Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice could have been an epic hit. When you think about how two of the world’s most famous superheroes are put together in one movie to duke it out, it’s sure to become an instant classic. Instead, critics hated it, with review upon review calling it a dud. So we got a little curious. What’s their idea of a good Batman movie?
Here, we ranked all nine Batman movies, from 1997’s Batman and Robin starring George Clooney to 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice starring Ben Affleck. The ranking is based on their score from Rotten Tomatoes, a film review aggregator featuring reviews from certified members of various writing guilds or film critic associations. So it’s legit.
9. Batman and Robin (1997)
Batman: George Clooney
Rating: 11%
Verdict: This Batman movie received so much bad press that it was nominated for 11 Razzie Awards, an award-giving body recognizing the worst in film. It could have gone well: Batman and Robin (Chris O’Donnell) must try to keep their partnership together as they attempt to stop Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman) from freezing the Earth and repopulating it with mutant plants. Much of the negative press was for its script, campiness, and acting. Clooney went as far as calling it a waste of money, while critics called it out for its “frantic and mindless movie that’s too jokey to care much for.”
8. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Batman: Ben Affleck
Rating: 29%
Verdict: The much-awaited crossover film featuring DC superheroes Batman and Superman became a critical flop. Here, Lex Luthor manipulates Batman into battling Superman, and critics say that it “smothers a potentially powerful story in a grim whirlwind of effects-driven action.” Most reviews criticized the film’s dark tone, long running time, and unfocused narrative . However, it did receive praise for its visuals and acting from Affleck, Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Jeremy Irons (Alfred Pennyworth), and Holly Hunter (June Finch).
7. Batman Forever (1995)
Batman: Val Kilmer
Rating: 41%
Verdict: Batman Forever is significantly lighter from its predecessor Batman Returns (some parents complained of its violence and darkness). Critics didn’t like how the film was “loud and excessively busy,” but Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones offered mild relief. In Batman Forever, Batman tries to stop stop Two-Face (Jones) and the Riddler (Carrey) in their scheme to learn Batman’s identity and bring the city under their control. It was a commercial success, so we guess director Joel Schumacher cried himself to the bank.
6. Batman (1989)
Batman: Michael Keaton
Rating: 72%
Verdict: Critics praised Batman for its “eerie, haunting spectacle,” and it’s not surprising, considering Tim Burton directed it. Here, Batman must face The Joker, a maniacal criminal. The only bad thing was that Nicholson stole the show as The Joker. But that isn’t too bad, right?
Check out our top 5 Batman movies in the next page!
