Adam West

Michael Keaton

Val Kilmer

George Clooney

Kevin Conroy

Christian Bale

Ben Affleck

Robert Pattinson

West portrayed the first live-action version of the character, appearing in a television series and three television films. Keaton, Kilmer and Clooney stars as Batman in the Burton-Schumacher films, while Conroy voiced the character in the DC Animated Universe films. Bale headlined The Dark Knight trilogy, Affleck appeared as Batman in the DC Extended Universe and Pattinson in The Batman-connected films.

The following is a list of cast members who voiced or portrayed characters appearing in the Batman films. The list is sorted by film and character, as some characters may have been portrayed by multiple actors.

Actors Lewis Wilson and Robert Lowery first appeared as the character in the serial films, Batman (1943) and Batman and Robin (1949). While Adam West reprised his role as Batman from the 1960s television series in Batman: The Movie (1966).

In the Burton / Schumacher films, this iteration of the character is first portrayed by Michael Keaton in Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992) and later would reprise the role in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film, The Flash. Actor Val Kilmer would later replace Keaton in the role in Batman Forever (1995) and would also be replaced by George Clooney in Batman & Robin (1997). The series was later cancelled due to the lukewarm reception to Batman & Robin.

Actor, Kevin Conroy voiced the character in multiple theatrical and Direct-to-DVD films as multiple iterations of the character. This started with reprising his role from the DC Animated Universe in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998), Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000), Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003) and Batman and Harley Quinn (2017). Conroy would later voice the character in multiple films in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies.

In Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy, this iteration of the character is portrayed by Christian Bale in Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). In 2016, a new iteration of the character was introduced in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), portrayed by Ben Affleck. In the films Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad (both 2016), Justice League (2017) as well as filming additional scenes in the film's director's cut (2021) and in The Flash (2022).

Will Arnett voices the character in The Lego Movie franchise as well as a spin-off The Lego Batman Movie (2017). In Joker (2019), Dante Pereira-Olson portrays a younger version of Bruce Wayne in a minor role. Robert Pattinson portrays a younger iteration of the character in Matt Reeves' film The Batman (2022), which is intended to launch a Batman shared universe, with two sequels planned and two spin-off television series in development for HBO Max.

Other prominent cast members who appear in the films and/or series within the franchise include Burgess Meredith, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Heath Ledger, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, J. K. Simmons, Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell, John Turturro and Lady Gaga.

Feature-length live-action films

Early films

Burton and Schumacher series (1989–1997)

The Burton and Schumacher series was a series of American superhero films with the first two installments directed by Tim Burton and the following two installments directed by Joel Schumacher. The two Burton-films left a legacy and influenced Hollywood's modern marketing and development techniques of the superhero film genre.^[1] While Schumacher's Batman & Robin (1997) is regarded as one of the worst rated superhero films of all time.^[2] Many Batman storylines serve as inspiration such as Batman: The Killing Joke, the tone of The Dark Knight Returns, The Man Behind the Red Hood! and Catwoman: Her Sister's Keeper. In 2023, it retroactively confirmed that the Burton-directed and Schumacher-directed films are set in two different continuities.^[3]

The Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012)

The Dark Knight is a trilogy of American superhero films all directed by Christopher Nolan. The first reboot of the Batman film series, it is credited for revitalizing the Batman character in popular culture, shifting its tone towards a darker and more serious/realistic tone and style. Many Batman storylines serve as inspiration such as Batman: Year One, The Killing Joke, The Long Halloween, Knightfall, The Dark Knight Returns and No Man's Land. The trilogy has been ranked among the greatest ever made.

Shared Universes

DC Extended Universe (2016–2023)

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) was an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films starting in 2013 with Man of Steel and ending in 2023 with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. It was based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. The DCEU introduced multiple pre-established supporting and antagonistic characters from the Batman mythos. The inspiration for the DCEU version of Batman is based on The Dark Knight Returns and A Death in the Family. The reception to the franchise and depiction of its characters/storylines has generally been mixed among critics and fans.

The Batman franchise (2022–present)

The Batman franchise is an American media franchise and shared universe created by filmmaker Matt Reeves and producer Dylan Clark. The franchise is centered on a series of superhero and crime films and television series focusing primarily on the Batman and the supporting characters from the Batman mythos. It started in 2022 as the third reboot of the Batman film series, with a Batman trilogy and a number of films and series spin-offs centered on members of Batman's rogues gallery in development. The storylines, Batman: Year One, The Long Halloween, and Ego served as inspiration.

DC Universe (–2025)

The DC Universe (DCU) is an upcoming American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films and television series based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. It serves as the successor and soft reboot of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The story of the DCU is divided into chapters, starting with "Gods and Monsters" which will begin in 2024 with the animated series Creature Commandos. DC Studios co-Chairmen and co-CEOs, James Gunn and Peter Safran considered the chapter's first film, Superman: Legacy (2025), to be the true beginning of the DCU.

Joker films (2019–present)

The Joker films are an American thriller character study films directed by Todd Phillips focused on the origins and stories of the DC Comics supervillain, the Joker and the later Harley Quinn. The series take inspiration from gritty psychological films such as Taxi Driver (1976) and The King of Comedy (1982) both directed by Martin Scorsese as well as loosely adapting plot elements from the storylines, The Killing Joke and Mad Love. Though the filmmakers otherwise did not look to specific comics for inspiration.

Feature-length animated films

DC Animated Universe (1993–2019)

The DC Animated Universe (DCAU) was a shared universe centered on a group of animated television series based on DC Comics characters and stories. It initially began with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992 and ended with Justice League Unlimited in 2006. Five feature films, four primarily focusing on Batman and his supporting characters are also in the continuity that continued to be released years later.

DC Universe Animated Original Movies (2008–present)

The DC Universe Animated Original Movies are a series of American direct-to-video superhero animated standalone films based on DC Comics characters and stories. Gotham Knight (2008) is set in the continuity of the Dark Knight trilogy. While Assault on Arkham (2014) is set in the continuity of the Batman: Arkham video game franchise. The Batman storylines adapted were The Dark Knight Returns, The Doom That Came to Gotham, Gotham by Gaslight, The Killing Joke, Under the Hood and Year One.

DC Animated Movie Universe (2013–2020)

The DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU) was an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films, that featured plot elements inspired by The New 52 continuity. It is apart of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line of animated films. The storylines loosely adapted were Batman and Son, Night of the Owls and Hush.

Tomorrowverse (2020–present)

The Tomorrowverse is the name given to an American media franchise and shared universe that serves as the successor and soft reboot of the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU). It is apart of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line of animated films. The storyline adapted so far is Batman: The Long Halloween.

Batman '66 films (2016–2017)

The Batman '66 films are two American animated superhero films serving as a continuation from the 1960s Batman TV series.

Lego