RANKING THE THEATRICAL BATMAN ACTORS
November 28th, 1975, I, Kurt George Lewis, was born at 5:17 AM. November 30th, 2005, Kathryn Ann Lewis was born at 11:44 AM. She is my daughter, Katy and thirty years younger than me. Bit of a gap that allows a lot change among some similarities. To commemorate this month, Katy and I are going to see just how similar we are. Now we are getting deeper into pop culture, people! This is where we will see if I have done right by my child. Have I taught her the right things in life. I hope. We are ranking Batman actors here. Correction, we are ranking Theatrical Batman including some animated films. We are not looking at the individual films just the leading character whose name is on the marquee. Honorable Mentions: Lewis Wilson: Batman (1943) and Robert Lowery: Batman and Robin (1949)
These were both fifteen part series shown in theaters before the feature film. Somewhere between fifteen to twenty minute length at a time. The first one was World War II themed with Batman fighting a master mind who is Japanese trying to bring American down for the Axis. This was the least Batman of the list. You could of switched him out for anyone. In fact both actors played Batman the same. This Batman was mysterious, along with Robin, and not trusted by the cops. Very generic with little back story. Typical fighting organized crime and foiling an evil schemes. This would continue for the second film but now just Batman fighting Organized crime without the political messaging. Second time around Batman is trusted by the community and the police. Allowed to come and go with authorization work with authorities. No more working undercover so to speak. Still secret identities but walking about in daylight in costume was alright. The costumes were very poorly fitting. Could not take it seriously whatsoever. No memorable lines either. Very bland delivery but it was the 1940s with stoic heroes playing at one tone. Me hero fight bad guy. Batman is so much more as we will see. Why are these films not on the official list? Technically they both were series just shown weekly in a movie theater. TV was not really a thing yet and this was a method to make sure people came back to the 'cinema'. KURT'S PICKS
10. Adam West Batman (1966) He was the first live action Batman that I ever saw. Campy; gadgets, super serious; crazy logic and every back up plan to 50 back up plans made light blue cape crusader memorable. A deputized civil servant who civic minded. Everyone trusts Batman with no problems with driving around fighting bad guys in broad daylight. Secret identity sure. He and Robin survive on stupid luck. Bad guys don't unmasked or shoot them, but leave alone in a crazy death trap. Every time he finds a ridiculous of surviving and winning.
9. George Clooney Batman & Robin (1997) and The Flash (2023) I never was a fan of George Clooney as Batman. He just did not work in the role. He is not vengeful or really moody. George Clooney is literally playing George Clooney. Charming; charismatic; dramatic; sensitive; campy; smug and very good looking. Not the Dark Knight. Comes across like Adam West's Batman in hokey in how he is clever and gets out of the weirdest situations without logic actually being present. He does not come across like a mentor/father figure to Robin either. No, this Batman is a frat brother to Robin. In fact they act almost like a couple. 8. Keanu Reeves Super Pets (2022) Keanu Reeves was an awesome playing angered vengeance loner stereotype of the character. This merges Michael Keaton and Kevin Conroy and throws them into a looney tunes world where everything he says and does, it over the top. 7. Will Arnett The Lego Movie (2014), The Lego Batman Movie (2017) and The Lego Movie (2019) All ego. A good guy absolutely. Wants to be the hero and be known for being that hero. Public image and being full of himself. A legend in his mind. Gadgets galore. Talks in the third person. Doesn't understand why not everybody sees how great he is. Comedy gold. 6. Christian Bale Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012) One word to describe Christian Bale as Batman. Demonic. I mean it. Look at the costume. It is pitched black with nothing contrasting with it. He is prone to physical violence and anger. Rage is all he knows as Batman. The mask is perfectly shaped to his face. He looks evil in the mask. Not sure where the mask ends and the face begins. The voice is unsettling. Raspy. Never smiles in the suit except once when he nearly beats Joker to death in the second film. He wants to fight evil in a grey area. Doesn't kill but he may not save you. The uncertainty is his most powerful weapon. 5. Robert Pattinson The Batman (2022) and The Batman Part II (2028) There is no real difference in Batman or Bruce Wayne. An awkward grieving for a social misfit. The eyes are dangerous because they are dead. This is the first time we see Batman/Bruce Wayne where he is neither visible vengeful nor is he playing the carefree playboy. Works with the cops as Batman but is not trusted by anyone but Commissioner Gordan. His reaction to anything is quiet and mournful. Disheveled because he is focused on filling the emptiness inside of himself. He has an obligation more then a cause. Very alien with a heavy play on brain work with physical action second. 4. Ben Affleck Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), and The Flash (2023) This version is much more a mirror of the comic book version. More reliant on gadgets. Openly expressing anger in tone and action. An expression that is not kind but focused on the moment. Trust is not a thing for him. This Batman only begins to except others, outside of Alfred, when he sees his actions have brought disaster. With that said, this version is not completely honest with Alfred. 3. Kevin Conroy Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) and Batman: The Killing Joke (2016) Kevin Conroy was just a voice. That is an understatement. That voice shaped the character. As Batman, the voice is calm and focused. Stable but holding back a forceful influence. You see that this is The Dark Detective. One step ahead at all times. As Bruce Wayne, the voice shifts into a more personable type. Conversational. Human in concern and execution. The animated series that this version originated, would never of worked without Conroy. 2. Val Kilmer Batman Forever (1995) Following up from Keaton was not going to be easy. Val Kilmer did not play Michael Keaton take 2. This Batman was much more reflective. The burden is more difficult to carry now. A crossroads of who he is or who he wants to be. More humanity as Batman with less physical anger. More defensive then offensive. More detective then action. Looking for the light to cling to. Batman is not making Bruce happy. He wants to be happy. He needs to be whole. More a sadness then anger guiding the mission this time. Saving then punishing. 1. Michael Keaton Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), and The Flash (2023) Keaton was the game changer. Known mainly for comedy by 1989, many critics were concerned about what this might turn out to be. He played it serious. A character still grieving an impossible loss. A interior darkness that bleeds into every corner of this man's existence. A quiet anger shown in swift calculated action that also includes killing. The tone is low never screaming nor facial expression showing hate. Emotion is light as it gets in the way of the cause, vengeance. KATY'S PICKS
I'm going to go in reverse.
Diedrich Bader - Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008 - 2011)
Loved Batman: The Brave and the Bold when I was younger. Okay, this was technically a TV show. Wait, Scooby Doo teamed up with this version in 2018. I count this one.
Rino Romano - The Batman (2004 - 2008)
Another Batman show I loved when I was younger. Batman Meets Dracula 2005
Kevin Conroy
Michael Keaton
Adam West
Robert Pattinson
Will Arnett
I forgot he was Lego Batman
Keanu Reeves
Christan Bale
George Clooney
Just no.
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