It's probably safe to say that there's hardly a character who has been on film more than Batman. Be it film serials, television series, movies, or cartoons, there have been countless hours of Batman media filmed, animated, broadcast, and what have you over the past nine decades. With all of those different representations come a variety of different Batsuits, easily one of the most recognizable designs in the history of popular culture.
Since we like Batman, and we like talking about Batman, how about going through the cinematic history of the Dark Knight and breaking down his on-screen costumes? There are plenty to choose from to kickstart this conversation, with a pretty significant range in quality.
First off, this is not a ranking of these costumes in order, but a chronological look at each suit. I'll weigh the pros and cons of each, making note of elements that work and those that don't. Film quality won't play a huge part, as there are Batman films I love with Batsuits that I don't, and vice versa. Still, some of these costumes are so tied to their respective media that it's hard to think of them without taking context into consideration, but again, not a ranking.
Also, I'm limiting myself to live-action theatrical films, which is why Adam West's Batman is here but the suits from Gotham, Titans, and those On-Star commercials aren't. For that same reason, the perfection of Mask of the Phantasm's Batsuit isn't included, nor is the slightly-less-but-still-pretty-perfect The LEGO Batman suit.
I'm also only including suits that were actually worn in films that have been released, so none of those otherwise sweet Batsuits from that one scene in The Flash, no screen test suit from Justice League Mortal, and no Keaton Batman from Batgirl. That one still stings...
Batman (1943)
The very first on-screen Batsuit, debuting a mere four years after Batman was introduced in the comics. Lewis Wilson donned the costume in the 15-part serial, simply titled Batman, where he was joined by Douglas Croft as Robin.
Pros:
- Has the benefit of being the very first
- Definitely looks like Batman
- The ribbed wings on the Batsymbol look great
- Body suit fits fairly well
- Decent attempt at a scalloped cape
Cons:
- Looks very cheap and hastily made
- Floppy ears and gauntlet spikes
- Cape is way too short
- Cowl is really baggy with tiny eye holes
- The serial has... has not held up well
New Adventures of Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder (1949)
The second cinematic Batman, this time played by Robert Lowery. Johnny Duncan rounds out the latter half of the Dynamic Duo, and the 15-part serial finds Batman and Robin facing off against the mysterious and deadly villain the Wizard
Pros:
- Most of the cool elements from the first suit are in evidence here, including the Batsymbol
- Kind of digging that huge circular belt buckle
- Better cape, with deeper scallops with more defined points
Cons:
- Bat ears somehow look worse
- Still looks cheap
- Doesn't fit the actor as well
Batman: The Movie (1966)
For Batman's first feature-length film, we have the man who has put in more hours in the suit than any other actor, as Adam West portrays the Caped Crusader for the big screen in a film released between seasons one and two of the classic 1966 Batman television series. Joined by the ever-reliable Burt Ward as his youthful sidekick Robin, Batman takes on the fearsome foursome of the Riddler, the Penguin, the Joker, and Catwoman, all the while clad in a very comic-accurate suit.
Pros:
- Pure. West.
- This is Batman
- Proof that blue, gray, and the yellow oval will work in live-action
- Very much of its time, in the best way
Cons:
- Modern color grading has done some weird things to those blues
- The stenciled on eyebrows and nose are silly
- Ears could be longer
- The velvet gloves result in floppy spikes
- Batsymbol could be higher on the chest
Batman (1989)
For the Dark Knight's second feature film, Tim Burton unexpectedly cast Michael Keaton as Batman, which was a surprise due to his relatively average height and propensity for more comedic roles. Over the years, though, Keaton's Batman has been seen as the definitive portrayal for many fans, thanks in no small part to his costume. With an all black body suit that resembles a grotesque monster more than a man, this Batsuit helped sell the more serious approach to the character taken by Burton and company.
Pros:
- Really puts the "dark" in "the Dark Knight"
- Photographs incredibly well
- Great cape and overall silhouette
- Perfect chest symbol placement
- Good ear length
- Awesome utility belt design
- Sweet Nike Air Trainer boots
Cons:
- Can't really unsee the Nikes when you know about them
- Symbol rocks, but has weird barbs for no real reason
- Has some bulk that makes it look incredibly uncomfortable and difficult to move in
- Some crafting issues on closer inspection, like rough edges around the eyes
Batman Returns (1992)
For Michael Keaton's second outing as the Caped Crusader, he gets a slightly updated suit that still looks largely the same as in the first film. Sleeker, yet with a more armored look, the Batsuit for Batman Returns is another iconic look from costume designer Bob Ringwood, who is joined this time around by Mary E. Vogt.
Pros:
- Personally, my favorite cinematic Batsuit
- Armored plating on the torso looks better than molded abs
- Perfect Batsymbol
- Sleeker cowl with perfect ear length
- Refines the earlier suit without completely reinventing it
- Looks like it has better mobility
Cons:
- Missing some of the menace of the '89 suit
- The tearaway cowl scene makes it feel retroactively flimsy
Batman Forever (1995)
Despite strong box office returns for the previous film, Warner Bros. wanted to shift gears with the third Batman film to appeal to a wider audience. With a largely new production crew and a new actor in the suit, Batman gets not one but two costumes in 1995's Batman Forever: his main outfit, which fans have dubbed the "Panther" suit, and a prototype sonar suit used in the film's climax.
"Panther" suit
Pros:
- Looks like a Jim Aparo drawing, with Kilmer's tall, lean build
- Great cowl and perfect ears
- Always going to love that yellow oval
- Cool cape
Cons:
- Yes, the nipples, but the sculpted abs are too much too
- A yellow belt would have broken up the glossy black
Sonar suit
Pros:
- No nipples
- Has an in-story reason for being worn
- Ab sculpting looks less anatomical than the "Panther" suit
- Kind of digging that belt buckle
- Huge Batsymbol on chest is pretty cool
Cons:
- Clearly made to sell toys
- Weird veiny piping on the legs
- Needs more color, and definitely missing the yellow oval despite the cool symbol
- Too shiny, as it's a silvery-black instead of matte black
- Glove spikes replaced by a single long blade
Batman & Robin (1997)
For the third Batman actor in as many films, Batman & Robin had two separate suits for George Clooney to wear: one entirely new, the other... not as much. Despite the less than stellar reputation of the film-- with the suit's chiseled look heavily inspired by Greek statues being a contributing factor-- a Batsuit is a Batsuit, and there's still some good to be seen here.
Batsuit
Pros:
- Fantastic cowl and perfect ears
- Looks like it fits the actor better than any suit so far
- Lots of great mobility in the film
- Return of a Batymbol in an oval
- Ab sculpting more subtle than Forever's suit
Cons:
- ...but still a bit much, along with the much-maligned nipples
- Dark blue could work, if there was more color to the suit
- Batsymbol missing the yellow in the oval, and has an over-designed bat
- Looks cheap in several shots in the film
Ice suit
Pros:
- Has more color than the regular suit
- Only used for like ten minutes of screen time
- Two-toned cowl actually kind of almost looks okay
- The launchable knuckle spikes were pretty sweet
Cons:
- Clearly made to sell toys
- Just the sonar suit with a few newly painted areas
- Looks really, really dumb
- Really dumb
Batman Begins (2005)
With Batman & Robin's less than stellar box office and reception leading to Warner Bros. reassessing the entire franchise, it would be eight years before we saw Batman on the big screen again. Thankfully, we got the excellent Batman Begins in 2005, which went to great lengths to capture a sense of verisimilitude with the Batsuit worn by actor Christian Bale. Almost every aspect of the costume had a practical function, yet it's still a very comic booky Batman costume.
Pros:
- Really close to being the best suit in design and execution
- Great belt
- Good ear length
- Despite practicality as explained in the movie, it's still fantastical enough to look cool
- Great chest symbol
Cons:
- ...that is not used as the actual logo for the film, shape of the Batarangs, or anything else
- Functionality described to a fault, in some cases
- The gloves are too smooth, clashing with the ornate gauntlets
- Neck is way too clunky and looks massive
The Dark Knight (2008)
Christian Bale returned to the role of Batman in 2008's The Dark Knight, which was a critical and commercial smash, and still seen by many to be the benchmark for comic book filmmaking. Batman wears the same suit from the previous film for much of the first act, but circumstances lead him to request a new costume from his confidant Lucius Fox. Like the Begins suit before it, this suit had several practical upgrades, such as armor plating over a mesh-type material that allowed for more mobility, and a cowl separate from the neck piece to allow for Batman to turn his head.
Pros:
- Good head mobility
- Kept the great belt
- Slimmer than the Begins suit
- Good boots
- Believable in-story reason for the new suit
- Makes an attempt at white eyes
- Photographs well on film, for the most part
- The movie is so good I can accept it
Cons:
- Tiny Batsymbol
- Looks pretty ugly, honestly
- Cowl makes him look like a bobblehead, and doesn't fit his mouth right
- Different segments look weird, especially on the legs
- Definitely the largest gap between quality of film and quality of suit
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
For Christopher Nolan's conclusion to The Dark Knight Trilogy, Christian Bale wore the exact same suit from the previous film. While surely there were some changes to its construction and craft, and perhaps some adjustments here and there to the sculpting of the cowl or armored plates, it looks identical, and nothing in the movie indicates that it is any different than its predecessor.
Pros:
- No discernible changes from the previous movie
Cons:
- No discernible changes from the previous movie
- Does not look great photographed in daylight
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
For the first time since 1966, we have a Batsuit that is not solid rubber. Ben Affleck's Batman in the followup to 2013's Man of Steel wears a suit that is heavily influenced by Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, with a two-tone color palette and huge chest symbol. For his confrontation with Superman, he dons a heavy suit of armor that's also inspired by Miller's work, and even has a "desert warfare" outfit for one of the film's vision sequences. With three separate costumes, that makes this the Batman film with the most onscreen suits to date.
Batsuit
Pros:
- Like 80% of the way toward perfection
- First suit that isn't a solid black bodysuit
- Love the attempt at black and gray
- Looks like fabric over armor, rather than black rubber
- Solid belt
- Great cape
Cons:
- That remaining 20% really knock it down a few notches
- Ugly Batsymbol
- Ears are too short
- Cowl bunches up around the neck
- Steel-toed boots and knuckles are a bit much
Knightmare suit
Pros:
- Batman in a trenchcoat is a pretty sweet look
Cons:
- Feels like it's meant to look cool rather than anything
- Tied to a scene that carries a lot of baggage
Armored suit
Pros:
- Just about perfect translation from The Dark Knight Returns
- Definitely feels like you might could almost take on Superman in it
- White eyes are neato
Cons:
- Again, tied to a scene with a lot of baggage
- Even the movie makes it look too clunky and impractical
Suicide Squad (2016)
Ben Affleck's second performance as Batman was for an extended cameo in Suicide Squad, which came out just a few months after Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. It is largely the same suit he wore in the previous film, though he uses one notable accessory during the action-packed setpiece.
Pros:
- No discernible changes from the suit in Batman v Superman, save for a neat rebreather
- Cowl might be a bit sleeker
Cons:
- Same cons as before
Justice League (2017)
Look, I'm not going to go into... anything about the production of either Justice League movie. We'll all be the better for it if we don't have to revisit that drama, so let's just take a look at Affleck's second official outing as Batman.
Batsuit
Pros:
- Largely the same as the BvS suit, but all black
- Looks a bit slimmer and less bulky than in Affleck's previous outings
Cons:
- Lack of color takes away a lot of the appealing character of the suit
- The beginning of goofy straps
- Cowl looks cheaper, and the slanted ears aren't doing it any favors
Tactical suit
Pros:
- It does look like a Batsuit
- Used for tactical missions
Cons:
- Looks even more like a Nite Owl suit
- The straps for the armor plating may be practical, but look no less silly
- Cowl looks even worse than the regular suit
Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
I'm not trying to be pithy or dismissive toward this movie, honestly. Just copy and paste most of what I wrote in the previous section, because everything that can be said about "the Snydercut", good and bad, has already been said ad nauseum.
Batsuit
Pros:
- Much the same as the suit in the theatrical cut
Cons:
- Yeah, copy and paste from above
Tactical suit
Pros:
- Same as above
Cons:
- Really, I tried, but there's nothing more to say about this than I already did before
Knightmare suit
Pros:
- Batman in a trenchcoat still looks cool
- Those glove spikes in that image are pretty sweet
Cons:
- Part of an even more divisive scene, which I personally found to be some of the all around worst filmmaking I've ever seen
- Again, doesn't seem to serve any purpose other than looking cool
- Cowl looks really baggy, like it's two sizes too large
The Batman (2022)
Batman has his first solo outing on the big screen in a decade in Matt Reeves' The Batman, with Robert Pattinson in the title role. If Christian Bale's suits had a sense of practicality and believability, Pattinson's doubles down on realism and looks practically homemade. Even if it isn't too everybody's taste, aesthetically speaking, it fits the tone, story, and world that Reeves and crew have created in this new Batman universe.
Batsuit
Pros:
- I 100% believe he made this himself
- Practical almost to a fault
- Great mobility
- Cowl is reminiscent of Adam West's
- Good cape, and the collar works too
- The symbol is not the gun that killed his parents
Cons:
- I 100% believe he made this himself
- Practical almost to a fault
- Weird ear shape and placement
- Honestly kind of ugly
- Definitely looks like he's wearing hockey pads
Glider suit
Pros:
- A decent attempt at making this function somewhat believable
Cons:
- The overall scene was unintentionally silly and Bats should have been crippled
The Flash (2023)
Finally, the most recent big screen film with Batman gives us double for our money, as Ben Affleck is back in the cowl once again and Michael Keaton reprises the role for the first time in over three decades. Two Batmen/Batmans/Bats Man means two Batsuits for us to admire. As it looks right now, this will be the last time we see Batman on the silver screen until The Batman Part II hits theaters next year, so let's see if we go out on a high note.
Ben Affleck Batman
Pros:
- Blue and gray all the way
- Like some of Affleck's other suits, there are some really great elements here
- Great belt and cape
- The smoother texture is a good idea that could be refined in future films
Cons:
- Way too overdesigned
- The buckles, straps, padding, and other add-ons are questionable at best, hideous at worst
- Many of the problems with the other Affleck suits are present here, like the ill-fitting cowl
Michael Keaton Batman
Pros:
- The entire reason most of us went to see this movie
- A believable and mostly acceptable update to the Returns suit
- Gorgeous yellow oval
- Maybe the best glove spikes of all
- Perfect ear length
Cons:
- The capsule belt would be perfect if it weren't solid black
- Cowl looks big and doesn't fit as well as it could have
- Some odd piping on the torso and chest
- Probably the last time we'll see Keaton in the cape and cowl
Sound off in the comments: what is your favorite live-action Batsuit? Any that you think are underappreciated, overrated, or perfect in every way? Let us know.
