10 Best Batman Animated Movies Ranked
Batman animation is not a side shelf for completists. It is one of the best places to see the character’s detective skills, theatrical villains and private doubts given room to breathe. Animated Batman movies can move from noir romance to brutal crime drama, from a future Gotham to a Victorian alternate world, and from a story for a broad audience to a genuinely adult thriller. This countdown ranks ten animated Batman films, keeping your supplied order intact and explaining what each does especially well.
The list includes two-part adaptations, so we treat The Dark Knight Returns, Part One and Part Two as separate films, exactly as provided. We also include The Long Halloween’s two halves separately. That split makes the countdown useful if you want to watch the releases in order, although the full stories work best as paired viewings. The ranking starts with Gotham by Gaslight at #10 and ends with Mask of the Phantasm at #1, which remains the strongest all-round animated Batman movie.
Animation gives directors choices that live-action budgets and physics cannot always support. Gotham can be a stylised maze, a Victorian city, a retro-futurist landscape or an abstract world of deep shadows. The same flexibility also places more responsibility on the writing: the action only matters when it reveals something about Bruce Wayne, his enemies or the people caught between them. These films vary in violence, tone and continuity, so we point out which are welcoming entry points and which are best left for older fans.
If you are searching for the best Batman animated movies, a Batman animation watchlist, or an animated superhero film to watch tonight, this guide gives you a route through different styles. It also notes that availability changes by country and service. Check the current UK listing before planning a double feature, and do not assume that animated automatically means suitable for children.
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10. Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)
Gotham by Gaslight transports Batman to a Victorian version of the city and turns him loose on a Jack the Ripper mystery. Bruce Wayne, voiced by Bruce Greenwood, investigates a series of murders while the public suspects that the killer may be the Dark Knight himself. Jennifer Carpenter voices Selina Kyle, whose presence brings a different kind of intelligence and resolve to the case. The period setting is the film’s immediate attraction: gas lamps, fog, old streets and formal dress create a distinct visual contrast with the usual modern Gotham.
The alternate-world premise frees the movie from continuity homework. It can ask what Batman’s investigative methods look like before modern forensics and surveillance without needing to explain every familiar relationship. The result is a compact mystery with a grim atmosphere and a different rhythm from the more famous animated adaptations. Its version of Gotham is not as fully developed as the film’s premise suggests, but its historical texture makes the investigation feel fresh.
At #10, it is a strong pick for fans who want Elseworlds Batman and period crime fiction, though it does not reach the emotional depth of the titles above it. Its murders and violence make it more appropriate for older viewers. Where to watch: check current UK rental and streaming options.
9. Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)
Assault on Arkham initially appears to be a Suicide Squad film with Batman as a looming presence, and that perspective is a large part of its appeal. The story follows Amanda Waller’s squad as it infiltrates Arkham Asylum to retrieve a hidden file. Kevin Conroy voices Batman, while the ensemble includes the Joker, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Killer Frost, King Shark and Captain Boomerang. The plot shifts among the mission, the inmates’ personal motives and Batman’s attempt to understand what is happening inside a building designed to contain Gotham’s most dangerous people.
The movie moves quickly and leans into action, but Arkham gives it a claustrophobic structure. The villain team is not a family; every alliance is temporary, and each character has reasons to betray the plan. Batman’s limited screen time makes him feel like a force entering a story that is already in motion. That unusual angle suits viewers who enjoy the wider criminal ecosystem around Gotham.
At #9, Assault on Arkham is a lively, adult-oriented animated thriller rather than a definitive Batman character study. It is useful for fans who want to see the rogues’ gallery interact without the usual superhero-team polish. The violence and sexual references mean it is not a children’s pick. Where to watch: search current UK listings.
8. Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two (2021)
Part Two completes the adaptation of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s holiday-spanning crime mystery. As Batman, Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent try to identify the Holiday killer, Gotham’s criminal families lose their old grip on power and a new generation of costumed villains begins to emerge. Jensen Ackles voices Batman, Josh Duhamel plays Harvey Dent and Naya Rivera voices Catwoman. The story is more emotionally volatile than Part One, because its investigation is no longer only about evidence; it is about the damage the case does to the people pursuing it.
The animation keeps the visual design relatively restrained, which lets the noir structure and the character relationships carry the film. Batman’s detective work connects the clues, but Harvey’s transformation and Catwoman’s shifting loyalties create the most tension. The story also helps explain the move from an organised-crime Gotham to a city where theatrically costumed villains become more prominent.
At #8, Part Two is a satisfying conclusion, but it cannot be separated completely from the first film. Watch both together for the full arc and to avoid losing track of the growing cast. The film is best suited to older children and adults because of its murders and violence. Where to watch: check current UK availability.
7. Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One (2021)
Part One begins with Batman still early in his career, working alongside Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent to investigate a killer who strikes on holidays. The murders threaten the Falcone crime family and expose the uneasy relationship between Gotham’s police, prosecutors and organised crime. Jensen Ackles voices Batman with a controlled, youthful intensity, while the film introduces Selina Kyle and a broad selection of villains without making every appearance feel like a checklist.
The two-part format gives this story time to develop its seasonal structure. Each new holiday offers a change in atmosphere and another clue, while the central trio’s partnership becomes increasingly strained. The film is a useful contrast to action-heavy animated Batman movies: its main engine is investigation, with violence appearing as a consequence of the city’s criminal rules. The animation is clean and functional, and the story’s strongest quality is the way it builds pressure around Harvey Dent.
At #7, Part One is a promising opening that makes the most sense when paired with Part Two. It is a good recommendation for fans who want a Batman detective story with mob history, but viewers expecting a full conclusion will need the follow-up. Where to watch: search current UK streaming and rental options.
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6. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
Return of the Joker brings Terry McGinnis into conflict with the most troubling figure from Bruce Wayne’s past. The film follows Batman Beyond’s futuristic Gotham, where Terry is the new Batman and Bruce has retired from active patrol. When the Joker appears to return, Terry finds himself investigating an impossible event that pulls old secrets into the present. Will Friedle voices Terry, Kevin Conroy returns as Bruce, and Mark Hamill again gives the Joker a voice that can turn a joke into a threat in a single breath.
The film is effective because it treats legacy as more than a new costume. Terry has to meet a threat shaped by Bruce’s history, but he cannot simply repeat Bruce’s methods or experience. Their relationship becomes a test of trust, and the future setting makes Gotham feel both unfamiliar and continuous with the animated series. The Joker’s presence is frightening precisely because it unsettles a world that seemed to have moved on.
At #6, it is a powerful animated Batman movie and a particularly good choice after watching Batman Beyond. The uncut version contains disturbing violence, so check the edition and rating before showing it to younger viewers. Where to watch: look up the current UK listing.
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5. Batman: Year One (2011)
Year One adapts Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s story about Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon in their first year in Gotham. Benjamin McKenzie voices Gordon, while Bryan Cranston voices a police officer who is still trying to work honestly inside a corrupt department. Bruce is not yet an effortless urban legend; he is learning what his body can withstand and what the city will do in response to a vigilante. The film’s parallel structure shows both men attempting to create order without knowing how much resistance they will face.
Its modest animation style suits the source material’s grounded approach. Instead of building toward an enormous supervillain spectacle, Year One pays attention to surveillance, fear, police procedure and the fragile line between public duty and private justice. The result is a useful foundation for viewers who want to understand Batman as a detective and a political presence, not simply as a collection of gadgets.
At #5, it is one of the best first Batman stories for readers and viewers who want a concise origin, though it is intentionally understated. Fans seeking elaborate action or a full rogues’ gallery may find it quiet. DC’s official character page discusses the story’s place in Batman’s history. Where to watch: check current UK options.
4. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part One (2012)
Part One adapts Frank Miller’s story of an older Bruce Wayne returning to the cowl after years of retirement. Gotham has changed, and the police no longer see Batman as a simple ally. Peter Weller voices Bruce with a gravelly resolve, while Ariel Winter voices Carrie Kelley, a young person who becomes Robin in a city that has almost forgotten what hope looks like. The film’s action is rougher and more physical than many Batman animations, reflecting a lead character whose body has aged even as his will has not.
The story asks whether Batman’s return makes Gotham safer or simply revives the fear he represents. News broadcasts, public opinion and political authority become part of the drama, so the film is not just a series of fights. Carrie’s role matters because she brings a different kind of energy to Bruce’s solitary habits. She is not only a successor; she challenges the idea that he can solve everything alone.
At #4, Part One is an excellent setup that benefits from immediate continuation into Part Two. It is among the darker animated Batman films and contains strong violence. Fans who like an older, morally complicated Bruce will find much to discuss. Where to watch: verify the current UK listing.
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3. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part Two (2013)
Part Two brings Bruce Wayne’s return into direct conflict with the Joker and then with Superman, turning the story’s personal stakes into a public argument about authority. Peter Weller’s older Batman is a difficult figure: brave, stubborn and willing to risk his life, but also convinced that he alone can decide what Gotham needs. Michael Emerson voices the Joker with an unnerving instability, while Mark Valley voices Superman as the government’s most powerful instrument.
The movie’s final conflict is not just a fight between icons. It asks what happens when a state tries to control a hero by placing another hero above him. Bruce’s physical vulnerability makes his strategy and stubbornness central to the outcome. The animation gives the final confrontation a bold, comic-panel scale, but the emotional focus remains on an old man trying to prove that his work still matters.
At #3, Part Two is more climactic than Part One and provides one of Batman animation’s most discussed endings. It is less welcoming as a standalone entry because it relies on the setup and character relationships from the first half. Watch them back-to-back if you can. Where to watch: check current UK services.
2. Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)
Under the Red Hood begins with an old wound returning to Gotham in the form of a new masked figure. Batman must confront Black Mask’s criminal operation while trying to understand who the Red Hood is and why he knows so much about Bruce’s past. Bruce Greenwood voices Batman, Jensen Ackles voices the Red Hood and John DiMaggio plays the Joker. The film’s central conflict is intimate even when the action grows large: what does Bruce owe the people he failed to save, and can his moral code survive a challenge from someone he loves?
The screenplay gives the mystery a clean shape and uses flashbacks carefully, so the past informs the present rather than interrupting it. Ackles’s performance gives the Red Hood anger and hurt, while Greenwood’s Batman sounds controlled enough to make the moments when that control slips especially effective. The film understands that Batman’s no-kill rule is a choice with consequences, not an easy answer.
At #2, it is one of the strongest animated Batman movies for fans who want a tense story about grief, loyalty and ethics. It contains significant violence and is aimed at older viewers. DC’s official film page lists its cast and premise. Where to watch: check current UK availability.
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1. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Mask of the Phantasm takes the top spot because it combines a compelling Batman mystery with the emotional question Bruce Wayne is least able to answer: could he ever have chosen a life outside his mission? Kevin Conroy voices Bruce as both a controlled crime-fighter and a man who remembers the person he might have been. When Andrea Beaumont returns to Gotham, the old relationship between them complicates a series of murders committed by a mysterious figure known as the Phantasm. Dana Delany gives Andrea warmth and agency, while Mark Hamill’s Joker brings the film’s present-day danger into sharp focus.
The film is beautifully economical. It moves between past and present without confusing the emotional line, and its art-deco Gotham makes the city feel like a memory and a threat at once. Bruce’s romance is not a distraction from the Batman plot; it is the pressure that reveals what the mission has taken from him. The action is brief but forceful, and Shirley Walker’s music carries a tragic sweep.
At #1, Mask of the Phantasm is the most complete animated Batman film: thrilling as a mystery, moving as a character story and easy to recommend even to viewers who have not watched the series. Its relatively short runtime is another advantage. This is the first film I would choose for someone who believes animation cannot deliver a serious superhero drama. Where to watch: check the current UK listing.
How to Choose an Animated Batman Movie
For a first watch, Mask of the Phantasm is the easiest recommendation because it has a beginning, a strong central mystery and a complete emotional arc. You do not need to know the series in advance. Year One is another good starting point if you prefer a grounded origin and a story about Bruce and Gordon building their reputations from scratch.
If you want a detective procedural, choose The Long Halloween. Watch Part One and Part Two close together; they were created as halves of the same adaptation, and the mystery’s character turns matter more when the full arc is fresh. The movie is especially appealing if you like Gotham’s organised-crime history and the evolution from mob bosses to costumed villains.
For a more intense watch, Under the Red Hood and The Dark Knight Returns are strong options. Both use violence and moral conflict to test Bruce’s limits. The Dark Knight Returns works best as a two-part story, while Under the Red Hood is more self-contained. Assault on Arkham is for viewers who want a fast ensemble thriller, and Gotham by Gaslight is the choice for a historical alternate universe.
Finally, pay attention to age guidance. Batman animation is made for different audiences, and some films contain content more graphic than the theatrical Batman movies many viewers grew up with. Check the version and rating in your region, especially with Return of the Joker, Assault on Arkham, Under the Red Hood and The Dark Knight Returns.
What Animation Does for Batman
Animation makes Gotham’s shadows unusually expressive. A live-action film has to build the city through locations, sets, visual effects and camera movement. An animated film can bend a street, stretch a rooftop or reduce a room to a few shapes and still make the scene feel real. Mask of the Phantasm and Batman: The Animated Series use that freedom to create an art-deco Gotham that feels timeless rather than tied to one decade.
The format also allows the character’s physicality to change from project to project. Bruce Greenwood’s Batman can sound like an established veteran, Peter Weller’s older Bruce moves with visible effort, and Kevin Conroy can suggest a full double life through voice alone. These choices help different adaptations feel distinct even when they use familiar characters and settings.
Animation is especially useful for adapting comic-book composition. The Dark Knight Returns can place a silhouette against a broadcast screen or make a fight feel like a sequence of panels. The Long Halloween can use holiday imagery to structure its mystery. Gotham by Gaslight can create a period city without needing a historical live-action production on every corner. Those stylistic freedoms do not automatically make a film good; the story still has to give the images a purpose.
What matters most is that the animation never turns Batman into an untouchable action figure. The strongest entries give him a limit: a lost relationship, an old mistake, an ethical boundary or a city that does not always understand his help. That vulnerability is what keeps the visual spectacle connected to character.
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Conclusion
Batman animation has room for every side of the character: the noir detective, the mentor, the avenger, the romantic and the reluctant symbol. Mask of the Phantasm is the best entry because it balances all of those elements in a concise, emotionally complete story. Under the Red Hood is the most direct moral confrontation, while The Dark Knight Returns gives older Bruce a large-scale final test.
For newcomers, start with Mask of the Phantasm or Year One. For fans who already know the core origin, pair The Long Halloween films or watch Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker after sampling the series. If you want an adult action thriller, choose Assault on Arkham or Under the Red Hood, and check ratings first.
Which animated Batman film would you put at #1? Tell us what you would move up, and which overlooked adaptation you think deserves more attention.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Batman animated movie?
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the best all-round recommendation because it combines a satisfying mystery with a personal story about Bruce Wayne. Under the Red Hood is a close alternative for viewers who want a darker moral conflict, while The Dark Knight Returns is the best choice for a story about an older Batman.
Do I need to watch Batman: The Animated Series before Mask of the Phantasm?
No. Mask of the Phantasm grows out of the animated series, but it tells a complete story that new viewers can follow. Watching the series adds context to the characters and Gotham, but the film itself provides the information needed to understand Bruce’s mission and Andrea’s return.
Are The Long Halloween Part One and Part Two one story?
Yes. The two animated films adapt one larger mystery and are best watched in order, preferably close together. Part One establishes the holiday murders and the partnership among Batman, Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent; Part Two resolves the case and its emotional consequences.
Which Batman animated movies are best for beginners?
Mask of the Phantasm and Year One are strong starting points. Mask of the Phantasm is a self-contained mystery with an emotional arc, while Year One introduces Bruce and Jim Gordon early in their careers. Both can be watched without knowing a complicated animated continuity.
Is Under the Red Hood suitable for children?
It is aimed at older viewers and contains strong violence and mature themes. Its story centres on a death from Batman’s past and the consequences of his moral code. Check the film’s current UK rating and content guidance before choosing it for a younger audience.
What is the correct order for The Dark Knight Returns animated movies?
Watch Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part One first, followed by Part Two. They form one adaptation, with the first film establishing Bruce’s return and the second bringing the conflict with the Joker and Superman to a conclusion.
Is Batman: Assault on Arkham a Batman movie or a Suicide Squad movie?
It is an ensemble film that focuses heavily on Amanda Waller’s squad and their mission inside Arkham Asylum, with Batman as a significant opposing presence. Fans looking for Batman’s inner life may prefer Mask of the Phantasm or Year One, but Assault on Arkham offers an entertaining view of Gotham’s criminal cast.
Which animated Batman movie is the darkest?
Several are intense, but Assault on Arkham, Under the Red Hood and The Dark Knight Returns contain particularly adult violence. Return of the Joker also has a disturbing premise. Check ratings and the specific release version before watching, because some films have edited and uncut editions.
Where can I stream Batman animated movies in the UK?
Streaming access changes frequently, and an animated film may be available to rent or buy even when it is not included in a subscription. Search the exact title and release year in JustWatch UK or your own service before planning a marathon.
What should I watch after Mask of the Phantasm?
Batman: The Animated Series is the natural next step because it shares the film’s voice cast and Gotham style. If you want a different continuity, try Year One for an origin story or Under the Red Hood for a darker, standalone conflict.
More Places to Find Great Movies and TV Shows
For official information on Batman animation, use DC’s animated movie guide. Check JustWatch UK for current streaming and rental options, and compare cast and release information on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
For more film, television, comics and pop-culture information, these reference sites are useful starting points:
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