29 BEST BATMAN ANIMATED MOVIES

🗔June 15, 2021
🖉Chitrakshi Barthwal
🗁
- Entertainment

It will be an obvious answer, but who doesn’t enjoy animated movies? Especially when it involves your favorite superhero. Comic fan or not, you must have enjoyed watching Batman animated movies.

Batman is a masked vigilante fighting to upkeep the justice of Gotham City. Our hero is often surrounded by enemies in disguise, ready to break his ideologies. But he always finds a way to rescue his beloved city.

However, the entire Batman animated movies universe is still undiscovered and needs attention. It is quite possible because of the fandom base for live-action movies, or people don’t know the correct order to watch the best Batman animated movies.

This blog is for all who wish to understand more of Batman and appreciate the best Batman animated movies. So, without further ado, here’s our list of best Batman animated series for you:

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

Contrary to the belief that animated movies are for kids, this Batman animated movie proves otherwise. It depicts the rawest version of Bruce Wayne and his internal struggles.

The movie’s plot has a complex story-line with a lot of depth. It perfectly depicts the duality of human nature. And how people approach the same traumas differently. Our hero(Batman) gets accused of crimes committed by an assassin. He must take on the Gotham City police, bad guys, and the main villain to clear his name. Also, he needs to solve personal affairs, which may leave a deep scar on him.

Scary villains, character representation, and the music score make this one of the best Batman animated movies, the genre-defining moment of animated movies.

The Batman Superman Movie: World’s Finest (1997)

Every fan or animated movie lover has a thing for Batman vs. Superman movies. And we cannot leave them out of our list! It is one of the best Batman animated movies for whoever follows the original animated series.

The movie follows the team-up of the Shadow Vigilante and Superman to defeat the Joker and Lex Luthor. The Batman Superman Movie is a must-watch for anyone that loves the 90s classic animation along with humor and mature direction.

Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero (1998)

You should start visiting the 90s animated movies to discover such gems. If not the Best Batman animated movies, it stands on the high grounds of nostalgia and action.

The plot of this movie revolves around Victor Fries and his wife, Nora. Victor, under the alias Mr. Freeze, abducts Barbara Gordan (Batwoman) to save his wife.

But worry not, the terrific duo of Batman & Robin rescues Barbara and even saves Nora. The villain is a victim of circumstances which lets us see his side of the story. You can watch this Batman animated movie to enjoy action and brilliant acting.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) or Batman of the Future: Return of the Joker (In Europe and Australia)

This movie is the first(and only) feature-length Batman Beyond movie that gives a decisive take on the Joker! This Batman animated movie shows the return of an old nemesis- the Joker. And young Batman, Terry, will do everything to save Gotham. Terry and Bruce will come together to fight off the Joker and his army of “Jokerz” to save Gotham.

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)

There is another symbol of justice in Gotham. But she is acting brutally in the name of justice. Something that the “Bat” symbol will never represent. Now, Batman must find out the identity of the new Batwoman. Also, he must stop Penguin and Rupert Thorne from selling illegal weapons to the nation of Kasnia. But wait, there is more. The criminals have allied with gangster Carlton Duquesne and hired Bane to deal with anyone meddling in their business.

The Batman Vs. Dracula (2005)

Batman Vs. Dracula is a movie that most of us didn’t think would turn out this amazing! The Joker and Penguin are breaking away from Arkham Asylum to loot the cash located in the cemetery of Gotham City.

As usual, Batman pursues the criminals to stop them from harming the city. But, the Penguin made a mistake and released Dracula from his coffin.

Now, Gotham has a new villain. Batman must stop Dracula from feeding on Gotham city. Batman Vs. Dracula is one of the best Batman animated movies that gives you a perfect mix of action, animation, and a new villain.

Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)

This movie comes from the producers of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Batman: Gotham Knight is a series of six short films, a masterpiece of their own, that shows the rise of Batman as the caped protector of Gotham.

Batman: Gotham Knight deserves the spot of one of the best Batman movies and a must-watch for every fan!

Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)

By far, Batman: Under the Red Hood is one of the best Batman animated movies and is easily understandable, even for the non-fans. The movie takes an open approach and yet sticks closest to the comic. You may even be surprised to see Jenson Ackles join the team as The Red Hood.

The movie is a power-packed action movie as it has all the elements. The movie doesn’t lose out on excellent animation and voice acting, making it one of the best Batman animated movies and a must-watch!

Batman Year One (2011)

Batman is the caped vigilante, while Jim Gordan catches the bad guys as the Gotham City cop. Both work together to maintain peace in the city. Batman Year One is the beginning of Batman as the Dark Knight.

The movie is about the partnership of Gordan and Batman as the people who work towards safeguarding Gotham. The themes and approach of this movie even get reflected in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.

This movie is one of the best Batman animated movies that have action, character development and epicness. You better watch this movie to understand the initial days of Bruce Wayne as Batman better.

The Dark Knight Returns – Part 1 (2012)

Batman, our caped protector, is now old and retired. But the universe has different plans for him. He must don the identity of Batman once again to fight his old enemies for one last time. This masterpiece by DC Universe Animated Original Movies is a dark tale of the ultimate showdown between evil and justice.

Our hero is not alone in this fight. Robin joins Batman to fight against the Joker and Two-Face. Watch one of the best Batman Animated movies to witness the old hero become darker!

The Dark Knight Returns – Part 2 (2013)

Harvey got defeated, the fight with the Joker is still on. But, a new force arrives to stop the heroic acts of Batman.

The second part of The Dark Knight Returns witnesses a fight between Batman and the Joker. But, this is not all; the City government feels that Batman is out of control and asks Superman to deal with him.

The movie sees an intense battle of the superheroes and the darker take on Batman. The Dark Knight Returns (part 2) is one of the best Batman animated movies and a must-watch for everyone.

Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite (2013)

You must have heard of legos. It is a toy that has a block-like material that lets you build structures. Well, this is a comedy film with all the characters as Lego avatars.

The movie is an adaptation of the game: Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Despite the tremendous success, Lego: Batman the Movie got a direct-to-video release.

Lego’s Batman is one of the best Batman animated movies and entertaining. Everything in this movie is a delight, from animation to characters. So, make sure you watch this movie!

Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered (2014)

This movie is another one of the best Batman animated movies from the house of Lego. Superman wants Batman to join Justice League. But Batman likes to work alone. Things take a turn when every member of the Justice League starts disappearing.

Now, it is up to Batman to find who is behind the act. Watch this Lego movie to find out if Batman joins the Justice League or not!

Son of Batman (2014)

Son of Batman is the third feature-length film from the DC Animated Film Universe. It is one of those Batman animated movies that give a foot ground for introducing Damian Wayne.

It is an adaptation of Batman and Son comic by Grant Morrison. Batman learns that he has a son— Damian, who is getting trained by the League of Assassins. The child is the grandson of Ra’s al Ghul, who wants him to lead the league of assassins. Now, Batman wants to unite with Damian and also defeat Deathstroke.

DC never shy away from taking risks, which is why we see one of the Best Batman animated movies work here. You better watch this movie to get your fill of action!

Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)

With this Batman animated movie, the villains are back. But Batman must prepare for double trouble. Batman must protect Gotham City from the bomb planted by the Joker and deal with the Suicide Squad. However, The Suicide Squad is on a different mission. They get assembled on orders by Amanda Waller to kill the Riddler.

Even though Batman has less screen time in this movie, we will still put this on our best Batman animated movies list. You can watch this movie for a crazy adventure and perfect depiction of The Suicide Squad.

Batman vs. Robin (2015)

Batman vs. Robin is another action-packed movie by DC Animated Film Universe. Batman is now working with his partner— Damian, who also happens to be his son— Damian. But he cannot understand Batman’s rule of no killing.

One day, while on a mission, Batman accuses Damian of a villain’s murder, which he denies. There is a difference of opinion, which leads Damian to be influenced by the Court of Owls. Now, Batman must try to find out the real culprit and reveal the secret society that runs in the shadow of Gotham city.

Batman vs. Robin is one of the best Batman animated movies filled with action, creativity, tight music score, and drama. A must-watch for everyone!

Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts (2015)

Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts is one of those best Batman animated movies that released on a direct-to-video platform. Batman faces new villains that are part of an animal-themed squad- The Animalitia.

The squad has big names like— Killer Croc, Man-Bat, Cheetah, and Silverback.

Is it possible that The Penguin can be the mastermind behind this bizarre gang? Batman must team up with other heroes like Red Robin, Nightwing, The Flash, and Green Arrow to stop them.

Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem (2015)

The Joker is back again, this time with a plan to hack Gotham City’s technology. The “clown prince,” along with his minions, plans to release “digital laughter,” a computer virus to steal crucial information and technology. Meanwhile, other villains like Scarecrow, Clayface, Solomon Grundy, and Silver Banshee have started to cause troubles for Gotham City.

Batman must team up with Cyborg, Green Arrow, Nightwing, and Red Robin to defeat these monsters and save the town. You can watch these best Batman animated movies for a lighter track from the main animated series and enjoy the action anyway.

Batman Unlimited: Mech vs. Mutants (2016)

Mechs vs. Mutants is one of the direct-to-video Batman animated movies and a sequel to Animal Instincts and Monster Mayhem. Damian, aka Robin, suffers embarrassment when he failed to capture The Joker. The situation becomes even worse when Batman comes to the rescue of Damian falling off a building. The entire event is recorded and shared on the web, which makes it even harder.

To get back in the game, Batman and Damian team up and use their giant robot Mechs to protect Gotham City from Killer Croc and Chemo, Mr. Freeze’s latest inventions, and Penguin and his test subjects, Bane and Clayface. Make sure to see this movie after finishing the previous ones of the same story-line.

Batman: Bad Blood (2016)

Another one of the best Batman animated movies coming from DC Animated Film Universe, Bad Blood, is about the disappearance of Batman. Batman and Batwoman, in their fight with The Heretic, make a quick escape. But now, Batman is nowhere to be found. In his absence, Nightwing and Robin are protecting Gotham City, while Batwoman will investigate the missing case of Batman.

Is this the work of The Heretic, or is there a higher organization involved? That, only time and teamwork of Batwoman, Nightwing, and Robin will tell.

Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)

The Asylum life is not sitting well with Joker, so he breaks out of the prison. But Joker cannot be out for long. Batman is out to chase him, while Joker is scheming to torture Commissioner Gordon. He has kidnapped Gordon’s daughter and paralyzed her only to watch Gordon suffer and go insane.

Though not one of the best Batman animated movies, you can definitely watch The killing Joke to see two old enemies fight till the end. The fight sequences are intense, and the audience will enjoy the scenes. So, go for this movie without any hesitation.

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016)

This movie is about the dark evil side of Batman. Worry not; he is still our symbol of justice. Batman turned to darkness because of being given Batnip. And now, Catwoman and Robin will have to fight Batman to keep him under control. While, Joker, Penguin, and Riddler use this opportunity to cause mayhem in Gotham and escape police.

This movie is a good watch, even though this may not be one of the best Batman animated movies.

The Lego Batman Movie(2017)

The Lego Movie has undoubtedly become one of the best Batman animated movies. Our hero— Lego Batman— is a lone wolf. He hardly wants someone interfering with his work. But things are different in Gotham, and he must need to learn to work as a team. Perhaps, even lighten up his serious mode.

You can watch this Batman animated movie to get a dose of good comedy and animation.

Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)

The Batman and Harley Quinn movie turn out to be a surprisingly good combination. Batman teams up with Nightwing and Harley Quinn to stop the wicked plan organized by Poison Ivy and Floronic Man. The duo is an unusual team-up, but Harley Quinn’s quirky self is a perfect balance for Nightwing and Batman. It is refreshing to see a dark series getting on a lighter part.

You can watch this one of the best Batman animated movies to enjoy comic timing and Harley Quinn’s bond with Poison Ivy.

Batman vs Two-Face (2017)

Batman vs. Two-Face is the sequel to one of the best Batman animated movies- Batman: Return of the Caped Crusader. You will witness the classic 1960 action vibes with this movie. Batman and Robin are always protecting Gotham City from the evilest villains.

But what will happen when Two-Face starts a crime wave across the city? Batman and Robin must find out the man behind the crime series. Moreover, they need to fight other evil villains like Catwoman, Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Bookworm, Hugo Strange, and King Tut!

This movie shows one of the dark characters of Batman. You can watch this movie to enjoy the thrill and dark side of the villains.

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)

Even though Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is comic-based, there is a lot of room for additions. Because of less material, this movie has liberty over the story adaptation. Batman gets re-imagined in the Victorian era, where he must save Gotham from wicked Jack the Ripper. You will love this take on Batman and his allies— Robins and Catwoman.

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is undoubtedly one of the best Batman animated movies as it has the “what ifs” take and a twist to the classic characters.

Batman Ninja (2018)

Fans of both comic worlds can unite and find this one of the best Batman animated movies interesting. Batman Ninja is a Japanese-American animated film that takes place in medieval Japan. The timeline gets altered because the time displacement machine sends Batman, his allies, and villains from modern Gotham City to feudal Japan.

The animation is beautiful, and the take is refreshing. You are going to enjoy watching your superheroes fighting with Mecha on the battleground. Watch this movie for a different experience of the Batman universe!

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)

This movie comes from a hit comic crossover series by DC Animated Film Universe that one should not miss.

The film involves a team-up of Batman, Robin, and Batgirl along with TMNT to defeat the allied forces of Shredder and Ra’s al Ghul. Watch this one of the best Batman animated movies for the coolest crossover and impressive action!

Batman Hush (2019)

If not one of the best Batman animated movies, you can count on Batman Hush to give you the classic DC experience. Batman is facing all the dreaded enemies one by one, but is there something more to this? Batman must find who is behind all these villains and using them as pawns. So, if you are into finding out the real mastermind, do watch this movie.

Honorable Mentions

Apart from these best Batman animated movies mentioned above, these movies also have some epic Batman action. This list has the best Batman animated movies related to DC justice league, Superman, and Batman vs. Superman movies.

The following movies will make a good watch for animated movies fan:

Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010)
Justice League: Doom (2012)
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)
The Death of Superman (2018)
Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018)
Reign of the Supermen (2019)
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)
Lego DC Batman: Family Matters (2019)
Justice League vs. the Fatal Five (2019)
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

And the list goes longer. But for a while, focus on these, and we assure you that you will surely enjoy these!

The Best order to watch all the Batman Animated Movies

There is an extensive and ,I dare say, exhaustive list of probably a few hundred batman animated movies. But nothing can stop the movie buff in you to watch these startling flicks, right?

And let’s admit, at 4 AM after watching the best Batman animated series that DC has to offer, every night, it would feel great saying, ” And yet, I’m Still here”

Here goes the list:

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Batman: Subzero (1998)
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)
The Batman vs Dracula (2005)
Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)
Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009)
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010)
Under the Red Hood (2010)
DC Super Friends (2010)
Batman: Year One (2011)
Justice League: Doom (2012)
The Dark Knight Returns – Part 1 (2012)
The Dark Knight Returns – Part 2 (2013)
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)
Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite (2013)
JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time (2014)
Justice League: War (2014)
Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered (2014)
Son of Batman (2014)
Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)
The Lego Movie (2014)
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015)
Batman vs. Robin (2015)
Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015)
Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts (2015)
Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem (2015)
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League (2015)
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Attack of the Legion of Doom (2015)
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout (2016)
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Cosmic Clash (2016)
Batman Unlimited: Mech vs. Mutants (2016)
Batman: Bad Blood (2016)
Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016)
Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016)
Justice League Dark (2017)
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)
Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash (2018)
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman – Rage of Atlantis (2018)
Batman Ninja (2018) – Japanese and American
The Death of Superman (2018)
Teen Titans GO! To the Movies (2018)
Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018)
Reign of the Supermen (2019)
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)
Lego DC Batman: Family Matters (2019)
Justice League vs. the Fatal Five (2019)
Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
Batman Hush (2019)
Lego DC: Shazam! Magic and Monsters (2020)
Superman: Red Son (2020)
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)
Batman: Death in the Family (2020)
Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021)
Batman: Long Halloween – Part 1 (2021)
Batman: Long Halloween – Part 2 (2021)
Injustice (2021)

Our Take | Concluding Note

A part of our childhood got influenced by animated movies as well. Cartoon Network used to air some of the best Batman animated movies on their channel. And we used to get hooked on the masterpieces, that too for hours!

Connecting with animated movies gives us a sense of nostalgia. It also lets us see the world of movies aside from mainstream theater films. We hope our compilation of the best Batman animated movies helped you recollect your memories, and the new watchers gained insight!

Keep reading our blogs for more such compilations.

Till then, happy watching!