POLL: Who Is the Best Live-Action Batman Actor?

Whether you grew up with the slapstick hijinks of Adam West or bought tickets on opening night of The Dark Knight Returns, there seems to be a new Batman for every generation. While there have been many faces behind the cape and the cowl, it’s been a longstanding debate among the superhero community as to who wore them best.

Below, we’ve rounded up all of the live-action Batmen from TV and movies, and we want to hear your opinion of who stands tall as the Dark Knight, and who falls flat.

Vote for Your Favorite Live-Action Batman Actor

Who is your favorite live-action Batman actor? Who do you think is the best of the best? Cast your vote in our poll and let us know who you think deserves to be crowned the ultimate Batman actor!

And just for fun, let’s discover which live-action Batman actor is the most despised by fans. Vote for your least favorite below:

If you’re not decided just yet, here’s a closer look at the actors who have played a live-action version of the iconic Gotham vigilante:

Lewis Wilson (Batman, 1943)

Douglas Croft as Robin and Lewis Wilson as Batman in Batman (1943 movie); Image credit: Columbia Pictures

Lewis Wilson was the very first actor to ever suit up as Batman in a live-action production, debuting in the 1943 film serial, which aired just four years after the birth of the superhero in comics. With a batsuit that looks like pajamas and a tone very much of its time, his version feels nearly unrecognizable compared to modern Batmen. Even so, Wilson set the template for everything that followed. While his Batman was a government agent and the story suffered from uncomfortable World War II propaganda, Wilson holds a special place in history as the one where it all began.

Lewis Wilson as Bruce Wayne in Batman (1943 movie); Image credit: Columbia Pictures

Robert Lowery (Batman and Robin, 1949)

Robert Lowery as Batman in Batman and Robin; Image credit: Columbia Pictures

Robert Lowery picked up the cape and cowl for the 1949 serial sequel, bringing a slightly more polished take to the masked hero. The suit was still poorly fitting (a cowl in a losing battle with gravity the whole time), but the action sequences were more ambitious, and the story was much improved. Lowery played Bruce Wayne as an idle playboy to an almost comical degree, but he was an integral stepping stone in the development of the character as we know him on screen today.

John Duncan as Dick Grayson (left) and Robert Lowery as Bruce Wayne (right) in Batman and Robin; Image credit: Columbia Pictures

Adam West (Batman (TV Series and Movie), 1966)

Adam West as Bruce Wayne in Batman, Season 1, Episode 3; Image credit: 20th Century-Fox Television

This is the kind of Batman you can watch with your grandparents and little cousin, and everyone will still be entertained. From his dead-serious delivery of ridiculous lines to the iconic “BAM!” and “POW!” fight scenes, West created one of the campiest, yet most charming versions of Batman to date. The television series brought the comic-accurate grey and blue suit to life to great effect in vibrant technicolor, and the show is frequently quoted to this day (Holy legacy, Batman!). While modern fans may dismiss this version as “too silly,” West remains one of the most visually accurate portrayals of Batman, sporting the classic blue and gray suit. Plus, has there ever been a catchier Batman theme song?

Adam West as Batman in Batman: The Movie; Image credit: 20th Century Fox

Michael Keaton (Batman, 1989 and Batman Returns, 1992)

Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne in Batman (1989 movie); Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

When Michael Keaton was first cast, fans were skeptical, but his performance quickly silenced the doubters. His Batman feels mysterious and intimidating in a quiet yet terrifying way. While many actors struggle to do Bruce Wayne and Batman well, Keaton nailed both halves of the character. Combine that with Tim Burton’s dark, gothic Gotham and you’ve got a version with a Batman that, for many fans, is who they picture first when they think of the character.

Michael Keaton as Batman in Batman Returns; Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Val Kilmer (Batman Forever, 1995)

Val Kilmer as Batman in Batman Forever; Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Following Keaton’s departure, Val Kilmer stepped into the boots for Batman Forever (1995). His Batman feels smoother, more introspective, and a bit more human, but it tends to get overshadowed by Jim Carrey’s Riddler. While opinions are mixed, he did a fair job portraying the trauma of Bruce Wayne’s background with a depth that doesn’t always get enough credit.

Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever; Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

George Clooney (Batman & Robin, 1997)

George Clooney as Batman in Batman & Robin; Image credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment

George Clooney’s time in the batsuit is memorable, for better or worse. The film leaned hard into bright colors, ice puns, and a toy-like aesthetic that many fans absolutely hated. While the movie has received much criticism, time has softened people’s opinions, and now even Clooney himself is in on the joke. Despite the film’s flaws, his Bruce Wayne is charming, and Batman & Robin has earned a cult following for its over-the-top energy and unintentional comedy (and also the Batsuit nipples).

George Clooney as Bruce Wayne (left) and Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth (right) in Batman & Robin; Image credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment

Christian Bale (The Dark Knight Trilogy, 2005, 2008, 2012)

Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight Trilogy; Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

While Batman’s always been a fan favorite, Christian Bale’s version turned Batman into a global obsession all over again. This version of the character is intense, driven, and full of angst to a fault. While the gritty voice was controversial and ended up being meme’d pretty hard, the trilogy gave us one of the greatest villains ever in The Joker, and a Batman who has become the gold standard for many fans.

Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight Trilogy; Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

David Mazouz (Gotham, 2014–2019)

David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne in Gotham; Image credit: Warner Bros. Television

Technically, David Mazouz plays a young Bruce Wayne rather than full Batman for much of Gotham, but watching the seeds of the Dark Knight take root was a huge part of the show’s appeal. His performance shows the trauma, intelligence, and determination that shape Bruce long before the suit arrives, and by the end, you can fully see the Batman he is becoming.

David Mazouz as Batman in Gotham; Image credit: Warner Bros. Television

Kevin Conroy (Crisis on Infinite Earths, 2019)

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm; Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Kevin Conroy is legendary as the animated voice of Batman, but he also made an unexpected live-action appearance in the Arrowverse crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths. His version of Bruce Wayne is broken and cynical, offering a dark, what-if look at what Batman could become. While it wasn’t a huge role, it was still exciting to see him play Batman in the flesh for a few minutes.

Kevin Conroy in Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse); Image credit: Warner Bros. Discovery

Ben Affleck (Batman v Superman, 2016, Justice League, 2017)

Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice; Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

When Ben Affleck was first cast, the internet exploded with negativity similar to the Keaton backlash. Fortunately, when Affleck stepped into the role as an older, hardened, experienced Batman, many softened on his portrayal. Unfortunately, his performance was overshadowed by the community’s negative perception of Batman v. Superman. Even so, Affleck played a uniquely bitter, intense, and tactical version of the character that was fun to see.

Ben Affleck as Batman in Justice League; Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Robert Pattinson (The Batman, 2022)

Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman; Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

The most recent addition to the lineup, Robert Pattinson, took us back to the character’s roots as a detective in The Batman (2022). Instead of a smug billionaire playboy, this Bruce Wayne is an eccentric, moody recluse who is barely functioning as a normal person. The film is rainy, shadowy, and tense, and despite some skeptics, Pattinson fit right in with his fresh take on the Dark Knight.

Robert Pattinson as Batman in The Batman; Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

As we’ve seen from the last 80 years, there is no one right way to play this iconic superhero. So, now that you’ve gone through the lineup, which Batman reigns supreme? Is it Keaton or West? Affleck or Bale?

If you haven’t already, scroll up and cast your vote in the PixlParade poll and let your voice be heard!

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