Every Live-Action Batman, Ranked By How Many People They Killed

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As a huge movie fan, it’s amazing to me how iconic Batman is. And for me, one of the things that really defines him is his strict rule about not killing. It’s been a part of his stories for decades, and honestly, it’s set a standard for what we expect from superheroes in general. Batman has really shaped pop culture and the whole superhero genre, and his commitment to not taking lives, even while fighting crime, is a big part of that. But it’s interesting – every actor who plays Batman brings something different to the role, and that often includes how they interpret his no-kill rule. It’s never exactly the same, which keeps things interesting!

There’s a lot of debate among Batman fans about whether he should ever kill. Some think it’s a huge error when it happens in movies, while others believe sticking to a ‘no-kill’ rule can sometimes limit the story. Interestingly, Batman has killed people in his live-action films more often than people realize. Here’s a ranking of every live-action Batman movie, based on roughly how many on-screen deaths each features.

7) George Clooney – 0 Kills

George Clooney’s performance as Batman is often criticized, but he notably defeated villains Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin (1997) without resorting to lethal force. Throughout the film, he also avoids killing any of the henchmen working for them. Given the negative reception to his portrayal, some might say this restraint is his biggest accomplishment as the character.

6) Robert Pattinson – 0 Kills

Many fans initially questioned the choice of Robert Pattinson as Batman, but his performance in The Batman was ultimately praised. The film’s dark and realistic take on the character was well-received, and Pattinson’s Batman notably avoided killing anyone. While there were a few close calls, his approach seemed deliberately focused on non-lethal methods, so he likely deserves credit for that.

5) Adam West – 1 Kill

Adam West’s portrayal of Batman featured impressive gadgets, but despite the show’s generally lighthearted tone, it surprisingly showed the hero breaking his strict no-killing rule. In the 1966 Batman: The Movie, Batman accidentally kills one of the Penguin’s goons. The Penguin’s plan involved thugs ‘rehydrated’ with heavy water, and a single kick from Batman destabilized the criminal’s atoms, instantly killing him in a uniquely strange movie death.

4) Val Kilmer – 7 Kills

Val Kilmer’s time playing Batman was brief and controversial, appearing in only one film – Batman Forever – which received mixed reviews. In the movie, Batman is directly or indirectly responsible for seven deaths. The first six occur during a car chase when he leads Two-Face’s men into a deadly trap. The seventh is Two-Face himself, whom Batman intentionally causes to fall to his death by throwing coins to distract him.

3) Christian Bale – 16 Kills (Estimated)

Christian Bale’s portrayal of Batman is famous for his intense dedication to the role, as well as the character’s strict rule against killing. However, despite Batman’s stated commitment to this rule in The Dark Knight trilogy, the films depict him as indirectly or directly causing around 16 deaths. These include numerous unnamed villains, but also significant characters like Two-Face, whom Batman allows to fall to his death, and Ra’s al Ghul, whom he leaves to die.

2) Michael Keaton – 17+ Kills

In Tim Burton’s Batman films, Michael Keaton portrayed a very ruthless Batman who frequently killed his opponents, ignoring the character’s usual rule against taking lives. He kills numerous unnamed thugs in graphic ways and is directly responsible for the Joker’s death, totaling around 17 kills across those two movies. In The Flash, he seemingly kills several prison guards and alien invaders, though the film doesn’t explicitly confirm these deaths.

1) Ben Affleck – 25+ Kills

As a fan, it’s pretty shocking to realize Ben Affleck’s Batman is actually the deadliest version we’ve seen on film. Zack Snyder’s take on the character broke Batman’s biggest rule – no killing! Over the course of those movies, it’s shown he’s taken out at least 25 enemies, and honestly, with how intense those fights are, it’s likely even more. It makes you wonder if he’s responsible for more on-screen deaths than all the other live-action Batmans put together!

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2025-11-28 20:17