Top 17 Batman Interpretations Ranked from 1966-2022

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Ever since he first appeared in the comic books, I’ve been captivated by Batman, the enigmatic guardian of Gotham City. His cinematic journey has been nothing short of exhilarating, from the quirky TV portrayals to the hard-hitting blockbusters. Actors have consistently added their own distinctive touches to the complex character of Bruce Wayne across the decades. Each rendition offers a new perspective – be it a lighthearted spin or an introspective exploration into his troubled mind. I can’t wait to delve into ranking my favorite portrayals of Batman, examining how they’ve molded the hero we all adore.

From 1966 to 2022, we’ve seen an array of Batmen, spanning from Adam West’s vibrant Caped Crusader in ‘Batman’ to Robert Pattinson’s gripping intensity in ‘The Batman’. Each era introduced its unique take on the character, mirroring the zeitgeist and the visionaries who brought it to life. Some emphasized the detective aspect, others the action hero, yet each interpretation left a lasting impact. Let’s delve into the memorable performances that shaped Batman’s screen presence.

17. George Clooney

Total Appearances: 1
Appeared in: Batman & Robin (1997)

After so many years, I’m still puzzled about this version of Batman – I can’t help but question if it was really Batman. The man wearing the suit had nipples, which is strange! I’m not certain what Schumacher aimed to achieve with this portrayal, but Clooney will undeniably be seen as the most disappointing and controversial Batman in both film and TV adaptations of the iconic character.

16. Roger Craig Smith

Number of Times Shown: 6
Where Appeared: Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (2013), Batman: Arkham Origins (2013), Batman Unlimited (2015), Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts (2015), Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem (2015), Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants (2016)

In the Batman series: Arkham games, Roger Craig Smith was given the role of Batman, but his portrayal was somewhat unique and didn’t fit well with DC’s usual depiction. He fought creatures like monsters, mutants, robots, and animals in addition to regular villains, which is quite different from the norm. While it’s hard to be worse than George Clooney in this role, Smith’s interpretation ranks just below him because his Batman was less favorable compared to Schumacher’s and Kilmer’s versions that rank 14th.

15. Val Kilmer

Total Appearances: 1
Appeared in: Batman Forever (1995)

Despite not being particularly talented as Batman, Val Kilmer was slightly superior to his replacement in that role, but it’s important to note that his performance was hampered by a poorly conceived film which exposed his acting limitations. As a result, he ranks quite low on our list of Batmans in movies, but at least he didn’t have the infamous nipples on his costume.

14. Ben McKenzie

Total Appearances: 1
Appeared in: Batman: Year One (2011)

In this strong adaptation of Miller’s famous comic book series, Ben McKenzie delivered a commendable vocal portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman. However, since it was confined to a single animated film, it lacked the opportunity for further development. Although it wasn’t poor, its ranking is low primarily because there were only fleeting moments left behind without enduring impact.

13. Bruce Greenwood

Total Times Shown: 4
Has Been Featured In: Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010), Young Justice (2010-ongoing), Young Justice: Legacy (2013), Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)

Despite Bruce Greenwood’s portrayal of the character being on par with McKenzie, we got a richer experience of him as Batman through multiple films, a cartoon series, and a game. This makes Greenwood one of the less impressive Batmans in animation, but still good enough to not be at the very bottom of the rankings.

12. Iain Glen

Total Appearances: 1
Appeared in: Titans (2018 – present)

In the series titled “Titans,” we encounter an unconventional portrayal of Batman, where Bruce Wayne functions more as a molding instrument for Dick Grayson’s character, and in essence, the other Titans as well. Iain Glen delivers a commendable performance within his confined role, but it is considered one of the less compelling versions of Gotham’s Dark Knight.

11. Peter Weller

Total Appearances: 1
Appeared in: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2013)

Peter Weller’s portrayal of RoboCop showcased an exceptional take on Miller’s aging Batman in a two-part series based on the popular comic. Despite appearing just once, his performance was remarkably superior to previous versions and perfectly encapsulated this grim, dystopian vision of Batman as the last beacon of hope. Unfortunately, Weller didn’t get many chances to play such a Batman, but there’s still potential for more in the future.

10. Troy Baker

Number of Times Shown: 14
Shown in: Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (2012), various Lego Batman / DC movies from 2013 to the present, Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (2014), Lego Dimensions (2015), Batman: The Telltale Series (2016), Batman: The Enemy Within (2017/2018), and Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)

Despite primarily being recognized as the Joker’s voice actor, Troy Baker has proven on multiple occasions that he can also convincingly portray Batman. He voiced Batman in the LEGO series, but his sympathetically sarcastic interpretations along with grittier voices in video games made him an intriguing Batman character, earning a spot right in the middle of our list.

9. Jason O’Mara

Total Number of Times Shown: 11

Shown in: Justice League: War (2014), Son of Batman (2014), Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015), Batman vs. Robin (2015), Batman: Bad Blood (2016), Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2017), Justice League Dark (2017), The Death of Superman (2018), Reign of the Supermen (2019), Batman: Hush (2019), Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

or

Total Occurrences: 11

Appeared in the following films: Justice League: War (2014), Son of Batman (2014), Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015), Batman vs. Robin (2015), Batman: Bad Blood (2016), Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2017), Justice League Dark (2017), The Death of Superman (2018), Reign of the Supermen (2019), Batman: Hush (2019), Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

or

Displayed in: Justice League: War (2014), Son of Batman (2014), Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015), Batman vs. Robin (2015), Batman: Bad Blood (2016), Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2017), Justice League Dark (2017), The Death of Superman (2018), Reign of the Supermen (2019), Batman: Hush (2019), Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

or

Featured in: Justice League: War (2014), Son of Batman (2014), Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015), Batman vs. Robin (2015), Batman: Bad Blood (2016), Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2017), Justice League Dark (2017), The Death of Superman (2018), Reign of the Supermen (2019), Batman: Hush (2019), Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

All these options are clear and easy to read.

Following Kevin Conroy, Jason O’Mara took over as the main voice actor for Batman in DC’s animated films and has done a commendable job. While he may not be on par with the iconic Conroy, O’Mara is skillful enough to deliver a quality and authentic performance in various adaptations. As time passes, these performances will undoubtedly improve, making him a strong contender for the title of third-best animated Batman of all time.

8. Ben Affleck

Total Showings: 4

Shown in: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Justice League (2017), and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Initially, when Ben Affleck was first chosen as Batman, I must admit I was hopeful. Zack Snyder depicted him as a mature, seasoned crime-fighter which was well-received. However, due to various factors, Affleck didn’t have the chance to fully explore his Miller interpretation of the character. Firstly, he was replaced after just three films (one being a brief appearance), and secondly, his final portrayal in Justice League was muted under Joss Whedon’s direction, thus limiting Affleck’s scope for more significant roles despite his potential.

7. Will Arnett

Total Showings: 3

Shown in: The Lego Movie (2014), The Lego Batman Movie (2017), The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

When Will Arnett provided the voice for LEGO Batman, he gave a new twist to the character that was both dark and comical. His interpretation of Batman stands out as one of the finest and longest-lasting characters in the LEGO franchise, significantly reshaping Batman’s persona while maintaining an authentic feel. The originality and talent displayed by Arnett, combined with the fact that his “I am Batman” speech is still frequently quoted by fans, has earned him a high spot on our list due to his exceptional performance.

6. David Mazouz

Total Appearances: 1
Appeared in: Gotham (2014 – 2019)

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my admiration for David Mazouz who, although he donned the cape and cowl of Batman only sparingly, truly embodied the soul of Bruce Wayne in the remarkable series Gotham. His portrayal of Bruce’s internal struggles and moral compass was so compelling that he stood alongside Ben McKenzie and several villains as one of the cornerstones of FOX’s extraordinary show. Given his exceptional performance, it is more than justified to rank him among the greatest Batman interpreters in history.

5. Adam West

Number of Times Shown: 5 times
Shown in: Batman (1966 – 1968), Batman (1966), The New Adventures of Batman (1977), Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016), and Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)

Adam West, famously known as Batman, significantly shaped the character for numerous generations and continues to be remembered fondly. While his portrayal might seem comical today, it was groundbreaking then and still carries great cultural impact. Hence, it’s clear that his iconic role in the 60s series deserves high regard, not just for his acting but also for his voice work. So, even though the 60s were quite peculiar, Adam West should be applauded for his contributions to Batman.

4. Robert Pattison

Total Appearances: 1
Appeared in: The Batman (2022)

In my opinion, after only one outing as Batman, Robert Pattinson has already made a strong impression on our rankings. Frankly, I believe he would have snatched the third spot if not for Christian Bale’s extensive portfolio, which gives his portrayal a sense of consistency across multiple films. Yet, should Rob keep up the stellar performance from “The Batman,” he might just outshine Bale and even challenge Michael Keaton’s iconic depiction.

3. Christian Bale

Number of Times Shown: 3

Movies I’ve Been Featured In: Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

In a comparison between Christian Bale and the second-place contender for the roles of Batman and Bruce Wayne, Bale ultimately came in third. Although Bale was an excellent Batman, with all the necessary elements and Nolan’s brilliance contributing to his portrayal, he wasn’t quite as convincing as the runner-up when it comes to playing Bruce Wayne. While Bale was good as Bruce Wayne, there was still room for improvement compared to the second-place actor, which may not have been a major issue on its own, but in this particular comparison, it seems to have tipped the scales.

2. Michael Keaton

Number of Times Seen: 4 appearances
Movies and Year: Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), The Flash (2022), Batgirl (2022)

Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Batman in 1989 and 1992, under Tim Burton’s direction, was unconventional for him but remains the best Batman ever, earning him the second spot on our list. His performance was consistent with the time period and authentic, offering a complete portrayal of both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Michael Keaton’s exceptional talent in this role continues to serve as a benchmark for modern interpretations of Batman, much like Adam West did before him. In other words, Keaton’s masterful and unique performance as Batman deserves its high ranking on our list.

Honorable Mention

In the dubbed version of the 2018 anime film Batman Ninja, Roger Craig Smith provided the voice for Batman, but we’d like to highlight an exceptionally intriguing and clever portrayal of the Dark Knight as a Notable Mention. This stands out because Batman Ninja is a Japanese production, and Kōichi Yamadera, a renowned Japanese seiyū (voice actor), delivered an exceptional and particularly engaging performance as “Japanese Batman”. Therefore, we’ve chosen to highlight this interpretation as a Notable Mention, and we enthusiastically suggest the film Batman Ninja for its unique and imaginative approach to storytelling.

1. Kevin Conroy

Number of Times Seen: 37 times

Appeared In: Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) and its sequels, films, and DCAU continuity (1993-2006), the Batman: Arkham series (2009-2016), various video games (1994-2018), Justice League Action, and other animated series (2016-2019), Batman: The Killing Joke (2016), and Batwoman (2019)

At the pinnacle of our list stand an exceptional, one-of-a-kind Batman embodied by Kevin Conroy. Through a remarkable number of performances spanning animated series, films, and video games, he has brought Bruce Wayne and Batman to life in a way that echoes their comic book origins. Unmatched, Conroy’s portrayal of Batman is considered the gold standard, a timeless representation of the Dark Knight that is difficult to surpass.

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2025-06-03 18:46