Six best Batman movies for kids

If you are a parent of a young Batman fan, chances are you are constantly being asked “can I watch Batman?” Sure, there are a lot of Batman television shows out there to watch, but what about the movies?

While Batman is a character with a long history of appealing to fans of all ages, it’s fair to say that not all of the Batman movies are suitable for younger audiences. Some of the Caped Crusader’s films can be quite violent, and certainly not designed with pre-teens in mind.

So, what do you do? Do you say no to Batman films, or do you simply look for the Batman movies that are suitable for children?

You go for the latter, because there are lots of great Batman films that you can show to your children!

And do you know what? You can watch them too and have just as much fun with the Caped Crusader – if not more!

Below is a guide to six best Batman movies for kids. All of these titles are suitable for the newest Bat-fans in the family and all are available on DVD/Blu-ray/digital – so you shouldn’t have any problem finding them.

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Batman & Robin (1997)

OK, let’s start with perhaps the most obvious and most colourful Batman movie of them all – 1997’s Batman & Robin. This movie may not always be loved by older Bat-fans, but it is perfect for younger audiences.

While it is alive-action film, Batman & Robin is effectively a big ol’ cartoon, complete with over-the-top stunts, plenty of one-liners, and a colour palette that simply pops on screen. It also features the entire Bat-family: Batman, Robin, Batgirl and Alfred.

For those unfamiliar with Batman & Robin, the movie features Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and Bane as the chief villains. In the UK, the film is certificate PG.

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Batman: Subzero (1998)

Onto an animated tale for this second pick, and it’s another Mr. Freeze themed story, which also features Batman, Robin and Batgirl (but not much Alfred I’m afraid). For this story, Batgirl is kidnapped and it is up to Batman and Robin to save the day, in a stunning-looking adventure packed with action, emotion and some great visuals.

Not only is this movie good for youngsters to watch, but it’s also well worth viewing for adults too, as it is a spin-off from the every popular ‘90s show, Batman: The Animated Series. The film also has a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes!

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Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)

Sticking with movies based on the ‘90s Batman show brings me to Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003) – a Batman movie thriller, which sees a new character arrive in Gotham. This new character is Batwoman and it’s up to Batman and Robin to work out her true identity from a number of suspects.

Penguin, Bane and Rupert Thorne are the chief villains in this movie. The fun here is trying to work out Batwoman’s identity – it’s not who you think!

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The Batman vs Dracula (2005)

And now for a Batman movie that would be perfect for Halloween viewing – The Batman vs Dracula (2005).

Now don’t be put off by the vampire featured in the title, this is a Batman movie which is not scary, but it is entertaining.

The Batman vs Dracula is a spin-off of The Batman cartoon show of the early ‘00s and features the Joker and Penguin amongst its cast of characters.

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The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Another one which is ideal for younger members of the family AND mum or dad is The Lego Batman Movie (2017), a hilariously fun adventure loaded with charm and some great gags. The movie also has real heart, with a message about friendship and team work.

I can’t recommend this highly enough. Plus, The Lego Batman Movie features almost all of Batman’s most famous villains, from the Joker and Two-Face to Penguin, Clayface and Harley Quinn – it’s simply a treat for all ages.

Oh, and by extension, if your children are into Lego, Batman, or Batman Lego, then you certainly could do no wrong than by introducing them to the whole Batman/Lego movie collection, which includes a series of theatrical and direct-to-video movies.

The films in this Lego collection include:

• Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite (2013)
• Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered (2014)
• The Lego Movie (2014)*
• Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League (2015)
• Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Cosmic Clash (2016)
• The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
• Lego Batman: Family Matters (2019)
• The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)*

*I’ve included the two Lego Movies (2014/2019) as both feature Batman quite heavily. All of these titles are great to watch.

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Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018)

And finally, what’s better than a Batman movie? Why, a Batman/Scooby-Doo movie of course! And that’s exactly what you get with Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018).

This movie is an animated Scooby-Doo adventure and spin-off from the very popular Batman: The Brave and the Bold series – one of the best animated Batman shows of all-time. The movie sees Batman team up with Scooby in a story which is sure to delight younger Bat-fans.

And if your kids really love stories featuring Scooby & Batman (and who doesn’t?), it would be worthwhile tracking down the two Batman-themed episodes of The New Scooby-Doo Movies from the 1970s:

• The Dynamic Scooby-Doo Affair (1972)
• The Caped Crusader Caper (1972)

Both of these episodes can be found on the DVD Scooby-Doo Meets Batman, which can be found on Amazon (usually for a very wallet-friendly price). They will adore these stories.

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Batman is such a great character, that it’s fun to share in his adventures – you just need to know which adventures to share. I hope the movies featured in this post have been useful for you.

Recap

The six best Batman movies for kids:

• Batman & Robin (1997)
• Batman: Subzero (1998)
• Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)
• The Batman vs Dracula (2005)
• The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
• Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018)

And if you’re after further Batman movies that are suitable for kids, why not check out the following:

• Batman: The Movie (1966)
• JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time (2014)
• Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts (2015)
• Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem (2015)
• Batman Unlimited: Mech vs. Mutants (2016)

All of these additional titles are fine for youngsters to watch. Happy viewing!

If you would like further information on the age ratings for the live-action Batman movies, including what is suitable and what is not, then check out my post: ‘How old do you need to be to watch the Batman movies?‘.

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