5 Movies Every Batman Fan Must Watch

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With over eighty years of appearances in comic books, Batman has become a hugely popular superhero, extending his reach from the pages of comics to TV, video games, and movies. He’s starred in almost a dozen major films, plus older serials, many animated movies, and even makes appearances in films featuring other heroes. For fans, this means there’s a wealth of Batman movies available, showcasing the World’s Greatest Detective and his iconic DC Comics villains.

Fans often face long waits between new Batman movies. It’s been over three years since the first film directed by Matt Reeves, and we’re still awaiting its sequel. With both that movie and the upcoming DCU film, The Brave and the Bold, on the horizon, it’s hard to say when the next Batman movie will arrive. Fortunately, there are plenty of other great films to enjoy in the meantime. These movies will not only keep you entertained while you wait for more Batman, but they might also give you a fresh perspective on the Batman films you already love.

5) Blade Runner

As a huge film fan, I’ve always known Christopher Nolan deeply admires Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner – it’s right up there with Kubrick as one of his biggest influences. He’s often talked about how Blade Runner specifically inspired his 2005 film, Batman Begins. But actually watching the original Blade Runner is something else entirely – you really see how it’s woven into the very fabric of his Batman film, it’s more than just a stated influence.

The connection between Blade Runner and Batman Begins is clear. Blade Runner centers on Rick Deckard, a former police officer who tracks down bioengineered humans, all set in a sprawling, rainy, futuristic city. The city feels like a natural evolution of an existing one, built upon for decades, growing upwards and embracing innovation while leaving behind layers of its past. Christopher Nolan adopted this visual approach for his Gotham City, weaving it into the story through the city’s diverse districts and the Wayne family’s influence on the public transportation system. Watch Blade Runner, then Batman Begins, and you’ll notice the impact goes beyond just the shared rainy atmosphere.

4) Heat

As a big movie fan, I always thought Batman Begins showed its inspirations pretty clearly, but The Dark Knight really doubled down on feeling real. And when it came to that gritty realism, it was heavily influenced by Michael Mann’s Heat from 1995. The connection is pretty obvious – both films center around these incredibly intense, large-scale heists. But it’s more than just that; Heat really shaped the whole feel of The Dark Knight on a deeper level.

As a huge fan of both films, I’ve always seen a really strong connection between The Dark Knight and Heat. The way Batman and The Joker clash feels almost exactly like the dynamic between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro’s characters in Heat – a detective relentlessly pursuing a master criminal. Especially that famous diner scene in Heat – it’s so clearly the inspiration for the interrogation room showdown in The Dark Knight. Once you see Heat, you can’t help but notice how much Nolan borrowed from it, and it adds a whole new layer to appreciating The Dark Knight.

3) Batman: The Movie

Many people forget that a Batman movie came out between the first and second seasons of the 1966 TV show starring Adam West and the original cast. While Tim Burton’s 1989 film is often seen as the first Batman movie, the colorful adventure with Adam West actually came first (and if you want to be precise, the 1943 Batman serial was the very first!). Though the campy and over-the-top style of West’s Batman isn’t always what fans expect, it’s an important part of the character’s story. Plus, this movie gave us the famous line, “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb,” and the most outlandish Bat-gadget of all time: Shark Repellent.

2) Se7en

If you loved Matt Reeves’ The Batman and are eagerly awaiting the sequel, David Fincher’s Se7en is a great choice to watch in the meantime. While Se7en is definitely more intense and graphic than any Batman film, its influence on Reeves’ style is clear. Both movies share a similar mood – a detective lost in a grim, rainy city, investigating a mysterious and unsettling villain. In fact, The Batman feels like a spiritual successor to Se7en. Just be prepared for a significant time commitment with either one – maybe alternate between them!

1) Batman & Bill

So far, we’ve discussed movies that heavily influenced Batman films or lesser-known parts of the character’s past. Now, we want to share something that could genuinely change how you view Batman’s history and his importance in comics. For years, Batman adaptations credited Bob Kane as the sole creator, but many fans knew that wasn’t the full story. This documentary, by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce, tells the story of how Bill Finger, a crucial contributor, finally received the recognition he deserved from DC Comics and a place in history.

The story of who really created iconic comic book characters is often as complicated and legendary as the characters themselves. Stan Lee is well-known for sometimes claiming credit for the work of others, and a similar situation surrounds Batman’s beginnings. While Bob Kane initially conceived of a “Bat-Man,” Bill Finger was actually responsible for most of the key elements that made the superhero so iconic. The book Batman & Bob delves into this story, offering a fresh and revealing look at the hero’s origins.

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2025-11-29 04:13