TheanimatedBatmanfilmsare arguably better than the live-action ones on average, and the latter could stand to take some inspiration from the former. Despite being the single most adapted comic book character in live-action,Batman also has numerous animated filmswhich use the freedom of creativity and lack of limitations the boundary has to excellently portray some incredible stories. At this point, Hollywood could stand to pilfer a few ideas from these films for their live-action Batman movies.
The concept of live-action versions of animated stories has already been proven to be a successful one bythe various Disney remakes, soon to be joined by a re-imagining of Dreamworks’How to Train your Dragon.It’s certainly been long enough for many of the animated Batman movies to be worth revisiting with a fresh coat of paint. After all,Batman has arguably always worked better in animation, so it’s hard to imagine a better way to improve his traditional films than to take notes from cartoons, though some would work better as source material than others.
Of all theanimated Batman TV shows, one of the most underrated was 2004’sThe Batman, which re-imagined the character with a modern flair. The series eventually did get a movie, but rather than pitting Batman up against some typical supervillains, he instead dukes it out with fellow famous creature of the night, Count Dracula himself. When a mysterious “Alucard” makes waves in Gotham at the same time a crop of vampire bites start showing up, it’s up to Batman to take down his nocturnal foe.
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From original stories like Mask of the Phantom to adaptations like The Dark Knight Returns, here is every Batman animated movie, ranked worst to best.
The concept of Batman fighting Dracula is so simple, yet brilliant, and has even more precedence for live-action film considering both characters' cinematic fame. The movie could get surprisingly dark for a kid’s cartoon, not shying away from blood or Batman’s ultimate willingness to kill non-human enemies. That being said, it’s undeniably a novelty that shouldn’t be a priority over any other animated Batman movies.
If there’s one Batman villain whose movie incarnation didn’t do justice, it’s Mr. Freeze. The cyrogenic supervillain was given an incredible makeover and new backstory inBatman: The Animated Series, examined deeper by the filmBatman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero.The plot centers on Mr. Freeze kidnapping Batgirl and bringing her to his Arctic lairin order to force her to donate her organs to an operation meant to save the life of his terminally ill wife Nora, still preserved in the ice.
It would be amazing to see a story as poignant and morally questionable as Mr. Freeze’s finally done right in live-action.
Hilariously enough, this film was commissioned to tie into Mr. Freeze appearing in Joel Schumacher’sBatman & Robin, which did such a bad job conveying Freeze’s sympathetic backstory or depth of character that it got the superior animated version delayed. It would be amazing to see a story as poignant and morally questionable as Mr. Freeze’s finally done right in live-action. Sadly, the film wouldn’t be demonstrating anything new, leaving it overshadowed by other more interesting options.
Plenty ofmovies based on the work of Frank Millerhave already proven the iconic comic writer’s scripts are cinema gold, and a live-action version ofThe Dark Knight Returnscould continue this trend. Based on the infamous graphic novel of the same name, the two-part animated film tellsthe story of an older, grittier Batman who lives in a very different reality. In this dystopian future, Batman is the sole tool for justice sticking up for ordinary people preyed upon by inhuman gangs, along with some help from a female Robin.
Elements ofThe Dark Knight Returnshave made their way into many different Batman movies, fromThe Dark KnighttoBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.However,no live-action Batman film has attempted an adaptationas faithful as the animated duology, leaving plenty of room on the table to explain to a wider audience why Miller’s work is so beloved. Even if the iconography would be familiar to many other Batman movies, it’s still worth delving into this particular unique Batman world.
Although he’s commonly regarded as one of the strongest superheroes with no powers, Batman didn’t become such a capable hero overnight. Along the way, he trained with a variety of different masters, andBatman: Soul of the Dragonexamines his journey in martial arts. Set in the 1970s, this film revisits Bruce Wayne’s training, including kung fu specialists from the DC universe like Lady Shiva, Bronze Tiger, and O-Sensei.
Batman: Soul of the Dragonrepresents two unique opportunities for a live-action Batman film. Such a movie could be both the first Batman period piece and the first Batman film to genuinely swirl into genres beyond superhero films, adding in a healthy splash of traditional martial arts flavor. Admittedly, the premise is quite similar to the first half ofBatman Begins, but still offers enough to stand out as a special Batman movie unlike any other.
Batman Beyondwas one of the most clever creations of the DC animated universe, showing an old and haggard Bruce Wayne passing on the mantle of Batman to the rough-and-tumble Terry McGinnis in the dystopian future of Neo Gotham. The series gained an excellent stand-alone movie withBatman Beyond: Return of the Joker.As the title implies, this film describes the return of Batman’s oldest enemy, thought to be dead for years, in the cyberpunk future of the series, arriving with ghastly fanfare.
The pain in knowing thata live-actionBatman Beyondmovie was already canceledonce, with Michael Keaton to star as an older version of his on-screen hero, could be eased by an adaptation ofBatman Beyond: Return of the Joker.Re-introducing a more familiar villain could help acclimate skeptical audiences to a different Batmaninhabiting a unique science fiction future. However, it certainly moves down in priority by not featuring Bruce Wayne as the main antagonist.
Batman: Gotham Citytook advantage of the episodic success of animated Batman on TV and converted it into an anthology film.The title consists of 6 segments, each animated by a different studioand telling a unique Batman story. Across these vignettes, Batman infiltrates a charity golf tournament as Bruce Wayne, fights Killer Croc afflicted with Scarecrow’s fear toxin, and stops an assassination attempt on Commissioner Gordon’s life by Deadshot.
It’s shocking that a superhero anthology film has never been done before, andBatman: Gotham Knightproves that the idea has legs.
It’s shocking that a superhero anthology film has never been done before, andBatman: Gotham Knightproves that the idea has legs. Even if it didn’t lift the same stories 1 to 1, a live-action version of the film could be a groundbreaking moment in superhero movie storytelling. That being said, a single cohesive narrative will always be the more marketable and exciting prospect for fans, and the film would lose a lot without its shifting art styles.
Another close adaptation of one of Batman’s most famous comic runs,Batman: The Long Halloweenparts 1 and 2 are some of thebest movies in the animated Tomorrowverse.The two-part saga recounts one of Batman’s most vicious cases ever, dealing with a serial killerwho claims a new victim every time a holiday rolls around. Though Batman’s usual rogues' gallery are all prime suspects, the true identity behind the murders manages to madden the Caped Crusader as the trail goes cold.
Despite his subtitle as The World’s Greatest Detective, Batman doesn’t get to do a whole lot of sleuthing in his movies. The one glaring exception is Matt Reeves’The Batman, which was itself heavily inspired byThe Long Halloweencomic. That being said, a more faithful rendition of the story in live-action wouldn’t go amiss, even if it would be tonally similar to the Robert Pattinson film.
After the first Robin, Dick Grayson, was succeeded by the relatively unpopular Jason Todd in the comics, DC famously had a pool deciding the Boy Wonder’s fate. By a thin margin of votes, Robin was slated to die, cruelly killed by The Joker only to later come back to haunt Batman as The Red Hood. The animated filmBatman: Under the Red Hoodtells one of the most emotional Batman stories ever committed to the screenby describing Bruce’s reunion with the son he failed.
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Batman: Under the Red Hoodis a phenomenal opportunity for a live-action Batman movie. Such a film could capture the same critical success ofCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, which told a similar story of a sidekick coming back from the dead as a terrifying villain. The emotional stakes are all there, though the film would admittedly have a lot of information to set up in a short amount of time.
In a strange way, despite being critically despised by Batman fans,Batman: The Killing Jokermight be the most suitable animated Batman movie for a live-action remake. Adapting the comic of the same name, the story followsBatman’s quest to stop the Joker after he perpetrates a particularly brutal attack against Commissioner Gordonand his family in an attempt to drive them mad. Sadly,Batman: The Killing Jokeis marred in controversyby the unnecessary addition of a romantic relationship between Batman and Batgirl.
Ironically, this single sore spot makes the film ripe for a live-action remake that does away with the abysmal choice to romantically pair Bruce Wayne with a girl he practically helped raise. Such a film could kill two birds with one stone, updating the story while re-investigating what made the original comic so intriguing, perhaps even with an R-rating. That being said, the negative press from the damage the animated film already did might be too much to bear.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps the single best candidate for which Batman film should be remade in live-action comes from the universe of critical darlingBatman: The Animated Series.This two-pronged series tells two stories set at different points in Batman’s life,showing the closest Bruce Wayne ever came to getting married and the introduction of a chilling new vigilantecalled Phantasm. Phantasm has no problems killing criminals, violating Batman’s moral code and prompting him to unearth the ominous figure’s identity.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasmnot only introduces a brilliant original villain, but it also contains one of the best Batman love interests ever put to film.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasmnot only introduces a brilliant original villain, but it also contains one of the best Batman love interests ever put to film. It would be amazing to see a traditional actor convey Batman’s struggle with accepting happiness and a normal life in the face of his desperate need to take revenge for his parents' murder. If there’s oneBatmancartoon that truly deserves the live-action remake treatment, it’sBatman: Mask of the Phantasm.
