10 Best Animated Batman Movies, According To Ranker

When it comes to movies, Batman's live-action features understandably attract the most attention. The likes of Tim Burton and Michael Keaton's take on the superhero, as well as Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale's, undoubtedly left big legacies for Batman in pop culture.

However, as one of DC Comics' most popular superheroes, the Dark Knight has also amassed an impressive catalog of animated movies. Ranker's voting community included some of these features in their crowd-contributed list of the character's best movies ever. These range from original stories while others adapted acclaimed arcs from Batman's pantheon of comics.

10

The Batman Superman Movie: World's Finest (1998)
Superman flying and Batman swinging with him in The Batman Superman Movie
Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video

Despite mediums outside of comics having a predilection for pitting these two iconic heroes against each other, Superman's friendship with Batman in the comics is one of DC's best dynamics. Collecting three episodes from the beloved Superman: The Animated Series, the two teamed up for a movie adopting their iconic "World's Finest" epithet.

The Batman Superman Movie: World's Finest chronicles the duo's first official team-up in the DC Animated Universe. Their first meeting is unsurprisingly on the rocky side, but a plot involving the Joker and Lex Luthor brings the heroes together. The movie is in an entertaining, nostalgic romp with two of the most celebrated iterations of the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel.

9

Batman: Year One (2011)
Batman leaping forward in Year One cover art
Available to stream on HBO Max

Frank Miller's Year One is commonly accepted as Batman's definitive origin, making it a matter of time before DC adapted it into animation. This story arc shows fans Bruce Wayne's early days as the nocturnal vigilante, back when organized crime and systematic corruption ruled more so than Batman's colorful cast of rogues.

The small-scale and crime-focused noir story fits the character and Gotham City naturally, showing what a fledgling Caped Crusader was like before he became the seasoned veteran so many have come to love. Year One's animated adaptation was admittedly too short, but it mostly did well in capturing the core spirit of what made the comic so revolutionary.

8

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)
Justice League Flashpoint Paradox Animated Movie
Available to stream on HBO Max

While DC's efforts in the DC Animated Movie Universe didn't close out well for some fans, The Flashpoint Paradox is cited as one of the comic publisher's best works in animation. Director Jay Oliva was behind several of DC's greatest animated movies, and this one did well in adapting The Flash arc from the pre-New 52 comics.

Seeing anti-hero or evil versions of beloved heroes may not always translate well into live-action. However, Flashpoint Paradox makes good use of its medium to wholeheartedly embrace the inherently wild nature of the source material.

7

Batman: Assault On Arkham (2014)
Members of Suicide Squad swinging through Gotham with Batman in the background for Assault on Arkham's promo art
Available to stream on HBO Max

Though Assault on Arkham is a Batman movie, many fans also saw it as a better take on the Suicide Squad than the 2016 theatrical film. And unlike some other movies on Ranker's list, this was an original story that took place within Rocksteady's praised Arkhamverse.

Taking place two years before Arkham Asylum, it centers on the Caped Crusader dealing with a breakout on Arkham Island involving Task Force X. It was a good piece of supplementary material for the gaming universe, showing different conflicts at play in a fast-paced plot. From Batman trying to thwart the Riddler, to Harley going rogue in breaking Joker free, and the gradual regression of the Suicide Squad's dynamic makes for an exciting watch.

6

The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
Banner for The Dark Knight Returns Part 1
Available to stream on HBO Max

Another one of Miller's best works was The Dark Knight Returns. It's one of Batman's best comics to influence the Dark Knight Trilogy, taking an alternate, politically-dystopian spin on the character. Some fans understandably think that, while a great story, it's been misconstrued in terms of perceiving Batman as a character.

However, when viewed from its intended "Elseworlds" lens, it was compelling in its own right and the two-part animated adaptation did well in faithfully capturing that. The translation of Miller's artwork to the screen was seamless, and Peter Weller stands as one of the Dark Knight's best actors for his performance.

5

The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Lego Batman
Available to rent on Apple TV+

Batman has long since become a character acclaimed for being a crime-noir superhero. But even though those are the most well-received, it's nice for a character with so many different shades of interpretation to veer back into playful camp. The Brave and the Bold animated series was a good serialized take for this, but The Lego Batman Movie has genuinely become one of fans' favorite Batman movies.

It won't get the same level of praise the aforementioned ones do, but many enjoyed this in its own right for being a lighthearted palate cleanser. The likes of Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, and Rosario Dawson's performances made for a wonderful and charming alternate experience.

4

The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013)
Poster artwork for Batman The Dark Knight Returns Part 2
Available to stream on HBO Max

Like with the initial movie, the quality of The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 closes out Miller's dystopian saga in suitably explosive fashion. All of the pros from the first part carried over, with Weller's performance as Batman once again a highlight. However, Part 2 had the added boon of including Michael Emerson's uniquely disturbed rendition of the Joker.

Similarly, Mark Valley's Superman was another great voice opposite Weller's Batman. Seeing both of the hero's chaotic fights against the two in the movie's crisp art style and animation was worthy of the comic's reputation.

3

Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker (2000)
Batman standing atop a building with the Joker's face looming in the background in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker's cover art
Available to stream on HBO Max

Batman Beyond was the breakout cult hit that no one asked for when it came to the Dark Knight's mythos. The DCAU in general is loved among DC fans, and Return of the Joker is one of its best movies. Terry McGinnis' Blade Runner-inspired Batman was a novel idea to reinvent the character and was more than capable of being the new leading man.

Pitting him against Bruce Wayne's most bitter enemy also proved to be exciting to watch. Joker's "revival" didn't feel cheap like the idea sounds on paper, and watching McGinnis break down the Clown Prince of Crime by pushing the right buttons was cathartic — especially since the Joker has only ever known how to toy with Bruce.

2

Batman: Under The Red Hood (2010)
Under The Red Hood
Available to stream on HBO Max

The adaptation of Jason Todd's dramatic resurrection is held in particularly high regard. That's partly due to putting to screen a landmark event from the Batman mythos, as Jason's death is cemented within the Caped Crusader's mind as his greatest failure.

Likewise, the core cast of Bruce Greenwood, Jenson Ackles, and John DiMaggio as Batman, Red Hood, and Joker respectively was superb. The latter two were notably solid, with Ackles emotionally conveying the angry, tortured soul that is Jason Todd. Meanwhile, DiMaggio's Joker holds up incredibly well, even with Mark Hamill's iteration held as the gold standard.

1

Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993)
Batman extending his flowing cape with the titular Phantasm's mask looming overhead
Available to stream on HBO Max

Even in the face of Burton's game-changing movies and Nolan's acclaimed modern classics, Mask of the Phantasm can is commonly decreed by fans as the best Batman movie. The DCAU has had plenty of its praises sung, but this movie is its crowning achievement when it came to expanded works.

Like much of BTAS, Phantasm is an original story that introduces a new antagonist in the form of the titular Phantasm. The plot expertly blends a noir period piece with tragic romance, as well as being a definitive example of why Batman is one of DC's greatest heroes. As of now, Phantasm is arguably the most psychologically fascinating and emotionally profound Batman movie.
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