Top 10 Best Animated Batman Movies

Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" is a contender for Batman's greatest graphic novel, so any adaptation will come with lofty expectations. Wisely split into two parts, "The Dark Knight Returns" films do justice to the source material's ambitious and thematically dense narrative. While some elements, such as the Cold War plot thread, are naturally dated, the story's dissection of the Batman mythos and his influence on society remains impactful, as does the political commentary involving Superman. These movies push Batman to his natural conclusion, an endpoint defined by violence, anarchy, and a hint of hope.

Split into six shorts, "Batman: Gotham Knight" bridges the gap between Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight." With different writers and directors handling each segment, "Gotham Knight" varies widely in terms of quality. Although not every story hits the mark, the film does at least improve as it goes along, with the second batch of episodes being far better than the first. Highlights include Brian Azzarello's character-driven "Working Through Pain" and the two segments animated by the anime studio Madhouse, one of which features a terrifying take on Killer Croc.

Building upon the excellent character work established in "Batman: The Animated Series," "SubZero" brings Mr. Freeze's story to its logical conclusion… until it continued in “The New Batman Adventures.” Similar to the show's much-celebrated "Heart of Ice" episode, "SubZero" presents an antagonist who is only a villain out of necessity, as Freeze proves to be willing to do anything to save his wife. Even with polar bears serving as henchmen, "SubZero" manages to tell a mature tale that can appeal to anyone regardless of their age. The animation is unsurprisingly gorgeous, while the voice acting maintains the high quality of the original series.

As an adaptation of Frank Miller's iconic graphic novel, "Batman: Year One" sticks very close to the source material, and it’s all the better for it. "Year One" splits its time between Bruce Wayne and Gordon, both of whom arrive in Gotham with aspirations to reform the city. While the film handles Bruce's transformation into Batman competently, Gordon's storyline steals the show, as the Lieutenant dives into the city's corrupted underbelly without the security of anonymity. "Year One" moves at a blistering pace, almost to a fault, but it does an admirable job of showcasing the resilience and humanity of Gotham's brand-new protectors.

The Dark Knight has come a long way since the campy adventures of the 1966 "Batman" TV series. The Adam West-led show was a product of its time, but there is a certain charm to its innocence. "Return of the Caped Crusaders" marks a surprisingly effective return to this era of Batman, albeit one that uses the original series as a launching pad to tell a hilarious story that borders on parody. "Return of the Caped Crusaders" is not only a love letter to the '60s show, but to Batman in general.

In 2018, Batman went anime. Gorilla Grodd's time machine sends the Dark Knight and a selected few of his Rogues' Gallery to Feudal Japan, a change of scenery that pushes Batman completely out of his comfort zone. Rather than tone down the bizarreness of its premise, "Batman Ninja" wholeheartedly embraces its absurdity. Everything culminates in a final act so unapologetically over-the-top, it can make some mecha anime seem quaint in comparison. "Batman Ninja's" animation also sets it apart from other DC outings, while Tony Hale's performance as the Joker is nothing short of inspired.

Few moments in Batman's storied history were as controversial as "Death in the Family," the storyline that saw the Joker kill Jason Todd. Like the similarly titled comic, "Under the Red Hood" brings the former Robin back into the fold, and his resurrection shines a critical eye on Batman's morals. Despite balancing plenty of characters and plot threads, "Under the Red Hood" never feels stretched thin, as Batman goes up against a new antagonist who practices an extreme version of the hero's vigilantism. "Under the Red Hood" tells a mature story with no easy answers.

Be it "Batman: The Animated Series" or "Batman Beyond," the DCAU did right by the Dark Knight. "Return of The Joker" brings an element of closure to Batman and Joker's legendary rivalry, as the Clown Prince of Crime reappears decades after his supposed death. The haunting context behind Joker's demise and reemergence highlight one of Bruce Wayne's worst failures, but the film never loses sight of the fact this is Terry McGinnis' story. As the film culminates in an engrossing duel pitting the past versus the present and future, "Return of The Joker" demonstrates Terry's individuality and worthiness as a successor to the original Batman.

After the success of "The Lego Movie," the world was screaming out for a spin-off, a call that Batman quickly answered to make sure that Superman couldn't. The ultimate loner who has been on the job for far too long, this Batman is childish, arrogant, petty, and a highly talented beatboxer. A genuine cinematic experience, "The Lego Batman Movie" is gorgeously animated and tells a story that blends many laugh-out-loud scenes with a handful of sincere moments. "The Lego Batman Movie" goes to places conventional DC projects simply can't, expanding the Dark Knight's Rogues' Gallery to include the likes of Sauron and Voldemort.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Batman vs. Robin” (2015)
Because Bruce & Damian Wayne’s Dynamic Is Very Interesting

“Batman and Harley Quinn” (2017)
Because Batman Reacting to Harley’s Antics Is Comedy Gold

“Superman/Batman: Public Enemies” (2009)
Because the Film Does a Great Job Demonstrating the Appeal of Both Heroes

“Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman” (2003)
Because Sometimes a Film Can Just Be Entertaining, If Not Necessarily Deep

“Batman: Assault on Arkham” (2014)
Because This Is a Pretty Great Suicide Squad Movie & a Decent Batman Flick

While most DC animated films are direct-to-video, "Mask of the Phantasm" was released in theatres, and the film looks the part. Bringing a cinematic flair to the best elements of "Batman: The Animated Series," "Mask of the Phantasm" supplements a haunting gothic aesthetic with a sublime soundtrack, an unbeatable voice cast, and a personal storyline. When a strange figure begins to target mob bosses in Gotham, Bruce Wayne's past crashes into Batman's present. "Mask of the Phantasm" is not just the best animated Batman film, but one of the greatest superhero movies of all time.