Who has been the best Batman?

All the faces of Batman

From black-and-white TV series to billion-dollar blockbusters, the caped crusader has had many faces, jaws, and traumas. Here they are, in chronological order.

Photo: ABC

Lewis Wilson in 'Batman' (1943)

The first cinematic Batman. His suit looked like it was made by his aunt, and his demeanor was more boy scout than vigilante. But he was the pioneer.

Robert Lowery in 'Batman and Robin' (1949)

Second attempt. A bit more poise, but still trapped in the realm of low-budget serials. And without gadgets. No Batmobile. No dignity.

Adam West in 'Batman' (1966–1968) and 'Batman: The Movie' (1966)

Pure pop art. Color, humor, and the shark-repellent Bat-spray. West was the campiest Batman and, paradoxically, one of the most beloved.

Michael Keaton in 'Batman' (1989) and 'Batman Returns' (1992)

Burton chose a comedic actor to portray the darkest hero. Keaton gave us a stylish, disturbed, and perfectly restrained Batman.

Val Kilmer in 'Batman Forever' (1995)

An introspective but somewhat lackluster Batman, lost among neon lights, fluorescent suits, and villains who screamed as if paid by the decibel.

George Clooney in 'Batman and Robin' (1997)

The fall. The nipple suit. The bad jokes. And Clooney apologizing for decades. An unintentional kitsch gem.

Christian Bale in 'Batman Begins' (2005), 'The Dark Knight' (2008), and 'The Dark Knight Rises' (2012)

The growling Batman. With Nolan at the helm, Bale delivered an intense, realistic, and emotionally complex trilogy. His Bruce Wayne was as intriguing as his alter ego.

Photo: Warner Bros

Ben Affleck in 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' (2016), 'Justice League' (2017/2021)

A brutal, weary, and disillusioned Batman. Affleck surprised with his physicality and a certain silent melancholy. A vigilante with an existential crisis.

David Mazouz in 'Gotham' (2014–2019)

A teenage Bruce Wayne growing up among villains, corrupt cops, and various traumas. He wasn't the 'official' Batman, but the series led him to the suit.

Iain Glen in 'Titans' (2019–2023)

An aged Bruce Wayne, more mentor than hero. With a British accent and the look of a weary exorcist. His Batman existed more in dialogue than in action.

Robert Pattinson in 'The Batman' (2022)

Dark, vengeful, and full of eyeliner. Pattinson delivered a young, detective-like, and emotionally damaged Batman. Gothic without exaggeration. Not a single joke.