replacing Ben Affleck in this new reality. However, rest assured, Clooney is not becoming the new Batman of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). It’s simply a delightful way to see him end his tenure on a positive note!
Christian Bale
Between Adam West and George Clooney, the Batman franchise seemed destined to be a joke in the realm of live-action adaptations. However, everything changed with the arrival of Christopher Nolan. Known for his films Memento and Insomnia, Nolan took charge and set out to reinvent the franchise, finally bringing the darkness back to the Dark Knight.
Several actors were considered for the roles of Batman/Bruce Wayne, including Billy Crudup, Jake Gyllenhaal, Joshua Jackson, Heath Ledger, and Cillian Murphy. In the end, Nolan chose Christian Bale, citing his perfect balance of darkness and light as the ideal fit for the role.
Bale received generally positive reviews for his portrayal in 2005’s Batman Begins, with many critics noting the resemblance to his brilliant performance in American Psycho. However, one aspect that drew criticism was his overly husky Bat-voice. A reviewer even likened it to a “10-year-old putting on an ‘adult’ voice to make prank phone calls.” In 2008’s The Dark Knight, Bale’s voice became even more gravelly, prompting NPR’s David Edelstein to describe it as “deeper and hammier than ever.”
Even Kevin Conroy, the man behind the iconic Batman voice in the animated series, joined the conversation. At a C2E2 panel in 2010, he expressed his opinion that Bale’s voice was “ridiculous” and urged the actor to abandon it. Despite some criticism, The Dark Knight Rises, while not as well-received as its predecessor, still has its defenders.
Moreover, Bale played a crucial role in the alchemy of Nolan’s second Batman film, The Dark Knight. Widely regarded as a benchmark in the superhero genre, it continues to be the standard against which other caped crusader movies are compared, nearly a decade later. Notably, The Dark Knight stands as the only superhero film to have won an acting Oscar, with Heath Ledger’s iconic portrayal of the Joker. It is also credited with influencing the Academy to expand its Best Picture category to include up to ten films, following the film’s snub in 2009.
Will Arnett
If any other actor had taken on the role, Batman’s appearance in the 2013 blockbuster hit, The LEGO Movie, might have been easily overlooked. However, Will Arnett, known for his role in Arrested Development, brought a special comedic touch to the character, earning himself a spin-off movie.
The timing couldn’t have been better for Arnett’s portrayal. It came long enough after The Dark Knight Rises to humorously poke fun at Christian Bale’s gritty Batman, while also arriving well before the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, where Ben Affleck would make his debut as the Caped Crusader. This allowed Arnett’s fresh take on Batman to stand out without being overshadowed by the upcoming hype surrounding Affleck.
The result of this impeccable casting and strategic timing was a Batman performance that will be remembered as one of the funniest, most unique, and enjoyable interpretations of the character. Arnett’s Batman was a joke machine, from crafting “dark” lyrics to comically attempting to conceal his secret identity. The younger audience of The LEGO Movie truly embraced this version of Batman.
There were also clever nods for adult fans, with lines like “I only work in black – and sometimes very, very dark grey” appealing to comic book enthusiasts. LEGO Batman’s comical struggles to hit a simple button with a Batarang surely resonated with anyone who has spent hours trying to solve similar puzzles in the Arkham Asylum games.
Arnett’s delivery, combined with the sharp writing of Phil Lord and Chris Miller, made this portrayal an instant favorite for many. He went on to reprise the role in The LEGO Batman Movie in 2017, delivering an equally impressive performance.
Ben Affleck
History seemed to repeat itself when Ben Affleck was chosen to play Batman in Zack Snyder’s divisive film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Affleck had just experienced a remarkable career comeback with his directorial effort Argo winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards. He was also working on the highly anticipated film Gone Girl, directed by the renowned David Fincher. However, fans were outraged that an actor known for previous flops like Gigli and Jersey Girl was now taking on the role of “Bat-Fleck.” His involvement in the mediocre Daredevil movie from 2003 certainly didn’t help his case either.
Ironically, Affleck ended up being widely regarded as one of the best aspects of Batman v Superman. Similar to Michael Keaton’s experience, he earned the adulation of fans only a few years after facing intense backlash. However, the actual portrayal of his Dark Knight in Snyder’s hands wasn’t universally loved. Affleck delivered a solid performance as Batman, but he didn’t possess the haunted and enigmatic quality of Keaton’s Bruce Wayne or the nobility and psychological complexity of Christian Bale’s interpretation. He lacked the lived-in quality that both actors brought to the role. What he did have, though, was a physically imposing presence that perfectly suited the character and a charismatic charm that previous Batman actors either lacked or downplayed.
Some fans even argue that Affleck was the ideal Batman based on his appearance and natural charm. However, his portrayal in Batman v Superman was hindered by an overly absurd voice modulator, reminiscent of Bale’s gravelly alternative. Additionally, his characterization of Batman teetered on the edge of fascism as he ambiguously killed criminals with gunshots, car collisions, grenades, knife stabs, and even crushing one’s head with a crate. This cruelty and totalitarian streak aligned somewhat with Frank Miller’s extreme vision of the character in The Dark Knight Returns graphic novel. However, that story was always a significant departure from the mainstream interpretations of Batman. Despite the visual upgrades to Affleck’s Batman, his characterization lacked the altruistic heroism and sense of driven purpose that Bale’s more flawed and humanistic take offered.
Justice League, despite its behind-the-scenes issues, served as a course correction for both the DCEU and Affleck’s portrayal. It showcased Batman’s evolution, seemingly inspired by Superman’s sacrifice at the end of Batman v Superman, as a more balanced and heroic figure. Zack Snyder’s Justice League introduced a post-credits scene between Batman and Joker that harkened back to a darker version of the Dark Knight ready to kill again. Fortunately, that scene doesn’t align with the official DCEU continuity.
What remains canon is Affleck’s presumed final appearance as Batman in The Flash. Although he only appears in the opening third of the film, Affleck delivers a compelling performance as a guiding figure for a conflicted Barry. Plus, he looks incredibly cool on the new Batbike!
Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson has brought a unique portrayal of Bruce Wayne to the silver screen, depicting the billionaire orphan with a dark secret as a true oddity. His interpretation presents Bruce as a cold and disheveled recluse who wants nothing to do with Gotham City during the day. However, as the sun sets and the Bat signal illuminates the night sky, a different side of him emerges.
It’s refreshing to witness a Batman who is so deeply broken that he struggles to function as a regular human being outside of the Batsuit. This kind of role is perfectly suited for an actor like Pattinson, who appears to revel in portraying disturbed individuals on the fringes of society, as demonstrated in films like Good Time, High Life, and The Lighthouse.
Despite initially causing a panic among Batfans (a recurring theme on this list), there’s no denying that Pattinson has made the character his own. His Dark Knight is imposing and represents the most physically intense version of Batman we’ve seen on the big screen thus far. Furthermore, Pattinson’s portrayal allows him to engage in detective work, a facet of the World’s Greatest Detective that is rarely explored in movies. Although he has only begun his journey as Batman with one film, there’s a possibility that Pattinson could turn out to be the perfect embodiment of the character. We will certainly find out when The Batman Part II graces theaters in 2025.