There are certain parts of the Batman mythos that are non-negotiables. Bruce Wayne has to be an orphan, for instance, he has to dress in a spooky costume to frighten superstitious and cowardly criminals, and he has to ride around in some sweet vehicles.

While other aspects can vary, Batman's home base also always remains the same: Gotham City in the state of SomewhereprobablyontheeastcoastmostlikelyNewJersey, USA. Sure, he can visit other places as needed and all he likes, but he's Gotham's Dark Knight, and has been almost from the beginning. That means that there are as many interpretations of Gotham City as there are takes on Batman, especially when it comes to live-action films and television series. They each have their own benefits and drawbacks, so let's take a look at every live-action Gotham City.

Batman (1943)

Released just four years after his introduction in Detective Comics #27, 1943's Batman serials were the first appearance of Batman in any live-action medium. Starring Lewis Wilson as Batman and Douglas Croft as Robin, the 15-part story features a pretty nondescript take on Gotham, though it is the first official appearance of the Batcave, which soon after made its way to the comics.

Pros:

• Has the advantage of being the first on-screen Gotham City
• Beholden to filmmaking techniques of the time, for the better

Cons:

• Really just a city
• Difficult to find a screenshot
• Beholden to filmmaking techniques of the time, for the worse

Batman and Robin (1949)

Six years after the first run of serials, Batman and Robin returned in 1949's... well, Batman and Robin. This time around, Robert Lowery and Johnny Duncan played the respective Dynamic Duo, with the villainous Wizard wreaking havoc and causing all sorts of commotion. I'm going to be honest: I don't recall if Gotham is actually named in this, and I can't find much reference to confirm this either. Still, I'm including it for historical purposes if nothing else, so enjoy the exactly two (2) points that follow.

Pros:

• Like the '43 serials, I'm sure they did the best they could with what they had for the time

Cons:

• I couldn't find a single image I could confirm was from this series, and honestly, I don't feel like sitting through all four hours of it to get one

Batman (1966)

Now we're talking. 1966's Batman is-- as you no doubt know-- very much my jam, and one of my favorite Batman things ever. Caped Crusaders Adam West and Burt Ward fight colorful villains with tongue firmly planted in cheek, all in a bright, vibrant Gotham City that perfectly reflects the tone of the show.

Pros:

• Pure '60s magic
• Almost a character unto itself
• Located a scant and convenient 14 miles from stately Wayne Manor
• Base of operations of and home to the Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder
• An industrial hub that is also in close proximity to some wonderful beaches

Cons:

• Questionable prison security means dastardly and devious villains run amok
• Local police force oftentimes find themselves overwhelmed, forced to rely on the intervention of the Caped Crusader and his young sidekick
• Seems to get less detailed the longer you're there

Batman: The Movie (1966)

Copy and paste pretty much everything about the show, except this time for the big screen. It's a bigger, wilder City thanks to the larger budget, yet it still feels like the same Gotham one would see every week on television.

Pros:

• Even grander in scale than the television series
• Conveniently-stacked piles of foam rubber
• Prominent enough to house the headquarters for the United World Organization's Security Council
• Thriving maritime district
• Wide streets with good traffic laws, allowing for citizens to reach their destinations on foot

Cons:

• Like the show, it has a super-criminal problem, only times four
• I don't live there

Batman (1989)

1989's Batman brought a darker, more serious take on the Dark Knight, one who inhabited a far more twisted Gotham City. Director Tim Burton melded his quirky sensibilities with those of production designer Anton Furst to create one of the most memorable fictional cities to ever hit the big screen.

Pros:

• Truly a marvel of design and mood, with wonderful Gothic structures and statues
• Also like a character unto itself
• Won a well-deserved Oscar for the late Anton Furst
• Has a very timeless feel, as if it exists-- unchanged-- in every single decade of the past century, all at once
• Police department is at least semi-competent...

Cons:

• ...if largely corrupt
• Has some factories with questionable safety standards and OSHA violations
• Some areas are rather derelict and run-down, making them dangerous for the common citizen to walk alone
• Has the Batman as a protector while needing the Batman as a protector

Batman Returns (1992)

Batman was a smash hit, so of course a sequel was inevitable. With Tim Burton back in the director's chair, he was given the go ahead to make a "Tim Burton movie" in Batman Returns. After Anton Furst's tragic passing, production designer Bo Welch was brought on board to create a new Gotham City, one that looked and felt like it came out of some sort of macabre, nightmarish fairy tale.

Pros:

• Even more exaggerated with its design than its predecessor
• Looks beautiful covered in a layer of snow
• Wide sewage tunnels allow for the easy travel of motorized ducks and bat-themed skiffs
• Plenty of retail stores and other businesses, indicating a strong local economy

Cons:

• Rumored to have an energy surplus
• Clearly built completely on a sound-stage, as great as the production design is
• Doesn't have the same sweeping grandeur of the previous film's Gotham

Batman Forever (1995)

Despite the overall success of Batman Returns, it was not as big a hit as Warner Bros. wanted, so they shifted course and wanted a more family-friendly take on Batman. Tim Burton left the franchise, making way for director Joel Schumacher to step in with new production designer Barbara Ling to create a much more fantastical Gotham City than we'd ever seen before.

Pros:

• Builds on the excess of the previous film, for the better
• Feels like a huge metropolis
• Plenty of bridges and high-rises available for the Batmobile to drive over
• Lots of neon lighting even in the dingiest areas of the city
• First good look at Wayne Enterprises
• A nice, lively waterfront area
• References Metropolis, hinting at a larger DC world

Cons:

• Feels almost too big, without a clear sense of geography
• Overrun by gangs who are also fond of neon and blacklights
• High-rises and water fixtures make staging a fake suicide a bit too easy
• Despite its massive size, it feels artificial

Batman & Robin (1997)

Take everything from Batman Forever, crank it to 11, and add a dash of color and you have yourself the look of Batman & Robin. Schumacher and Ling both returned from the previous film, with Ling aiming for a city that was like a "neon-ridden Tokyo and the Machine Age. Gotham is like a World's fair on ecstasy." Mission accomplished.

Pros:

• Even more grandeur and excess
• Somehow feels more alive and real than the previous film, despite its massive scale
• Impressively impossible (or impossibly impressive) statues and buildings
• Has plenty of personality
• Architecture really feels like it's ripped from a comic book, including and especially themed lairs for villains

Cons:

• Still lots of neon, blacklight, and garish colors
• Looks almost nothing like the previous film
• Impressively impossible (or impossibly impressive) statues and buildings
• Will anybody ever learn that leaving an abandoned factory standing is practically begging for supervillains to move right in?
• The film itself has a less than stellar reputation

Batman OnStar (2000)

For a series of commercials to showcase their road safety product, OnStar teamed up with Warner Bros. to produce some surprisingly awesome shorts starring the Dark Knight. You can watch them here, and enjoy seeing Batman team up with the good folks at OnStar to help with navigating through the labyrinthine streets of Gotham.

Pros:

• Pretty solid for commercial spots
• Good cinematography means bright lighting without being over-saturated, and dark without being dreary or unclear
• Since it's for an automobile service, we get to see the Batmobile drive around a bunch of streets
• Short runtimes of TV spots leave you wanting more

Cons:

• Since the commercials are so short, we don't get an opportunity to see more
• Batsignal is slightly off-model

Birds of Prey (2002)

The short-lived Birds of Prey television series provided viewers with a new take on Gotham City in 2002, when there was otherwise a drought of live-action Batman content after the ill-received Batman & Robin. Featuring Huntress, Oracle, and Black Canary, the series re-used costumes from the Schumacher Batman films and had an overall aesthetic that fit with those movies, while still striving to have a look of its own.

Pros:

• Very much of the time, taking inspiration from the films without being a direct copy
• Being part of a TV series, more time is spent in this version than in the films
• Not bad, considering the television budget

Cons:

• Victim of some dated CGI
• Doesn't really develop much of a unique identity

Batman Begins (2005)

For the lauded 2005 reboot of the Batman film franchise, director Christopher Nolan tapped production designer Nathan Crowley to craft a "grounded," real-world Gotham City in Batman Begins. Through the lens of the brilliant cinematographer Wally Pfister, the city of Chicago was transformed into a Gotham that evoked the feel and tone of 1982's Blade Runner.

Pros:

• Maybe the first Gotham that feels like a real, true, living city
• Nifty elevated railway system
• Plenty of strong character, from the streets to the rooftops and everything in between, with lots of time spent at various locations throughout
• Introduced the idea of the Narrows
• Feels like it could exist in the real world...

Cons:

• ...because it is almost literally just Chicago
• Aside from a few added elements, lacks many fantastical aspects that make it feel like a comic book city
• Elevated railway leading water mains to a centralized hub makes disbursement of aerosol-based hallucinogens almost too easy

The Dark Knight (2008)

If Batman Begins was Gotham by way of Blade Runner, 2008's smash hit sequel The Dark Knight was Gotham by way of Heat. Nolan, Crowley, and Pfister returned to Chicago, drenching the city in cold blues to make Gotham feel even more tangible.

Pros:

• Like in the previous film, action takes place all over the city, be it the streets during a car chase or Batman gliding from rooftop to rooftop
• One of the most beautifully filmed and photographed cinematic Gotham Cities
• Long, wide streets that are perfect for flipping over semi-trucks and what have you
• Even more "real" than Batman Begins, without feeling too sterile
• Doesn't go to all the same places as the previous film, which makes the city feel bigger

Cons:

• Still literally just Chicago, as great as it looks
• Fewer fantastic elements than the previous film, which barely had any to begin with
• Large size of the city and the scope of the film make you realize how difficult it would be to keep crime at bay, even with three good men doing their best

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

For the final film in The Dark Knight Trilogy, Crowley and Kevin Kavanaugh shifted away from Chicago to other major U.S. cities to reinvent this take on Gotham. As Nolan was taking literary inspiration from A Tale of Two Cities to craft this fable, it's almost fitting that his vision of Gotham evolves over time to become, literally, two different cities.

Pros:

• Some great added elements, like the bridges to and from the city
• A local football team gives a look into the city's recreational industry
• Looks as gorgeous as ever, with lots of aerial views from the Bat and some lovely snow-covered streets
• Filming primarily in New York City and Pittsburgh makes this Gotham feel unique, like the city from the previous two films has changed over the course of eight years
• That shot of a flaming Bat symbol on a bridge makes no sense and looks so cool

Cons:

• Because it was filmed in different cities than before, it doesn't look much like the Gotham of the previous films in the series, aside from being A Big City
• Without making it too much of a thing, Bruce Wayne leaves his gear to a practically untested and untrained former cop, so who knows how long it will really be protected going forward

Gotham (2014)

A Batman show without Batman, Gotham ran from 2014 to 2019 and saw the rise and fall of several of the Dark Knight's foes before Bruce Wayne even donned the cape and cowl. Not quite as grounded as the Nolan films, the series did not shy away from a bit of the weird and fantastical, which translated to its version of the titular city.

Pros:

• No denying that it's a Gotham City
• With several seasons of an hour-long series, it's one of the most photographed and represented on-screen Gothams
• Attempts were made at adapting a wide variety of stories and including versions of a bunch of Batman's rogues, which is commendable

Cons:

• The show is bananas, and not always (read: very rarely) in a good way
• Very glum and dark, thanks to muddy cinematography and digital rendering

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Batman returned to the big screen in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, where Gotham City was made a sister city to Metropolis, putting the two famous locations in close proximity to each other. Surprisingly little screen time is actually spent in the city itself, though we do get to see places like Ace Chemicals in the background of some shots, which was cool.

Pros:

• Quite a few comic-related references
• Conveniently located across a scenic bay from Metropolis
• Another thriving maritime district
• Also has an active football team, which can be the sign of a healthy local economy
• I do believe that this specific Batman would live in this specific Gotham

Cons:

• Very little time is spent in the city itself, despite a lengthy film runtime
• Has clearly seen better days in regards to protection and law enforcement
• Part of what can charitably be referred to as a "divisive" film

Suicide Squad (2016)

Ben Affleck made his second appearance as Batman later in 2016, with two memorable scenes in David Ayer's Suicide Squad. We get to see a bit more of Gotham City this time around, thanks to a chase scene with Harley Quinn and the Joker and a back-alley confrontation between Batman and Floyd Lawton, alias Deadshot.

Pros:

• Part of the two best scenes in the movie, by far
• Lively retail and social scenes, thanks to the presence of shops and clubs

Cons:

• Also in a very divisive film
• Very little screen time, so we don't see much of it

Justice League (2017)

Affleck's third foray as the Dark Knight came in 2017, with Justice League offering even more action in his home city. Even still, Gotham doesn't get a lot of screen time, since the narrative takes the story to places like Themyscira, Metropolis, and Russia.

Pros:

• More comic booky locations
• Some really cool Batman shots, especially at the beginning of the movie
• Batsignal is still in operation, so Batman is still around

Cons:

• Brief screentime
• Honestly, feels like a means to an end or afterthought, with how little time is actually spent here

Titans (2018)

It would be strange to have a television series with Robin in one of the lead roles and not ever mention Gotham City, let alone visit there, and that's a misstep that Titans managed to avoid. The heroes went there quite often over the series' run, and the bulk of the third season even took place in Gotham, so we got to spend plenty of time there as well.

Pros:

• A moody urban cityscape, fitting the tone of the show
• Filmed largely in Canada, yet manages to look like a fairly unique city
• A really good portrayal of Barbara Gordon is the police commissioner

Cons:

• A moody urban cityscape, fitting the tone of the show
• Both Robins had quite the potty mouth
• Once protected by one of the more broken and tragic takes on Batman

Arrowverse (2019)

Several different Gothams appear in the "Arrowverse" shows, particularly during the Crisis on Infinite Earths event. Most are used for the sake of character cameos, like Robert Wuhl as Alexander Knox and Burt Ward as Dick Grayson, but it wouldn't feel right to not include them.

Pros:

• Knox!
• More than one to choose from

Cons:

• Most are almost immediately destroyed, I think? I don't know, it's been a while since I watched this

Pennyworth (2019)

Another "Batman show without Batman", Pennyworth (eventually given the unwieldy title Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman's Butler) chronicled the early life of Alfred Pennyworth, including how he met and became acquainted with Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane. Created as a prequel to Gotham, the series wasn't set in Gotham, but had ties to the city by its nature. It was... really weird.

Pros:

• Looks a lot like New York

Cons:

• Looks too much like New York
• Also part of a series that's bananas in a not-so-great way
• Again, it's been a while, but I don't recall an awful lot of time being spent here

Joker (2019)

The surprise $Billion+ hit Joker played like "Scorsese meets DC Comics," with a story that bore more similarities to Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy than any specific comic book. Given that it was an examination of one man's descent into madness, there wasn't much room for flights of fancy, though it still took place in yet another take on Gotham City.

Pros:

• Beautifully shot thanks to some genuinely amazing cinematography
• Practically is New York

Cons:

• Practically is New York
• The Waynes kind of suck in this movie, so I doubt they put forth as much of a philanthropic effort as they could have

Batwoman (2019)

Even though this was (mostly) another "Batman show without Batman", Batwoman at least had the benefit of having a costumed protector to watch over Gotham City. Since this show tied into other "Arrowverse" series, it was the official Gotham City for that universe too, one could say.

Pros:

• That's a pretty cool Wayne Tower
• Really not a bad looking city, as far as TV versions go

Cons:

• Probably just Vancouver
• Show was... not great, even if it slightly improved over time

Birds of Prey (and The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn )(2020)

Filmed in Los Angeles on sound stages, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) had possibly the liveliest take on Gotham since the 1960s. Thanks to K.K. Barrett's production design, we also get some amazing lairs and deathtraps, which need to make a full comeback and soon.

Pros:

• Bright and clear, thanks to a lot of daytime scenes
• Lots of great whimsical locations, like the Ace Chemicals factory and that funhouse hideout
• Home to the maker of an amazing-looking egg and cheese sandwich

Cons:

• Despite the movie featuring a lot of different locations, it feels relatively small compared to some other Gothams
• Chances of getting pick-pocketed are greater than zero

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

In 2021, Zack Snyder's "original vision" for his Justice League film was released on HBO Max, titled-- appropriately enough-- Zack Snyder's Justice League. The four hour film expanded on ideas seeded in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman, as well as similar story beats from the theatrical version of the film, though curiously there wasn't an awful lot of footage showcasing Gotham City. Even still, it's different enough to warrant inclusion.

Pros:

• J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon is a plus
• Seems large and expansive, from what we see of it

Cons:

• Still, very little time is spent here, so we don't get to know this Gotham well at all

The Batman (2022)

Director Matt Reeves' The Batman featured the first wholly original big screen Gotham City in a decade, realized through practical set design and the use of the LED Volume back projection technology. Production designer James Chinlund took inspiration from hotels, underground railways, and real-world cities to create this version of Gotham, which is full of packed city streets, high-rises and skyscrapers, and suspension bridges. It's an example of "heightened realism," with the most macabre and Gothic architecture since Batman in 1989.

Pros:

• Looks both modern and and almost Gothic all at once
• Fresh, interesting locations and unique takes on familiar landmarks alike
• Some of the rendering of the skyline was inspired by The Room, which is just... incredible
• References Blüdhaven, hinting at a larger Batman world
• Makes good use of the LED Volume technology

Cons:

• As good as it looks, use of the Volume does make it feel a bit artificial
• Feels cramped and open at the same time, with scenes set on the streets almost claustrophobic while those set in open air locations feeling disconnected from each other
• The buildings could use more details to be more memorable, like exaggerated statues and grotesques and gargoyles
• Could use a better sense of geography overall, as it's not clear where all the locations are in proximity to one another

Gotham Knights (2023)

For this short-lived series, Gotham City is-- obviously-- the main location for all of the stories and action. I don't have anything else to say about it, honestly.

Pros:

• It's in the title, so yes, this is another Gotham

Cons:

• Most definitely Vancouver, and I've even read in a few different places that a lot of the establishing shots are recycled from other shows
• The show was not good

The Flash (2023)

The second big screen Gotham this century we get to see primarily in daylight, The Flash's opening action set piece takes place along the city streets and up the side of a hospital building. Ostensibly meant to be the Gotham City that Affleck's Batman would patrol, it looks different than what we'd seen before, which could be a combination of the daytime setting and how little we'd seen of it in previous films. We also see the return of the Wayne Manor where Michael Keaton's Batman lives, but disappointingly we do not get to see his Gotham again.

Pros:

• Wide streets allow for that Flying Fox vehicle to drop Batman into the action
• Has Batman to patrol the streets, even during the day
• Seen in the daylight, so we can actually get a good look at the buildings

Cons:

• Even in daylight, there's hardly anything here that's memorable
• Hospital is going to need a lot of repairs and reconstruction

The Penguin (2024)

Considering The Penguin focuses on organized crime and the seedy underbelly of Gotham City, it's fitting that this spinoff series of The Batman film feels murkier and dirtier than its big screen companion. This is a very good thing, as production designer Kalina Ivanov imagines some brilliantly grungy locales, be it a cramped apartment, a night club, or even a mansion. Filthy in the best ways, The Penguin's Gotham is as broken and sullied as its title character.

Pros:

• Grimy and kind of gross, matching the tone of the show
• Honestly feels more tangible and real than in the movie, thanks to the different locations that are visited
• That final shot of the Batsignal shining over the city is truly incredible

Cons:

• Sewage and water tanks accessible enough that one could get trapped in them and drown
• Still lacks notable landmarks that would allow the viewer to get a sense of location and scope

Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

It could be argued that Joker did not need a sequel, given that the movie was a relatively standalone story with a definite beginning, middle, and end. When it was announced that all the major players would be returning for a second film, which would be a sort of musical with Lady Gaga joining the cast as Harley Quinn, Joker: Folie à Deux became an intriguing idea, to say the least. Given the lackluster reviews and tepid box office, it could still be argued that the sequel was not necessary, but it still has a live-action Gotham City, so here we are.

Pros:

• It cannot be said that this Gotham City does not have a functioning courthouse
• Some of the fantasy numbers have locations that would look really good in a better different movie

Cons:

• The entire film is set in like two locations
• I'm just going to stop here before I rant about this movie (I did not like it)

Batgirl (Unreleased)

Finally, we have Batgirl, which was all but completed and ready for release before it was canceled for a tax write-off. It's a shame, as the stellar cast featured Leslie Grace in the title role, Michael Keaton and J.K. Simmons reprising their respective roles as Batman and Jim Gordon, and Brendan Fraser as Firefly, with a script from Christina Dodson and rising stars Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah in the director's chair(s). Aside from an official photo or two, there wasn't much material released to show this film's take on Gotham, but enough behind the scenes images have made their way online that we can get a pretty good idea of how it would have looked. Shame that it was shelved instead of... other films.

Pros:

• From what we've seen, it looks like a good blend of the '89 film's Gotham with more modern trappings
• It also apparently would have taken place around Christmas, and Gotham during the holidays is always a sight to see
• More Keaton is always a plus

Cons:

• We will never (legally) get to see this

Sound off below and let us know which Gotham is your favorite.