Every Batman animated movie shows why the Dark Knight is the DC Universe’s most popular character, as there are dozens of animated films from the most different styles centered on Bruce Wayne and Gotham City. DC’s animated movies and TV shows have explored Batman and other Justice League heroes extensively in the past decades. The many DC animated universes and continuities have arguably delivered better takes on Batman and his allies than most live-action films, mostly because the animation format allows for more innovative, risky stories.
The DC animated releases as well.
Every Batman Animated Film
Animated Batman Movies |
|
|---|---|
Name |
Release Date |
Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires (Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios) |
2025 |
Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League |
2025 |
Now that the DCU is set to kick off with Creature Commandos in December 2024, it feels like there aren't many other animated projects in the works set outside that main continuity. There are two Batman animated movies set to release in 2025, though, featuring different takes on the iconic character. Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires will revolve around an Aztec boy who works to fight against Spanish invaders. Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League is a sequel to Batman Ninja, and will feature the anime-inspired Caped Crusader facing off against a vast legion of Yakuza, including Justice League .
36 Batman: The Killing Joke
Released In 2016
Batman: The Killing Joke
- Release Date
- July 24, 2016
- Runtime
- 72 minutes
- Director
- Sam Liu
WHERE TO WATCH
Batman: The Killing Joke, directed by Sam Liu, explores Batman's pursuit of the escaped Joker, who targets the Gordon family to demonstrate a twisted parallel to his own descent into madness. The animated film delves into the psychological battle between Batman and his notorious adversary.
Based on one of the best and most influential Batman comic books of all time, Batman: The Killing Joke is a terrible adaptation of a classic. Having Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as Batman and Joker, respectively, The Killing Joke adaptation was the perfect setup for what could have been a fantastic movie.
How To Watch All Batman Animated Movies In Order
The DC Universe has produced 32 animated Batman movies, with a 30-year history that rivals the live-action counterparts’ influential legacy.
Unfortunately, The Killing Joke does little to capture the essence of the comic, even though it tries to mimic the original artwork in its animation style. The Killing Joke’s opening segment, which changes the source material completely and adds a romantic relationship between Batman and Batgirl, makes it all even worse.
35 Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts
Released In 2015
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Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts
- Release Date
- May 12, 2015
- Runtime
- 78 Minutes
- Director
- butch lukic
Cast
Roger Craig SmithBatman
Green Arrow
Dana SnyderThe Penguin
Will FriedleNightwing
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Heath Corson, Bob Kane
- Main Genre
- Animation
The Batman Unlimited movie series has three installments, which all released between 2015-2016 and based around a toy line of the same name. Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts is the first of these movies, and this may be what makes it the weaker of the trio, as it feels more transparently a story made to popularize the toy series to its audience. That said, Animal Instincts also arguably had the hardest job, as robotic animals are a little less in line with Batman's usual fare, and thus stand out a little clearer.
As such, it still has its own charm, even if audiences may be less drawn to it than some of the more prestigious Batman animated movies.
That said, Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts still has its strengths, and includes a wider range of characters than may initially be expected based on the title alone. As such, it still has its own charm, even if audiences may be less drawn to it than some of the more prestigious Batman animated movies.
34 Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem
Released In 2015
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Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem
- Release Date
- August 4, 2015
- Runtime
- 81 Minutes
- Director
- Butch Lukic
Cast
-
Roger Craig SmithBatman
The Joker-
Green Arrow
Kari WuhrerSilver Banshee
WHERE TO WATCH
Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem is the second installment in the Unlimited movie series, featuring Batman facing down a range of his spookier villains on Halloween. As such, the story generally feels a little more grounded in tangible Batman lore - something helped by the appearance of the likes of Scarecrow, the Joker and Clayface. That said, there are still moments that clearly align with ensuring audiences see as much of the toyline as possible, with one notable scene having Clayface transform into a T-Rex in order to add some dinosaurs into the mix.
33 Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants
Released In 2016
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Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants
- Release Date
- July 24, 2016
- Runtime
- 72 Minutes
- Director
- Curt Geda
- Writers
- Curt Geda, Chris Wyatt
Cast
Bane-
Roger Craig SmithBatman
-
The Joker
-
Green Arrow
- Main Genre
- Animation
As the third and final movie in the Batman Unlimited lineup, it's perhaps unsurprising that Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants amps things up to be even wilder than the original two entries. The movie includes a wide range of villains, more of a concrete story than ever that actively follows on from the previous movies, and a colossal Batman mecha suit that looks like something out of a Transformers series.
As such, while Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants still has some of the downsides of the films, the manner in which it leans into its chaos makes it the most charming of the lot. Similarly, it includes a lot of moments that simply couldn't appear in other Batman movies, adding some inherent watch value through its lava-Clayface monster and mutant isopods alone.
32 Batman & Harley Quinn
Released In 2017
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Batman and Harley Quinn
- Release Date
- August 15, 2017
- Runtime
- 74 Minutes
- Director
- Sam Liu
Cast
Batman
Harley Quinn
WHERE TO WATCH
Batman and Harley Quinn is part of the DC Animated Universe timeline, meaning it is canon to shows like Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League. However, despite bringing some of the original DCAU creators and voice actors, Batman and Harley Quinn is the franchise’s lowest point. The film, which features Batman, Nightwing, and Harley Quinn, sometimes feels more of a parody of those characters than an actual Batman story. Its characterizations of Bruce, Dick, and Harley were exaggerated, with comedic bits that do not work at all.
31 Batman: Death In The Family
Released In 2020
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Batman: Death In The Family
- Release Date
- October 13, 2020
- Runtime
- 31 Minutes
- Director
- Brandon Vietti
Cast
Bruce GreenwoodBruce Wayne / Batman
Vincent MartellaJason Todd / Robin / Red Hood / Red Robin
John DiMaggioJack Napier / The Joker / Thomas Wayne / Reporter 2
Zehra FazalTalia al Ghul / Reporter 3
WHERE TO WATCH
- Main Genre
- Animation
Batman: Death in the Family is a retelling of the Batman: Under the Red Hood movie, combining old and new scenes. The project, which was part of the DC Showcase animated line, was released as an interactive movie that allowed viewers to change the outcome of the story based on their decisions. Despite the interesting premise, Batman: Death in the Family is an unnecessary addition to the legacy of what was already a great movie. Between watching Batman: Death in the Family or Under the Red Hood, the latter is the correct option.
30 Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham
Released In 2023
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Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham
- Release Date
- March 28, 2023
- Runtime
- 86 minutes
- Director
- Sam Liu, Christopher Berkeley
Cast
-
David Giuntoli
Tati Gabrielle
Christopher Gorham-
John DiMaggio
WHERE TO WATCH
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is an animated film adaptation of the Elseworlds comic series. Set in the 1920s, it follows Bruce Wayne as he returns to Gotham City to confront an ancient evil threatening the metropolis. As Batman, he faces supernatural foes and uncovers dark secrets about his city's past. The film delves into a blend of Lovecraftian horror and classic Batman themes, offering a unique take on the Dark Knight.
- Writers
- Jase Ricci
Based on a DC Elseworlds comic book, Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham imagines Batman’s story as a period piece. It sees the Dark Knight and the Bat Family going up against Lovecraftian creatures, steering Batman away from the usual realism. The premise is engaging, and the original comic book was good, but The Doom That Came To Gotham does not work. Batman feels like a very different character, and even though this was the point, The Doom That Came To Gotham fails to make its premise feel as interesting as it sounded.
29 Batman: Hush
Released In 2019
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Batman: Hush
- Release Date
- July 19, 2019
- Director
- Justin Copeland
- Writers
- Ernie Altbacker
Cast
-
Jason O'MaraBatman/Bruce Wayne
Catwoman/Selina Kyle
Maury SterlingThomas Elliot-
Sean MaherNightwing/Dick Grayson
WHERE TO WATCH
Batman: Hush is an animated feature in the DC Universe directed by Justin Copeland. The story follows Bruce Wayne/Batman, who faces a mysterious new villain named Hush, intent on sabotaging his crime-fighting career. The film introduces a plethora of Gotham's infamous rogues, making Batman confront his own past and trust in his allies. The narrative explores themes of betrayal and identity in a gritty, suspenseful setting.
Similar to The Killing Joke, Batman: Hush was based on one of the most popular Batman comic books and could have resulted in a great movie. However, Batman: Hush fails both as a standalone film and an adaptation. Set in the DC Animated Movie Universe timeline, Batman: Hush tries to combine the original story with elements from the New 52 continuity in a bland film that does not live up to the comic. One of the final entries in the DCAMU, Batman: Hush is also one of the franchise’s worst.
28 Batman: Subzero
Released In 1998
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Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero
- Release Date
- March 17, 1998
- Runtime
- 70 Minutes
- Director
- Boyd Kirkland
Cast
-
Batman
-
Michael AnsaraMr. Freeze
WHERE TO WATCH
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero is an animated film featuring Batman as he battles the cold-hearted villain Mr. Freeze. In this action-packed narrative, Mr. Freeze kidnaps Batgirl to save his terminally ill wife, compelling Batman and Robin to race against time to rescue her. The film explores themes of sacrifice and the lengths one will go for love, set against the backdrop of Gotham City.
Batman: Subzero revisits one of the best Batman: The Animated Series episodes, “Heart of Ice,” and sees a rematch between the DCAU Batman and Mr. Freeze. With Arnold Schwarzenegger set to play Mr. Freeze in Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin, DC Animation was tasked with having the icy villain in its next Batman movie. Interestingly, Batman & Robin’s box office failure ended up getting Batman: Subzero’s release postponed. While Batman: Subzero is a fun Batman adventure, it falls short compared to how “Heart of Ice” dealt with Mr. Freeze.
27 Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Released In 2019
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Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Release Date
- May 14, 2019
- Runtime
- 87 minutes
- Director
- Jake Castorena
- Writers
- Marly Halpern-Graser
- Franchise(s)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Cast
-
-
Eric Bauza
Gotham City becomes the stage for an unprecedented meeting of heroes as Batman discovers the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in his city. Initially clashing, they eventually collaborate to tackle a combined threat. The Shredder has ed forces with Ra's al Ghul, forcing the Caped Crusader and the Turtles to band together to defeat the new threat.
Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have fought side by side multiple times, including in the 2019 film Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The plot is as simple and straightforward as this crossover demanded, with Ra’s Al Ghul and the Shredder serving as the main villains. While not as good as most of the Batman animated movies, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brings some great interactions to life. Seeing the turtles at the Bat Cave, or Batman fighting Shredder, could not have been cooler.
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