7 Times Batman Definitely Killed People In Movies

by

Batman is a legendary superhero famous for his strict rule against killing. While he’s occasionally broken it during his movie and TV appearances, some of those instances have been quite extreme. Although many heroes are willing to cross the line, Batman usually refuses to kill his enemies. However, when adapted for live-action, it often feels like the story requires him to permanently eliminate his opponents to resolve conflicts.

Batman is known for his strict rule against killing, and many fans feel it’s a core part of who he is. However, most Batman movies have shown him breaking this rule, either by accident, as a consequence of his actions, or intentionally. This often goes against what makes the character so important in the DC Comics universe. With a new take on Batman coming in the upcoming film, The Brave and the Bold, let’s revisit seven times Bruce Wayne lost control and resorted to violence.

7) The Joker’s Goons in Batman (1989)

Michael Keaton’s Batman first faced his most famous enemy, the Joker (played by Jack Nicholson), in a thrilling movie debut. Despite a self-imposed rule against killing, Batman showed little restraint, especially when dealing with the Joker’s gang. In a dramatic scene, Batman used a bomb launched from the Batmobile to eliminate the Joker’s henchmen, who were attempting to attack him. This explosive act not only took out the villains but also destroyed the nearby Axis Chemical plant, disrupting the Joker’s wider schemes, including the dangerous Smylex chemical.

6) The Joker in Batman (1989)

Having defeated the Joker’s henchmen, Batman focused on the Joker himself. While many actors have portrayed the Joker in movies, Jack Nicholson’s performance is widely considered one of the best. Notably, this version of the Joker is the only one Batman has definitively killed on screen. After stopping the Joker’s scheme involving chemicals, the Joker attempted to flee during their fight in a cathedral. Batman then used a grappling hook to tether the Joker’s leg to a falling gargoyle, causing him to plummet to his death. This act was a form of revenge for Bruce Wayne, as the Joker was responsible for the death of his parents in this particular storyline.

5) The Firebreather and the Tattooed Strongman in Batman Returns (1992)

Michael Keaton reprised his role as Batman in the 1992 film Batman Returns, continuing a pattern of brutal violence. After defeating the Joker, Batman began killing without clear provocation. He first fatally burned a circus performer, John Strong, using the Batmobile’s exhaust. Shortly after, during a fight with the Penguin, Batman shockingly strapped dynamite to another performer, Rick Zumwalt, and launched him into a manhole, causing a deadly explosion. These acts establish this version of Batman as a disturbingly violent and ruthless character.

4) Harvey Dent’s Two-Face in Batman Forever (1995)

When Val Kilmer took over the role of Batman in 1995’s Batman Forever, many were surprised to see the character continue to skirt his strict rule against killing. After defeating the Riddler, Batman faced off against Two-Face, played by Tommy Lee Jones. In a final confrontation, the disfigured Harvey Dent flipped a coin to determine Batman’s fate. Batman cleverly threw multiple identical coins into the air, distracting Two-Face and causing him to lose his footing and fall to his death. While not a direct killing, it was another instance of a villain dying as a result of Batman’s actions.

3) League of Shadows Members in Batman Begins (2005)

In 2005, Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins offered a fresh take on the Batman story. Christian Bale played Bruce Wayne, who transforms into the Caped Crusader after rigorous training with Ra’s al Ghul (Liam Neeson) and the League of Shadows. Wayne returns to Gotham after discovering the League plans to eliminate all criminals, but he ultimately destroys their headquarters in a massive explosion. He chooses not to actively kill al Ghul, though the destruction of the temple undoubtedly resulted in the deaths of some League members.

2) Harvey Dent’s Two-Face in The Dark Knight (2008)

In Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, Bruce Wayne’s Batman faced multiple tragic foes. Beyond Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Shadows, he also encountered and ultimately caused the death of a second version of Harvey Dent, known as Two-Face (played by Aaron Eckhart), in The Dark Knight. While the Joker (Heath Ledger) was the main threat, Batman intervened when Two-Face endangered Commissioner Gordon’s (Gary Oldman) family. In the ensuing struggle, Two-Face fell to his death, mirroring the fate of the 1995 version of the character. Though a tragedy, this outcome felt more like an unavoidable accident than a deliberate killing.

1) Lex Luthor’s Henchmen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Batman in the DC Extended Universe frequently broke the classic “no killing” rule. Throughout his first appearance in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, he eliminated numerous opponents. Although he initially intended to kill Superman (Henry Cavill), they eventually teamed up against Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) and Doomsday. However, during fights like the warehouse scene and a high-speed Batmobile chase, Batman showed no hesitation in killing Luthor’s henchmen. He ran over enemies with his vehicle, fired a massive amount of ammunition, broke bones, slammed people against surfaces, used a flamethrower, and even stabbed opponents. Affleck’s Batman was clearly quite brutal and reckless.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/every-upcoming-batman-movie-tv-show-dcu-explained/embed/#

Read More

2025-11-30 19:41