The Batman movies are more of an amalgamation of Batman comics than a one-to-one adaptation. While the influence of certain graphic novels may overshadow single issues, no one storyline has total dominance of the script.
Because of this, Batman’s movies either adapt story beats or key elements. Undoubtedly, these comics played a great part in cementing Bruce Wayne as a cinematic legend. For brevity's sake, comics where a single panel was adapted; team-ups like any Justice League issue; or anything from Matt Reeves' currently unreleased The Batman won't be counted.
64 Contemporary Batman Comics Of The 1960s (Batman: The Movie)
No one storyline influenced Batman: The Movie, since it and its TV show were greatly colored by the Silver Age’s goofiness. This explains the movie’s colorful camp and playfulness.
63 The Dark Knight Returns & The Killing Joke (Batman & Batman Returns)
To distance his vision from Batman’s campy reputation of the time, Tim Burton used the two most popular dark Batman revisionisms as tonal and artistic reference.
62 The Dennis O’Neil & Neal Adams Run (Batman)
Some of Burton’s research material included the influential O’Neil/Adams run from the '70s, where Batman was reimagined into a vengeance-obsessed vigilante.
61 The Steve Englehart & Marshall Rogers Run (Batman)
Additional research material included the Englehart/Rogers stories of the late '70s and early '80s, where Batman became a pulpy crime fighter who fought homicidal maniacs.
60 Batman: Strange Apparitions (Batman)
Englehart’s Strange Apparitions was used as reference, though specifics changed. The few surviving bits include Bruce’s conflict between vigilantism and a normal relationship, and Batman being more of Bruce’s coping mechanism than a noble calling.
59 The Golden Age Batman (Batman)
Batman’s penchant for violence and reckless murder in Burton’s movies is actually faithful to the Golden Age Batman. Some of Batman’s 1940s-era kills were done by fists or machine guns.
58 Batman #1 (Batman)
Joker being an unapologetic killer and psychopath was based on his comic debut. Other things like Batman’s opening fight and Joker’s dying smile also came from here.
57 Batman #213 (Batman)
Joker being a previously normal gangster before his acid bath was based on this landmark issue, which retroactively revealed that Joker and the Red Hood were one and the same. Red Hood was removed from the movie.
56 Detective Comics #553 (Batman)
What Joker does to his mistress Alicia Hunt was based on Black Mask’s partner, Circe. Both women were facially mutilated for “artistic purposes,” and forced to wear blank masks as trophies.
55 Batman #321 & Detective Comics #62 (Batman)
Joker’s biggest movie prank was to lure people to a parade and poison them with gas hidden in giant balloons. This is lifted from two comics: Batman #321 having the lethal parade, and Detective Comics #362 featuring balloons with laughing gas.
54 Batman #408 (Batman)
Joker’s failed escape aboard his Joker Chopper in the end was taken from this comic.
Differences in the comic include Batman saving Robin instead of Vicki Vale, and Joker not dying from the fall.
53 The Brave & The Bold #197 (Batman Returns)
In the comics, Selina calms down a fear gas-stricken Batman by unmasking. This is reversed for the movie but unlike the comics, Batman fails to stop Selina’s warpath.
52 Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper (Batman Returns)
Selina Kyle’s rebirth as Catwoman is the same in this comic and movie, where cats mysteriously bring her back to life. Instead of being assaulted in an alley, Shreck kills the movie’s Selina.
51 Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper (Batman Returns)
In both movie and comic, Selina almost kills her pre-Catwoman tormentor before Batman stops her. Both times, Batman begs Selina to trust the legal system. This works in the comic, but not in the movie.
50 Detective Comics #509 (Batman Returns)
Catwoman’s supernatural slant and having nine lives could be based on that time she basically killed Catman, when she stole his magic costume that gave him extra lives.
49 Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane #70 (Batman Returns)
Catwoman and Penguin joining forces was inspired by this comic. Both times, Penguin falls for Catwoman, without realizing that she’s only using him for her own ends.
48 Detective Comics #58 (Batman Returns)
Penguin’s first appearance in comic and movie is so masterfully orchestrated that he gains Gotham’s adoration. Both times, only Batman and Commissioner Gordon doubt Penguin.
47 Detective Comics #469 (Batman Returns)
Max Shreck is basically the live-action Rupert Thorne, and their debuts are almost identical. Both men are first shown proposing the construction of a shady power plant.
46 Batman #341 (Batman Returns)
Max Shreck’s ploy for power by backing Penguin was based on Thorne’s similar plan. Both Shreck and Thorne push smear campaigns on Batman to push their bets’ poll numbers.
45 Detective Comics #546 (Batman Returns)
Thorne’s puppet mayor and Penguin both try (and fail) to get the public against Batman by framing him for crimes with planted evidence. It was his glove in the comics, and bats in the movie.