The Best 5 Minutes In Every Batman Movie

Every Batman movie has at least one unforgettable scene that has shaped the Dark Knight’s DC movie history. While some Batman movies have been more popular than others, Batman has been an incredibly successful property in Hollywood for several decades now. As one of the most famous characters in DC Comics, Batman offers limitless creative possibilities all across the action, sci-fi, thriller, mystery, and even comedy genres. Moreover, every live-action Batman actor has left their own mark on the icon throughout the years, from Adam West in the 1966 Batman movie to Robert Pattinson in 2022’s The Batman.

Live-action Batman movies haven’t escaped their fair share of controversial scenes. For instance, Batman’s credit card gag in Batman & Robin took the movie’s comedy into parody territory, and Talia Al Ghul’s reveal that Bane was her lackey at the end of The Dark Knight Rises ruined everything Tom Hardy’s villain had accomplished. Sometimes, Batman movies have even become downright disturbing or plain ridiculous. But on the opposite side of the spectrum, even the most unpopular Batman movies have featured at least five minutes of dramatic, emotional, or otherwise exciting storytelling.

10 Batman (1966)

Batman Tries To Get Rid Of A Bomb At 1 Hour, 22 Minute Mark

There’s a reason why Batman’s attempt to throw a bomb away in the 1966 Batman movie is one of the most famous scenes starring Adam West as the Caped Crusader. After the Penguin leaves a bomb in a public location, Batman repeatedly fails to take it far away from innocent bystanders. Recognizing his struggle to save the day, Batman admits, “some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb”. Every aspect of the scene is true to Adam West’s portrayal of Batman. West’s deadpan acting, the comically absurd bomb, the slapstick coincidences, and the tongue-in-cheek line of dialog all encapsulate Batman’s lighthearted and absurd but sincere 1960s humor.

Related: The Dark Knight Rises’ Ending Finally Made Batman 1966 Cool

9 Batman (1989)

Batman Fights Street Criminals And Delivers His Iconic Line At

Michael Keaton’s Batman debut in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman is nothing short of iconic. After witnessing a pair of street criminals mug a family, Batman lands above the thieves and spreads his cape like a pair of wings. The muggers shoot Batman, yet he stands back up and beats them up. As one of the criminals begs for his life, he asks Batman who he is. It’s at this moment that Michael Keaton delivers his now iconic “I’m Batman” line, before leaving.

Although Batman’s introductory scene in Tim Burton’s Batman pales in comparison to other live-action Batman scenes when it comes to action, it stands as one of the most influential scenes not only in Batman movie history but also in the history of comic book movies. This is the first time a comic book hero makes his live-action debut with a dark and serious tone, which was groundbreaking at a time when Adam West’s Batman, Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman, and Christopher Reeve’s Superman were the most famous superhero portrayals. Michael Keaton’s Batman performance sets the stage for every following actor from the moment he first appears on screen.

8 Batman Returns

The Penguin Is Born During Batman Returns’ Opening Credits

Batman Begins opens with the most Burtonesque sequence in Batman movie history. As the opening credits roll, Oswald Cobblepot’s cradle carries him through a creek into Gotham’s sewers until he arrives in front of a group of penguins. Tim Burton’s gloomy cinematography and Danny Elfman’s equally spooky score do the bulk of the job explaining the Penguin’s origin, and the larger-than-life sets quickly establish the tone of the movie. Later on, the Penguin’s visit to his parents’ graves adds another layer of tragedy to his already dark origin, as the villains’ complicated relationship with their death makes him more sympathetic as much as it makes him creepier.

Related: Why Batman Returns Is Better Than Tim Burton’s Original

7 Batman Forever

Two-Face Kills The Flying Graysons and Causes Robin’s Origin Story At 1 Hour, 12 Minute Mark

Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever took the Batman franchise in an unexpected direction, but certain Batman Forever and Batman & Robin scenes stood out despite their overly lighthearted tone. Robin’s origin story takes place right in front of Bruce Wayne’s eyes when Two-Face causes Dick Grayson’s parents to fall to their death in the middle of a show at the circus Wayne is attending. Dick Grayson proves his worth as a hero by thwarting Two-Face’s plan to blow up the circus, but he fails to stop the villain.

Robin’s origin in Batman Forever maintains the movie’s campy style but deals with Robin’s tragedy in a rather serious manner. The comic-book accurate depiction of the Flying Graysons — complete with Robin’s original costume — is translated to live-action realistically, blending the gloomy cinematography proposed by Tim Burton’s Batman movies with Joel Schumacher’s visual ode to DC’s Silver Age comics. And while still over-the-top, Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face and Jim Carrey’s Riddler come off as macabre sadists rather than ridiculous caricatures, at least for the duration of this scene.

Related: What If Tim Burton Had Made Batman 3: All DC Changes & Nolan Impact

6 Batman & Robin

Mr. Freeze Redeems Himself At 1 Hour, 53 Minute Mark

Batman & Robin doubled down on Batman Forever‘s campy tone with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s pun-obsessed Mr. Freeze and Uma Thurman’s unapologetically over-the-top Poison Ivy, but it managed to add at least one scene with authentic emotion at the end. After Batman, Robin, and Batgirl defeat Mr. Freeze, Batman decides to spare the villains’ life and ask for a cure that could save Alfred. Batman talks Mr. Freeze into redeeming himself with a monologue about vengeance, and Freeze gives him the last dose of antidote left.

Mr. Freeze’s redemption at the end of Batman & Robin proves that neither George Clooney nor Arnold Schwarzenegger were fully to blame for the movie’s flaws, as their performances become more nuanced exclusively in this scene. Batman’s heartfelt advice and Mr. Freeze’s subtle expression of regret provide a breath of fresh air after two hours of non-stop action and comedy. This moment shows what a more serious version of the film would have looked like, with a tragic Mr. Freeze driven by his fear of losing his wife and Batman genuinely caring for his enemies.

5 Batman Begins

Batman Reveals His Real Identity To Rachel Dawes At 1 Hour, 57 Minute Mark

As Scarecrow’s fear gas begins to unleash chaos upon Gotham, Batman suits up and arrives to help. But before he stops Scarecrow and later Ra’s Al Ghul from poisoning the city’s water supply, Batman takes a moment to reunite with Rachel Dawes. Subverting Michael Keaton’s “I’m Batman” line when Rachel asks for his name, Christian Bale’s Dark Knight tells her, “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me”, mirroring her own words from earlier in the movie.

Related: Batman Begins Ending Explained

There are more visually striking scenes in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, but this scene truly does Batman’s core values justice. At this point, Bruce Wayne has fully accepted his duty as Gotham’s protector, and his decision to reveal his identity to Rachel with a sentence that perfectly defines his mission marks the real beginning of his Batman lifestyle. Accompanied by Hans Zimmer’s swelling score, the moment Batman jumps off the building heralds the death of the millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne and the birth of the Dark Knight.

4 The Dark Knight

The Joker’s Terrorist Plan Creates Two-Face At 1 Hour, 57 Minute Mark

Heath Ledger may be the biggest highlight in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, but the most shocking and important scene in the movie might be the culmination of his grand plan. As Batman and James Gordon arrive at one of the locations suggested by the Joker, Harvey and Rachel realize that Rachel’s fate is sealed. Rachel calmly accepts her death while Harvey scolds Batman for choosing to save him. Inevitably, the explosion kills Rachel and burns half of Harvey’s face, which destroys the morale of almost every Dark Knight character and leaves the Joker as the ultimate winner.

Rachel’s death shows both how unstoppable the Joker can be and how vulnerable Batman can become. The utter desperation in every character’s attempt to stop the unavoidable is contrasted with the Joker’s stoic demeanor as he escapes in a police patrol. The aftermath only elevates the tragic scene, as Batman understands that he needs to protect Harvey Dent’s image, Alfred’s advice to Bruce Wayne mirrors his support after the Waynes’ death in Batman Begins, and Harvey Dent’s realization of the tragedy in the hospital marks the beginning of his villainous path.

3 The Dark Knight Rises

Bruce Wayne Finally Gets A Normal Life At 2 Hours, 20 Minute Mark

Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy reaches a bittersweet conclusion in The Dark Knight Rises‘ final scene, where every surviving character faces a new beginning after Batman’s supposed death. James Gordon sees Gotham finally embrace Batman as its savior by erecting a statue in his honor, John Blake inherits Batman’s gear, and Lucius Fox finds out Bruce Wayne found a way to survive. After mourning Bruce Wayne, Alfred honors his yearly tradition to visit France, and this time, his dream to find Bruce there comes true. Bruce Wayne now lives a normal, happy life alongside Selina Kyle.

The Dark Knight Rises‘ ending kills Batman, but gives Bruce Wayne another chance to live the life he never could — a privilege not many versions of Batman get to enjoy. And after two movies where Bruce Wayne is reassured that the only way Gotham can thrive is by having Batman protecting it, Bruce Wayne’s retirement lets him rest assured that Batman’s fake sacrifice in The Dark Knight Rises taught the city that hope and justice can still exist without Batman to enforce them. Everyone who knew Batman can move on knowing that his legacy is set in stone. Besides, a new hero will be there to defend Gotham.

2 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman Beats Up Henchmen In A Warehouse At 2 Hours, 17 Minute Mark

Although Ben Affleck never starred in a Batman movie of his own, he did receive one of the most popular Batman movie fight scenes to date. In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman rushes to save Martha Kent, who has been kidnapped by Anatoly Knyazev under Lex Luthor’s orders. Once he arrives at the warehouse where Martha is held, Batman wastes no time in beating every henchman to a pulp. He doesn’t hold back at all, breaking the criminals’ bones, stabbing them with their own knives, and causing them to kill each other.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice‘s warehouse fight scene is Batman at the peak of his fighting abilities, and it raises the bar for all live-action depictions of Batman in terms of combat. It perfectly captures Batman’s strength, agility, strategy, resourcefulness, and vulnerability. It also demonstrates how brutal Batman can be when he stops pulling his punches, and shows where exactly Ben Affleck’s Batman is at this point in the DCEU timeline. As a bonus, Batman’s best DCEU fight scene also proves why a less armored Batsuit takes Batman’s combat skills to another level.

Related: Every Confirmed Villain Ben Affleck’s Batman Has Fought In The DCEU

1 The Batman

Batman Lurks Gotham’s Streets In The Batman’s Opening Monologue At 5 Minute Mark

The Batman‘s opening monologue establishes the hero’s mindset from the get-go. Batman’s voiceover describes Gotham’s crime-ridden streets and his own mission to strike fear into them. Criminals break the law but escape as soon as they suspect Batman is nearby, yet it’s only the threat of Batman’s presence that makes them believe the Dark Knight is stepping on their heels. Once the monologue ends with Bruce Wayne’s ominous delivery of “I am the shadows”, Robert Pattinson’s Batman finally makes his first onscreen appearance to fight a gang of criminals.

Contrary to other live-action Batman introductions, The Batman‘s opening scene establishes Batman’s influence on Gotham by focusing solely on the effects of his actions. Like a horror movie, the idea of Batman becomes more terrifying than Batman himself, and he doesn’t have to deliver the first punch to prove how much the Gotham underworld fears him. The Batman‘s stunning opening scene also pays homage to the DC graphic novels that influenced the movie, as every shot and line of narration seems ripped straight out of comic books like Batman: Year OneandBatman: The Long Halloween.