If you are new to watching the Batman movies, first let me say welcome to a fantastic film series. The Batman movies are hugely enjoyable and can offer a wealth of great entertainment.
Secondly, don’t worry that you are only just getting into the films – everyone has to start somewhere. Better late than never, right?
Well, if you are new to the Batman movie series then you have a fantastic journey ahead. How can it be improved? By reading my six essential tips for watching Batman movies, of course!
The tips set out below should give you a little head start on your journey. Dive in and get started!
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Top tip No.1: Be aware of all of the Batman movies
There are probably more Batman movies out there than you know, so be aware of all the Batman films.
Live-action Batman adventures date back to the 1940s, via two black and white serials, however, the first feature-length film hit cinema screens in 1966! If you are not familiar with this film, the movies of the ‘80s and ‘90s, or even the films of the ‘00s, then you may be missing out on some great Bat-films.
I have written a guide to the live-action Batman movies, so if you want a rundown of all the films that fall under the Batman banner, then click on the link and give the post a read. This post will tell you what order to watch the films in – so it is very handy if you are new to the series.
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Top tip No.2: Watch The Dark Knight trilogy
Everyone has a favourite Batman film and of course, every choice is valid. However, as a general rule of thumb the best received Batman movies – both critically and commercially – are the three films that fall within The Dark Knight trilogy.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, with Christian Bale playing the role of Batman, the movies include:
- Batman Begins (2005)
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
If you are new to Batman movies or you simply have not watched these films, I highly recommend you try them out – you will not be disappointed! The films tell a compelling story, which runs across three movies, with a beginning, middle and end.
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Top tip No.3: Don’t show Joker to children
Most of the films within the Batman movie series are suitable for a broad audience (with some specifically geared towards families). However, there are exceptions and when it comes to live-action features, 2019’s Joker is a picture that is suitable for older audiences only.
Joker contains strong language, graphic violence and a hard-hitting storyline, with discussions about mental health issues and scenes depicting murder. The film is rated a 15 certificate in the UK and should not be viewed by people below this age.
For a more in-depth discussion on Joker, please take a look at my post: ‘Is Joker suitable for kids?’
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Top tip No.4: Don’t expect to like all of the Batman movies
You may watch all of the Batman movies that have been produced and you may wish to like them all, but chances are you won’t – and that is OK. There are many Batman movies – live-action and animated – and not all of them will meet your expectations.
Films that don’t always gel with audiences include Batman & Robin (1997), Catwoman (2004) and Suicide Squad (2016). Are these bad movies? Well, that is up to you to decide.
Although every filmmaker sets out to make a movie which resonates with audiences, the truth is that some simply do not. Tastes can change over time, and many audiences can find something to like in seemingly unpopular movies, but that comes down to the person, so don’t expect to like everything.
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Top tip No.5: Seek out the animated Batman movies – you will enjoy them
You may or may not be aware of this, but there are more animated Batman movies than there are live-action Batman movies. The vast majority of these animated features are very good and certainly worth hours of your time.
The first animated feature was Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, which received a cinematic release in the US on Christmas Day 1993. Since this movie was produced, Warner Bros. Pictures has put a series of animated features into production, with many adapting well-known, fan-favourite comic book storylines, such as Batman: Year One (2011), The Dark Knight Returns – Part 1 & Part 2 (2012/2013) and Batman: Hush (2019), amongst others.
If you are not familiar with the animated Batman movies then you are missing out on some great motion pictures. Check out my post on the best order to watch animated Batman movies for further details.
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Top tip No.6: Go beyond the Batman movies
And finally, if you have worked your way through (or you plan to work your way through) all of the live-action and animated Batman movies then you should also go beyond the films. Many great Batman movies are actually based on comic books or at the very least, they take inspiration from comic books.
When writers and directors are looking to put together a film, they will often dive into the original stories to help inform some of their choices. For example, Batman Begins (2005) took inspiration from Batman: Year One, while Joker (2019) took inspiration from The Killing Joke.
While there are vast collections of Batman movies available to keep audiences entertained, there are even more Batman comics. So, if you like the movies, you are sure to get a great deal of pleasure from reading the original stories too.
For suggestions of where to start, read through my post: ‘Eight best Batman comics for movie fans’.
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I do hope this post has been helpful for you. If it has, then click on the highlighted links in the post for further information and guidance, and don’t forget to check out some of the recommended reads below too.
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