Where to watch all the Batman films
Matt Reeves’s spin on The Batman starring Robert Pattinson will be released soon, and if you want to relive some of the best moments of Bruce Wayne, then we have you covered.
We’ve rounded up a comprehensive list of all the main Batman films, along with links to where to watch them. He’s appeared in more films than that though, so we’ve included links to more films that feature Batman, though not necessarily as the main character.
You can also check out a similar guide onhow to watch the Spider-Man films in order, and find out whentickets for The Batman (2022) go on sale.
How to watch the Batman films in order
Batman features in numerous different cinematic universes – sometimes just in a standalone film, and sometimes as part of an anthology. It doesn’t matter what order you watch the series, though you may want to see some of the older films before watchingThe Flashlater this year (more on that below).
The first-ever live-action Batman film starring Adam West stands as its own film, but it’s really a spin-off from the ’60s TV series, also starring West. In 1989, The Batman Motion Picture Anthology kicked off. This universe is made up of four films – though Batman is played by three separate actors: Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney.
Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy saw Christian Bale step into the role, starring opposite some iconic villains – the most famous being Heath Ledger’s take on The Joker.
Then there’s the DCEU version of Batman, with Ben Affleck in the cape and cowl. In Batman v Superman, he’s a co-lead alongside Henry Cavill. This character is also one of the five protagonists of the superhero team-up film, Justice League.
There are two versions of Justice League – the one directed by Joss Whedon, and the one directed by Zack Snyder. Snyder was originally signed on to direct the original Justice League but had to leave filming partway through.
Whedon took over, and the film underwent some significant changes that deviated from Snyder’s original vision. After years of petitioning from both fans and even the actors, Zack Snyder teamed up with HBO Max to release a four-hour cut of the film. You can choose to watch either Justice League rather than both. The Zack Snyder one is widely considered to be the better film, but be prepared for a long sitting.
The next DCEU film is The Flash, due this November, with Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck both set to reprise their roles as Batman – officially introducing the concept of the multiverse into the DCEU.
Before that, Matt Reeves is releasing his own take on The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson, in March. So far, this is not confirmed to tie into any other existing films based on DC characters.
This list also includes the Lego Batman Movie. This character features in other Lego films, but also has his own standalone flick, with Will Arnett voicing. It may not be as gritty as some other titles on this list, but it is hilarious.
The Adam West Movie
The Batman Motion Picture Anthology
The Dark Knight Trilogy
DC Cinematic Extended Universe (DCEU)
Lego Cinematic Universe
Matt Reeves’s The Batman
Where to stream and watch the Batman films
If you would like to watch any of these films, then we’ve rounded up all the places that you can stream them right now in the UK and US – along with links to the places to rent and buy your own copies.
Whilst this list is correct at the time of writing, streaming services do constantly change their libraries. If you are unsure of where to find something, then head toJustWatchand search for the title you want.
UK
The UK streaming service with the most Batman films is Now. You cansign up for the Cinema Membership for £9.99 per month.
If you don’t mind renting or buying the films, then the digital versions of these movies are available onAmazon,Google Play,iTunesandYouTube. You can also buy the DVDs and Blu-rays fromAmazonorHMV.
US
The best place to stream most of the Batman movies isHBO Max. You can sign up for an ad-supported account for $9.99 per month, and an ad-free account for $14.99 per month.
Of course, you can rent or buy all these digitally onVudu,Amazon,Google Play,iTunesandYouTube, or buy the DVD and Blu-ray editions fromAmazonorWalmart.
Additional viewing for Batman
The DCEU all ties together, and one film that features a cameo of Ben Affleck’s Batman isSuicide Squad (2016). However, it’s by no means essential to the character’s overall story arc. This film is available onAmazon Prime VideoandNowin the UK, andHBO Maxin the US.
Then, there’sJoker (2019), starring Joaquin Phoenix. This is meant to stand alone as an origin story for the DC villain, and doesn’t related directly to any of the other cinematic canons, but the character Bruce Wayne plays a part in this story. This film is available onAmazon Prime Videoin the UK andHBO Maxin the US.
If you want more from the Lego Batman, then you’ll be pleased to hear that he’s a prominent character in bothThe Lego Movie (2014)andThe Lego Movie 2 (2019). These films are available onNowin the UK and for rental in the US.
If all that is still not enough, then there are a whopping26 animated Batman movies. Starting from 1993, these films explore some of the classic villains such as Two-Face and Hush, as well as some bizarre crossovers with the likes of Dracula and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These can be rented or bought from the major VOD platforms.
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
