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Batman watch order

Batman movies in order, release and chronological. Updated October 20, 2026.

Batman films don't connect across eras, so pick a continuity: Tim Burton's (Batman, 1989, and Batman Returns), Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy (2005 to 2012), or Matt Reeves's The Batman (2022) with The Penguin. Each is best in release order. On the animated side, Batman: The Animated Series (1992) leads into Mask of the Phantasm and Batman Beyond, the animated films (Year One, The Killing Joke, Under the Red Hood, The Dark Knight Returns) each stand alone, and Gotham (2014) is a prequel series about young Bruce and Jim Gordon.

How to watch the Batman movies in order: the full guide

All 26 films and series in the Batman franchise, in release order and in chronological (story) order. The first in release order is Batman (1966); the first in chronological order is Batman (set in 1966).

Release order

  1. Batman (Movie, 1966): Adam West's camp classic; its own world.
  2. Batman (Movie, 1989): Tim Burton's Batman with Michael Keaton, who returns in The Flash.
  3. Batman Returns (Movie, 1992): Burton's darker sequel with the Penguin and Catwoman.
  4. Batman: The Animated Series (Series, 1992): The 1992 cartoon many fans call the definitive Batman.
  5. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (Movie, 1993): The animated series' feature film.
  6. Batman Forever (Movie, 1995): Val Kilmer takes over in the same continuity.
  7. Batman & Robin (Movie, 1997): George Clooney's turn ends the run.
  8. Batman Beyond (Series, 1999): An old Bruce Wayne trains Terry McGinnis as the new Batman in 2039; continues Batman: The Animated Series.
  9. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (Movie, 2000): The Batman Beyond film: the Joker is back in Neo-Gotham, and a flashback shows his last night with the old Batman family.
  10. The Batman (Series, 2004): A younger Bruce in his third year as Batman, with new designs for every villain.
  11. Batman Begins (Movie, 2005): Christopher Nolan's origin story; starts the Dark Knight trilogy.
  12. The Dark Knight (Movie, 2008): Heath Ledger's Joker; the trilogy's centrepiece.
  13. Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Series, 2008): A lighter, Silver Age-style Batman teaming up with a different DC hero each episode.
  14. Batman: Under the Red Hood (Movie, 2010): The second Robin, Jason Todd, returns from the dead as a vigilante who kills.
  15. Batman: Year One (Movie, 2011): Frank Miller's story of Bruce's first year as Batman and Jim Gordon's first year in Gotham.
  16. The Dark Knight Rises (Movie, 2012): Ends the Dark Knight trilogy, eight years later.
  17. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (Movie, 2012): An aging Bruce comes out of retirement to fight the Mutant gang.
  18. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (Movie, 2013): The Joker wakes, and the government sends Superman to stop Batman.
  19. Gotham (Series, 2014): A prequel series: young Jim Gordon on the Gotham police, and Bruce growing up after his parents' murder.
  20. Batman: The Killing Joke (Movie, 2016): The Joker tries to drive Commissioner Gordon mad; based on Alan Moore's comic.
  21. The Lego Batman Movie (Movie, 2017): A comedy spin-off; optional.
  22. Joker (Movie, 2019): Arthur Fleck's story; stands apart from every Batman continuity.
  23. The Batman (Movie, 2022): Robert Pattinson's detective Batman in his second year.
  24. Batman: Caped Crusader (Series, 2024): Bruce Timm's noir Batman in a 1940s-style Gotham.
  25. The Penguin (Series, 2024): Picks up a week after The Batman; essential before Part II.
  26. Joker: Folie à Deux (Movie, 2024): The sequel to Joker.

Chronological order

  1. Batman (set in 1966): Adam West's camp classic; its own world.
  2. Batman (set in Gotham City): Tim Burton's Batman with Michael Keaton, who returns in The Flash.
  3. Batman Returns (set in Christmas in Gotham): Burton's darker sequel with the Penguin and Catwoman.
  4. Batman Forever (set in Gotham City): Val Kilmer takes over in the same continuity.
  5. Batman & Robin (set in Gotham City): George Clooney's turn ends the run.
  6. Batman: The Animated Series (set in Gotham City): The 1992 cartoon many fans call the definitive Batman.
  7. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (set in Gotham City): The animated series' feature film.
  8. Batman Beyond (set in Neo-Gotham, 2039): An old Bruce Wayne trains Terry McGinnis as the new Batman in 2039; continues Batman: The Animated Series.
  9. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (set in Neo-Gotham): The Batman Beyond film: the Joker is back in Neo-Gotham, and a flashback shows his last night with the old Batman family.
  10. Batman Begins (set in Gotham City): Christopher Nolan's origin story; starts the Dark Knight trilogy.
  11. The Dark Knight (set in Gotham City): Heath Ledger's Joker; the trilogy's centrepiece.
  12. The Dark Knight Rises (set in Eight years later): Ends the Dark Knight trilogy, eight years later.
  13. The Lego Batman Movie (set in Lego Gotham): A comedy spin-off; optional.
  14. Joker (set in 1981): Arthur Fleck's story; stands apart from every Batman continuity.
  15. Joker: Folie à Deux (set in 1983): The sequel to Joker.
  16. The Batman (set in Year two): Robert Pattinson's detective Batman in his second year.
  17. The Penguin (set in A week later): Picks up a week after The Batman; essential before Part II.
  18. The Batman (set in Year three as Batman): A younger Bruce in his third year as Batman, with new designs for every villain.
  19. Batman: The Brave and the Bold (set in Team-ups across the DC universe): A lighter, Silver Age-style Batman teaming up with a different DC hero each episode.
  20. Batman: Year One (set in Year one as Batman): Frank Miller's story of Bruce's first year as Batman and Jim Gordon's first year in Gotham.
  21. Batman: The Killing Joke (set in An origin for the Joker): The Joker tries to drive Commissioner Gordon mad; based on Alan Moore's comic.
  22. Batman: Under the Red Hood (set in Jason Todd returns): The second Robin, Jason Todd, returns from the dead as a vigilante who kills.
  23. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (set in A 55-year-old Bruce): An aging Bruce comes out of retirement to fight the Mutant gang.
  24. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (set in Batman against Superman): The Joker wakes, and the government sends Superman to stop Batman.
  25. Gotham (set in Young Bruce and Jim Gordon): A prequel series: young Jim Gordon on the Gotham police, and Bruce growing up after his parents' murder.
  26. Batman: Caped Crusader (set in 1940s-style Gotham): Bruce Timm's noir Batman in a 1940s-style Gotham.

Coming next

Common questions

What order should I watch the Batman movies in?

Batman films don't connect across eras, so pick a continuity: Tim Burton's (Batman, 1989, and Batman Returns), Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy (2005 to 2012), or Matt Reeves's The Batman (2022) with The Penguin. Each is best in release order. On the animated side, Batman: The Animated Series (1992) leads into Mask of the Phantasm and Batman Beyond, the animated films (Year One, The Killing Joke, Under the Red Hood, The Dark Knight Returns) each stand alone, and Gotham (2014) is a prequel series about young Bruce and Jim Gordon.

How many Batman movies and shows are there?

There are 26 titles in the Batman franchise: 19 films and 7 series, released from 1966 to 2024. 1 more is announced: The Batman: Part II.

How long does it take to watch all the Batman movies?

About 222 hours for all 26 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (24 titles) take about 218 hours.

What is the first Batman title in chronological order?

Batman, set in 1966. In release order the first is Batman (1966).

Which Batman titles can I skip?

Batman and The Lego Batman Movie. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.

What is the next Batman release?

The Batman: Part II, out February 18, 2028.