For as long as I can remember, Batman has been a fundamental part of my creative life.
From wearing a baggy “Batman For President” sweatshirt as a kid and riding my uncle Bruce's Honda motorcycle, to watching Adam West's over-the-top performance in reruns of the classic film, Ordinance Television show, purchase of debut issue of Frank Miller and Klaus Jansons' pioneering magazine The Dark Knight Returns graphic novel, or attend the premiere of director Tim Burton's film Ordinance At the Westwood Theatre in Los Angeles, this pop culture treasure remains relevant to me.
My love for the character extends to late-night gaming sessions fueled by caffeine and gallons of Diet Coke. Batman: Arkham Asyluminterviewing Batman: The Animated SeriesWhether sitting next to Batman creator Bruce Timm or sitting alongside legendary Batman artist Neal Adams for hours at comic book conventions, Batman's dark influence, calm demeanor, and psychological complexity seem as engaging and ever-caring as ever.
Whether known as the Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader, or the main component of the Dynamic Duo with his faithful sidekick Robin the Boy Wonder, this fearless vigilante and champion of justice who first appeared in the pages of Detective Comics #27 in May 1939 (one of the greatest Dark Knight stories) is perhaps the greatest fictional character ever created. Imbued with equal parts Zorro, Sherlock Holmes, and the pulp icon called The Shadow, Batman is the embodiment of someone who has channeled his inner pain to become a beacon of hope and righteousness.
Batman through the ages
Clad in gothic black and equipped with an arsenal of “wonder toys,” Batman is an intimidating hero for the ages, one who, due to his lack of true superhuman powers, relies on his keen intellect, lightning reflexes, physical prowess, and supernatural powers of deduction.
Created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, Batman was born in pre-World War II America during the Golden Age of Comic Books, when clear distinctions between good and evil existed. Billionaire playboy industrialist Bruce Wayne became a night-time crusader after his parents were gunned down in Crime Alley following a display of The Mark of Zorro In Gotham City, he adopted the emblem of a bat to instill fear in criminals and honed his mind and body to perfection.
Over the decades, the character would be reinvented in a variety of media, appearing in matinees in the 1940s. Ordinance serials in the local cinema after receiving his own Ordinance solo comic and remains a fixture at DC Detective comics line: If you're wondering where these fit into a timeline, here's how to watch the Batman movies in order.
Batman becomes a huge hit in the 1960s as a cultural sensation alongside James Bond and The Beatles with his own hit television series, emblazoned on lunchboxes, buttons, posters, t-shirts, toys and bed sheets, and then debuting in animated cartoon form as part of the 1970s. Super friends Saturday morning show and finally hit the tinsel town spotlight in Tim Burton's 1989 film. Ordinance Film starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson.
Today, Batman is the most popular DC Comics character of all time and currently appears in half a dozen different titles and graphic novels. We have a new Batman movie coming out in 2026 titled Batman Part 2, which is a sequel to The Batmanroller coasters at Batman theme parks, Batman video games, and a new Batman animated series created by Bruce Timm called Batman: The Caped Crusader.
Directors Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher, Christopher Nolan and Matt Reeves have all had their time in the Batcave with their own interpretive visions and fans have differing opinions on which interpretation of Batman is the most authentic to them. Personally, I'm pretty partial to Robert Pattinson's laconic 'Year Two' incarnation of Gotham's relentless protector, with Christian Bale a close second. With his rogues gallery of formidable foes like The Joker, The Penguin (who has a new Max spin-off show called The Flash), and his villainous take on the villains of the Batman, the film is a great place to start. The Penguin)Scarecrow, Catwoman, The Riddler, Harley Quinn, Bane, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Mister Freeze, Ra's al Ghul and Killer Croc, Batman is a busy guy keeping the streets safe.
So, on this most auspicious occasion, known as Batman Day, it's the perfect time to reflect on the origins and evolution of this mysterious crime fighter and discover the multitude of ways to watch the best Batman movies on the best streaming services, as well as all your immediate Batman movie, animated series, and TV show needs.
To immerse yourself in the riches of Batman, there are endless opportunities to don the cowl and cape in his honor (figuratively or literally, if you so choose). So let's find out where you can get your fix of the Dark Knight during this heroic day of remembrance.
Batman, on demand
A good place to start is the official Batman streaming platform on Max, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of DC Comics. As a respectable sample for those in the US, Max currently offers five seasons of Gotham City (those in the UK can find it on Prime Video) featuring proto-younger versions of the heroes and villains of the Batman universe.
Moving on, you'll find a bonanza of iconic Hollywood Batman films, including the 1989 one. Ordinance1992 Batman Returns1995s Batman Forever1997 Batman and Robin2005 Batman Beginsfrom 2008 The Dark Knightfrom 2012 The Dark Knight Risesand the gloomy and harsh year 2022 The Batman featuring a standout performance from Robert Pattinson: read our selection of the 10 best performances in the Batman movies.
Also on Max, animation fans can watch the 90s classic from creator Bruce Timm. Batman: The Animated Series and the futurist Batman Beyondas well as The Batmanand Batman: The Brave and the BoldMore adventurous types should consider 2017. The Lego Batman Movie or the definitive edition of Zack Snyder's opera Batman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeJustice Leagueand the intriguing black and white cut, Justice League: Justice is Gray.
And if you're eager for a solid recommendation from the dozens of excellent DC Animated Universe feature films Max is putting out, you can't go wrong with the horror-tinged film. Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham Citywhich is an adaptation of a 2000–2001 Elseworlds comic book miniseries written by Mike Mignola and Hellboy's Richard Price.
On Netflix, Batman is predictably absent, except for the atrocious disaster called The Flash and two decent children's animated series, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, that are not among our selection of the best superhero movies.
Finally, Amazon Prime Video hit a big prize when it landed Bruce Timm's new 1940s-set noir animated series, Batman: The Caped Crusader, which quickly became one of the best shows on Prime Video. Plus, Prime Video is also the exclusive destination for a pair of technicolor Batman gems from the 1960s: all 120 episodes of the series. Ordinance Television series that aired between 1966 and 1968 and the super-fun one from 1966. Batman: The Movie.
However and wherever you dance the Batusi today, Happy Batman Day to everyone!
