Superman might’ve kicked off the superhero craze, but Batman definitely capitalized on it. Tim Burton’s dark and brooding take on the Dark Knight helped push comic book films to the forefront. We’re a big fan of the films and growing up watching these movies was a blast. Now looking back at them they might not have aged well (or has particularly been well written or acted in the first place) but they do have a soft spot in my heart.

Now we’re pitting the four films against each other in another awesome ranker tier list. The contestants Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995), and Batman & Robin (1997).

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Which film has the best story?

• Batman – 4
• Batman Returns – 3
• Batman Forever – 3
• Batman & Robin – 1

Which film has the best portrayal of Batman?

• Batman – 4
• Batman Returns – 4
• Batman Forever- 3
• Batman & Robin – 2

Which film has the best villain or villains?

• Batman – 4
• Batman Returns – 3
• Batman Forever – 2
• Batman & Robin – 1

Which film has the best side and supporting characters?

• Batman – 3
• Batman Returns – 3
• Batman Forever – 3
• Batman & Robin – 2

Which film has the best visual effects including cinematography, practical and special effects?

• Batman – 3
• Batman Returns – 3
• Batman Forever – 4
• Batman & Robin – 5

Which film has the best costume designs?

• Batman – 3
• Batman Returns – 3
• Batman Forever – 4
• Batman & Robin – 2

Which film has the best fights and action sequences?

• Batman – 3
• Batman Returns – 3
• Batman Forever – 3
• Batman & Robin – 4

Which film has the best music, soundtrack, and overall sound design?

• Batman – 3
• Batman Returns – 3
• Batman Forever – 4
• Batman & Robin – 4

Which film has best cast for the roles (not just star power)?

• Batman – 5
• Batman Returns – 5
• Batman Forever – 5
• Batman & Robin – 5

Which film has the best overall performances?

• Batman – 3
• Batman Returns – 3
• Batman Forever – 3
• Batman & Robin – 2

Which film has the best director and/or direction?

• Batman – 4
• Batman Returns – 3
• Batman Forever – 3
• Batman & Robin – 1

Which film has the highest quality of writing which includes pacing, dialogue, or characterization?

• Batman – 3
• Batman Returns – 3
• Batman Forever – 3
• Batman & Robin – 1

Final Scores:

• Batman – 42
• Batman Returns – 39
• Batman Forever – 40
• Batman & Robin – 30

The Verdict: In the end the winner is Batman (1989). Who would’ve thought that the original would be the best.

Thanks for checking out the post and in the comment section below let us know what your thoughts are and how you’d rank these films.