Batman has had more live-action screen eras than any other superhero. Here's the complete timeline in release order, with a look at how each era is generally regarded by critics and audiences today — useful context whether you're new to the character on screen or filling in gaps in your collection.
The Burton/Schumacher era (1989–1997)
Tim Burton's Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) are generally the best-regarded films of this stretch, prized for their gothic visual style. Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever (1995) is more divisive, and Batman & Robin (1997) is widely considered the low point of the franchise's screen history — though it's developed its own campy cult following in the years since.
The Nolan trilogy (2005–2012)
Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012) are consistently ranked among the best superhero films ever made by critics and audiences alike. The Dark Knight in particular, anchored by Heath Ledger's Joker, is frequently cited as the high-water mark for the character on screen.
The DCEU era (2016–2017)
Ben Affleck's Batman appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017, with Zack Snyder's original 2021 director's cut released separately). Critical reception was mixed for the theatrical cuts, though the character's performance itself drew more positive notice than the films around him.
The Reeves era (2022–present)
Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022), starring Robert Pattinson, leaned into detective-noir territory and was well received critically and commercially — the second-best pandemic-era opening weekend at the time of release. Its sequel, The Batman: Part II, has been delayed multiple times and is now dated for February 18, 2028, with Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan joining the cast. Importantly, this entire era exists in its own "DC Elseworlds" continuity, separate from the DCU.
What to read alongside each era
Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns directly influenced the visual and tonal DNA of both the Nolan and Reeves eras, and remains the single most-referenced Batman book across every live-action adaptation of the last two decades.
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Historical and critical reception context drawn from general critical consensus at time of each film's release; not a personal ranking, but a summary of how each era has been received.