Although the DC Extended Universe might be smaller than the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the heroes of the DC Universe have more than made up the slack with dozens of animated features, and many of those movies put Batman squarely at the center. These animated films reflect the full spectrum of Batman's varied career, from the light-hearted Caped Crusader and the heroic Justice League member to the introspective, brooding Dark Knight.
With so many different animated films starring some version of the Dark Knight, the idea of watching all of his movies can be dizzying. While figuring out how to go from one film to the next without getting whiplash isn't easy, here's the best way to watch all of Batman's feature-length animated adventures.
THE STAND-ALONE BATMAN MOVIES
A good number of Batman's most notable animated films stand on their own, largely disconnected from an overarching animated universe apart from the odd direct sequel. These are the best ways to get a quick overview of every part of Batman's personality. For newer fans especially, there really aren't better places to start than Batman: Year One and Batman: Gotham Knight, with the former showing a rookie Batman at the start of his career and the latter providing several short vignettes that display the sheer variety of stories and tones Batman has to offer.
Some of these stand-alone films perfectly show just how whacky Bat-adventures can get. The Batman vs. Dracula offers a fairly grounded idea of how weird things can get, but that's nothing compared to the sheet oddity of Scooby-Doo! and Batman: The Brave and the Bold and two movies starring Adam West's Batman, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders and Batman vs. Two-Face. Alternatively, Batman's fighting skills are put on full display in Batman: Ninja, an anime-influenced film complete with kaiju and mechs, and the self-descriptive Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles. Batman: Assault on Arkham focuses more on Batman's villains, but retains the darker tone of the Batman: Arkham video game series.
Several other Batman animated films have been adapted more or less directly from comics. Batman: The Killing Joke and Batman: Under the Red Hood embrace the dark edges that defined those stories in contemplative pieces where Batman struggles with the ruination of his loved ones' lives because of his own obsession. While the two Batman/Superman movies adapt a relatively lighter pair of stories from the early '00s, the two-parter Batman: The Dark Knight Returns proves that even Batman's most invulnerable allies can be hurt by his obsession. Finally things out with Batman: Gotham by Gaslight offers an eerie look at Batman looks like in an alternate universe.
THE DC ANIMATED MOVIE UNIVERSE
If Batman's solo adventures in the first section established him as a standalone star, the overarching theme of his DC Animated Movie Universe appearances is learning cooperation and how to coexist in a larger universe. Starting with Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Justice League: War and Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, Batman had to learn how to work with other superheroes on a larger scale before his relationship with Robin takes the primary focus in the main universe of DC's animated movies.
Son of Batman introduces Damian Wayne's Robin as Batman's sidekick, and their tense relationship takes center stage as they deal with each other and Talia al-Ghul in Batman vs. Robin and Batman: Bad Blood. That conflict even spills out into DC's wide world with Justice League vs. Teen Titans. Batman is naturally less of a focus in team-centric movies like Justice League: Dark and Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay before returning to the more solo-centric Batman: Hush, which has one of the best Batman/Superman fights seen on screen.
THE DC ANIMATED UNIVERSE
Although DC's animated movies are more centered around non-theatrical releases today, the first major modern animated Batman movie was released in 1993. Spinning out of Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm looked back at Batman's early days while introducing an iconic new villain.
for a retelling of Batman's origin that will kickstart the last chapter of your viewing project with the best quality possible. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm for a retelling of Batman's origin that will kickstart the last chapter of your viewing project with the best quality possible. Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero is probably one of the most straight-forward and classic Batman stories on the entire list, while Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman explores the idea of just how the DCAU Batman feels when others inherit his legacy.
After those films, the critically derided Batman & Harley Quinn depicts a team-up between two of Gotham's most famous residents. Then, Justice League vs. the Fatal Five reunites Batman with the heroes he worked alongside on Justice League Unlimited.
Finally, the last chronological movie in the DC Animated Universe is Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Set in the future where Terry McGinnis took over the role of Batman from an elderly Bruce Wayne, this feature shows what ultimately happened to some of Batman's most recognizably allies and villains.