Let’s dive into The Top 10 Batman Animated Movies.
Did you know there are more than 20 Batman animated movies? Even without taking the animated series into account, that’s hours of Batman-related content. The caped crusader is endlessly appealing from a viewer’s perspective, of course. Plus, Batman’s dense back story and aloof personality, along with the dramatic backdrop of Gotham City, make an interesting canvas for animators to explore. Many animators have relished the challenge of bringing classic characters like Batman, The Joker, and Harley Quinn to life.
Remember to also read our ranking for Best 3D Animation Movies.
10 Excellent Batman Animated Movies
From faithful DC Comics adaptions to a classic Batman mystery to kid-friendly movies (the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Scooby Doo crossovers come to mind here!) there are Batman animated movies to suit all tastes.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Released in 1993, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is one of the most celebrated Batman animated movies. The plot follows Bruce Wayne’s budding relationship with Andrea Beaumont as they both mourn a death in the family. Following a broken heart, Wayne adopts the title of Batman for the first time, only to find himself framed for a series of crimes he didn’t commit.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is generally appreciated by critics, with Empire magazine stating it is ‘the best cartoon feature of 1993’. It’s dark, but with some humourous moments to balance out the drama. Also, it shows the vulnerable side of Bruce Wayne in a way that feels authentic, not overdone. In terms of Batman animation, it’s a classic. Sometimes, it feels like the scenes are lifted straight from a comic, with the beautiful animation of Gotham City. The Joker makes an appearance here: in a way, it’s the origin story of both Batman and his arch-nemesis.
Batman Beyond – Return of the Joker (2000)
Batman Beyond – Return of the Joker is (perhaps unsurprisingly) focused on the sudden return of the Joker (voiced by Mark Hamill). It performed well, spawning a comic adaption, a video game released on Game Boy Color, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64, and a novelization. The story is action-packed, and the animation is superb.
The film had a tumultuous development process: it was meant to be released on Halloween 2000, but after the Columbine High School massacre, all violence in children’s media was under scrutiny. The film was eventually released in December 2000 having undergone several key changes, including the Joker’s death scene. The original uncut version is available now, and it is the first animated Batman movie to get a PG-13 rating.
It was well-received, with many viewers enjoying Hamill’s performance as the Joker. It encapsulates the complicated relationship between the Joker and Batman and sees Batman return to his roots.
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998)
The 90s were a good decade for Batman fans! Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero is a direct-to-video release, and is considered to be one of the best Batman animated movies. It takes place during the third season of Batman: The Animated Series, and sees several actors from the show (including Kevin Conroy and Michael Ansara) reprising their roles for the movie.
The second film in the DC animated universe, SubZero follows Mr. Freeze as he searches for a cure for his wife’s illness. The only cure seems to be using an organ transplant from a live donor, and Batgirl is his chosen target. Batman searches for the kidnapped Batgirl, and in a showdown, Freeze plummets, seemingly to his death. Ultimately, however, Freeze survives and finds out that Bruce Wayne has funded an organ transplant for his wife, saving her.
It’s an interesting Batman mystery with a complex plot: the main villain comes across as sympathetic, rather than evil, and it’s less campy than other animated Batman films. The animation is compelling, and the performances are excellent. Fans can pick it up in the Blu-ray box set Batman: The Complete Animated Series. It’s also a great opportunity to enjoy the relationship between Batman and Robin as the caped crusaders take on Mr. Freeze!
Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)
Batman: Gotham Knight is actually an anthology movie. It’s split into six segments, with Batman facing up to various enemies in Gotham City. It has a distinctive, anime-esque art style, making it slightly different in terms of visuals from other Batman animated movies.
Each segment varies in terms of direction and (to a certain extent) art style. Have I Got a Story For You, Crossfire, Field Test, In Darkness Dwells, Working Through Pain, and Deadshot are written by different people, and each explores a key moment of Batman’s life.
The anthology has been praised for the voice acting of Kevin Conroy (who voices Batman in the DC Animated Universe), the interesting storytelling, and the general ‘feel’ of the collection: it’s a fresh, updated take on classic Batman, and definitely worth checking out if you’ve never seen it.
The Batman vs Dracula (2005)
Another straight-to-video release, The Batman vs Dracula entwines The Batman television show with the horror novel Dracula. It’s interesting to see the Dark Knight facing up to an unusual villain, and while the portrayal of Dracula deviates a lot from the source material, it’s still a nice movie for classic horror fans to enjoy.
Reviews of Batman vs Dracula were mixed: while the animation and s the performances are good, it’s just not as compelling as some of the other movies on this list. There are some spectacular moments, however, including the brilliantly animated downfall of Dracula himself. The final showdown is well worth watching, as Dracula realizes Batman has bested him after all.
Surprisingly, this isn’t the only Batman vs Dracula crossover. The comic book Batman & Dracula: Red Rain sees Batman transforming into a vampire to take Dracula down. Meanwhile, Batman encounters Dracula in the 1964 movie Batman Dracula and the 1967 movie Batman Fights Dracula (although neither is officially accepted as canon). Plus, in the January 1976 issue of Detective Comics, Batman fights another vampire, Gustav Decobra. Who knew Batman had such a long history with vampires?
Lego Batman Movie (2017)
The 2017 Lego Batman Movie differs quite drastically in both tone and animation style from the other Batman animated movies on this list! A drama-comedy, this movie is aimed at kids, but it’s funny enough to make adults laugh, too. In this movie, Bruce Wayne is dealing with his own loneliness: despite having it all, he’s kind of sad and empty inside. When he accidentally agrees to adopt Robin, he learns to live with other people and learns a few harsh lessons about his own ego.
This film is funny throughout, especially when it comes to watching Batman relate to other characters like Barbara Gordon and Harley Quinn, and the animation is excellent. The Lego blocks ‘clack’ together satisfyingly, and watching explosions in Gotham City (made completely from bricks) is pretty fun. Lego Batman takes the most extreme parts of Batman’s personality and amplifies them for comic effect, but it also manages to tell a heartwarming story about friendship and family, as Robin takes on the unlikely role of the son of Batman, and the pair step into the role of caped crusaders together.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 (2013)
While the first movie in this series is great (and a necessary watch if you want to understand the plot), Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 is highly regarded among Batman fans. This two-party, direct-to-video series follows Batman as he tries to hunt down and defeat the Joker, once and for all.
It’s an adaption of the 1986 comic book of the same name and was made by several Batman experts. The animation and voice acting are superb, although some critics found Batman’s inner monologuing to be a little off-putting. However, for most fans, this truly brings the original Frank Miller comic to life. Which is regarded as one of the best animated Batman movies of all time. It’s definitely worth checking out Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part One, too.
Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts (2015)
Another straight-to-video release, Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts. This is the first installment of the Batman Unlimited series (another popular film in the series, Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem, is very similar in terms of tone and art style). In this movie, Batman has to protect Gotham City from animal-based villains, who like to send out animal robots to fight for them.
It’s a good animated movie for younger fans: it’s a little like watching a Saturday morning cartoon. At the same time, is a nice throwback for older Batman fans. It’s a feature-length movie, and a good choice to keep kids occupied on a rainy afternoon.
Justice League: War (2014)
Justice League: War is just one movie in the sprawling DC Animated Movie Universe (other titles include Justice League: Doom, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, and Justice League: Gods and Monsters). The Justice League is comprised of several DC superheroes, including Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Cyborg, Shazam, and of course, Batman.
In this entry to the series, the Earth is invaded by an alien/demon god Darkseid, and it’s up to the Justice League, including Batman, to save the day. It’s notable for several tense moments between Batman and Superman and adds an interesting layer of depth to their relationship. The animation is sharp and crisp.
Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
A fun, action-packed movie, Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a must-watch for any 80s or 90s kids out there! Watching Batman interact with Ninja Turtles is really fun, and it’s a decent watch for fans of animated movies in general.
In the movie, Batman collaborates with the famous Ninja Turtles to take down Shredder and Ra’as al Ghul, saving Gotham City from destruction. Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has excellent animation and is just so much fun to watch. It’s also worth checking out the Scooby Doo & Batman movies: they’re similarly fun and great for kids.
The Best Batman Animated Movies
Hopefully, this has given you a jumping-off point if you want to start exploring the rich world of Batman animated movies!
It’s definitely worth checking out Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. It captures one of Batman’s finer eras, and the animation and voice acting are great. For a more modern take on a classic comic book, you could try The Dark Knight Returns Part One & Two. A must-watch for Batman comic fans.
Younger viewers, meanwhile, can’t go wrong with the Lego Batman movie. Batman’s sarcastic, fragile personality is great fun to watch.
Once you’ve exhausted the movies, you can move on to the animated series. Which opens up a whole new world of animated content to enjoy!
Megan is a freelance writer based in Somerset, England. She writes about videogames, books, and pop culture.
