WithThe Batmanstarring Robert Pattinson swooping into theaters soon, now is the perfect time to look back at the many Batman films of years past. And if there’s one part of the series that deserves to be discussed, it’s the acting.
From Tim Burton to Todd Phillips, every cinematic depiction of the Caped Crusader and his supporting cast has had plenty of enjoyable performances — even if they were sometimes enjoyable for the wrong reasons. And while the likes of Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne, Zoe Kravitz’s Catwoman, or Jeffrey Wright’s Jim Gordon may very well earn their way onto the list soon, this article will focus only on previous adaptations. Also, only the live-action films will be discussed,though Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill,and even the cast ofThe Lego Batman Moviecould have easily made the list as well.
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Michael Keaton — Batman
Starting off the list is none other than Batman himself — specifically the one from the Tim Burton films, played by Michael Keaton. Keaton has proved his acting talent in plenty of other films, fromBeetlejuicetoBirdmantoSpider-Man: Homecoming, in which he traded his cape and cowl for the wings of the Vulture. But even so, Bruce Wayne remains Keaton’s most famous role without a doubt.
Curiously, Batman himself receives comparatively little screen time in the Burton films compared to later movies, with much of the plot beingdevoted to his antagonistsand supporting cast. But even so, when Keaton does take center stage, he leaves a lasting impression. Every fan knows the moments where he embodies the Dark Knight’s stoic, brooding side, like the unforgettable “I’m Batman” scene that opens the ‘89 movie. However, the scenes that best show off Keaton’s skills are the ones where he’s allowed to show some vulnerability as Bruce Wayne.
Contrary to most takes on the character, Keaton’s Bruce isn’t a suave, confident playboy, but an awkward recluse who barely knows how to hold a conversation. Whenever he’s around his initial love interest Vicki Vale, the typically calm and collected Bruce struggles to string together a coherent sentence, showing just how truly disconnected he’s become from other people.Batman Returnsfurther fleshes out Keaton’s Bruceby allowing him more opportunities to show his vulnerable, compassionate side as he finds kindred spirits in Catwoman and even Penguin to an extent.
Michelle Pfeiffer — Catwoman
Speaking ofBatman Returns’ Catwoman, Michelle Pfeiffer ofScarfaceandWitches of Eastwickfame delivers what’s perhaps the standout performance of the Burton films in the role of Selina Kyle. While Burton’s take on Catwoman may seem like a departure from her usual portrayal — reinventing her as a beleaguered secretary turned vigilante rather than a playful thief — but thanks to Pfeiffer’s performance, it still works perfectly. She manages to perfectly encapsulate every facet of the character, from the lonely, nervous secretary to the confident seductress to the vengeful supervillain. There have been plenty oflive-action versions of Catwomanover the years, but Pfeiffer is a strong contender for the all-time best.
Danny DeVito — Penguin
Of course, the other villain ofBatman Returnsis no slouch either. Danny DeVito provides a surprisingly compelling performance as the Penguin, who Burton depicts not as a cunning high-class crime lord, but a monstrous freak who grew up in Gotham’s sewers. Even so, DeVito highlights the character’s core traits — his cruel, spiteful personality and his desperate need for praise and respect. Like the comic Penguin, DeVito’s take on Oswald Cobblepot plays the part of a sophisticated gentleman, but can barely hide his monstrous true nature. He can be cartoonishly goofy in one moment, downright terrifying in another, and even sympathetic in the next. DeVito may be known for his comedic roles, buthis portrayal of Penguinshows off how much range he really has.
Michael Caine — Alfred
Switching gears from Tim Burton to Christopher Nolan, the Dark Knight Trilogy has a true all-star cast filled with actors who could have easily made this top five. There’s Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon, and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent — even Christian Bale’s Batman and Tom Hardy’s Bane could have made the cut, despite their silly voices. However, none of them shine quite as bright as Michael Caine’s take on Alfred Pennyworth.
There’s never been a single bad Alfred in theBatmanmovies, but there’s something about Caine’s Alfred that’s truly special. From his caring, paternalattitude inBatman Beginsto his famous “Some men just want to watch the world burn” speech inThe Dark Knightto his downright heart-wrenching character arc inThe Dark Knight Returns, Caine never fails to leave an impression as Bruce Wayne’s ever-loyal butler.
Heath Ledger — Joker
But of course, it’s impossible to talk about the best acting inThe Dark Knightwithout bringing up the late great Heath Ledger, whose chilling performance as the Joker earned him an Academy Award. Far from the campy antics of Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson before him, Ledger injects the character of the Joker with a frightening, unhinged intensity that no other movie supervillain has matched to date. But even in this more grounded and gritty interpretation,this Joker still maintainsthe character’s flair for the dramatic and twisted sense of humor. There’s not much to say about him that hasn’t been said already — Heath Ledger’s Joker is one of the most terrifying, quotable, and iconic villains in modern movie history.
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