As one of the few superheroes without powers, Batman has been giving people the feeling that anyone can be a hero for more than eight decades running. The dark, gritty landscape of Gotham has brewed many villains that have kept us on the edge of our seats wondering what they will do next.
Batman has spawned countless TV shows, comics, and films telling and retelling stories of his adventures. With the many takes, there have come different visions of what the hero should wear (and drive). From tight spandex to armored plates that can withstand gods, Batman has donned many cowls over the years.
The Batman (1943)
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The Batman was the first-ever onscreen appearance of The Dark Knight, initially released as a fifteen-chapter theatrical serial. The total runtime was 260 minutes, or 4 hours and 30 minutes long. This film was about a Japanese terrorist group, led by Dr. Daka, wreaking havoc across Gotham.
This version of Batman was dressed in a cloth suit that had very little protection. With no Batmobile, few gadgets, and dawning nothing but cloth, this take definitely needed some upgrades.
Batman and Robin (1949)
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Batman and Robin is the direct sequel of The Batman (1943). While changing actors from Lewis Wilson to Robert Lowery, this film was also released as a theatrical serial of fifteen chapters. Fans see Batman return, this time with his trusty sidekick Robin, to face-off against The Wizard.
Much like his costume in the previous serial, Batman sports a suit completely made of cloth with no armor. While his gadgets have increased, his suit is still lacking in the protection department.
Batman '66
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Batman '66 was both a TV show and movie starring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. The movie came out between the first and second seasons. In the film, Batman’s most notable villains join forces in order to take down The Caped Crusader.
This Batman follows its predecessors with the fabric costume. The main differences are this era's classic blue and gray suit with the yellow symbol in the center.
Batman '89
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This marked a turning point for Batman. Fans went from seeing low-tech gadgets and cloth outfits to updated Batmobiles and armored costumes. This film starred Michael Keaton as Batman facing off against Jack Nicholson’s Joker. In the film, fans see the rise of The Clown Prince of Crime as he takes over Gotham.
Batman '89 is the first Batman film to show a more realistic suit. Keaton’s Batman dawns an all-black spandex suit that seems to have armored plates in parts of the suit. This gave Batman a mobility advantage as well as some much-needed protection.
Batman & Robin (1997)
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Batman & Robin is the fourth and final film in WB’s first Batman series. Here, fans see yet another actor change for the title character, this time played by George Clooney. Clooney’s Batman faces off against the likes of Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and Bane with a little help from his friends, Robin and Batgirl.
This new and improved suit has more armor and comes equipped with even more gadgets in his belt.
Batman Forever (1995)
Batman Forever is the third installment in WB’s first Batman series. Bringing on the first actor change in the series, Val Kilmer takes on the mantle of Batman. Kilmer’s Batman faces off against the Riddler and Two-Face. The duo teamed up to terrorize Gotham City. However, they aren’t the only new duo. In this film, Batman recruits a new partner, Chris O’Donnell’s Robin.
Kilmer’s suit is a perfect blend between Keaton’s spandex and Clooney’s armor. This blend gives Batman the perfect amount of movement ability and protection from his enemies.
Justice League (2017)
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Justice League is the first live-action DC film to bring together many of the company's most iconic heroes, including Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Aquaman, Cyborg, and The Flash. They form a team to help save the world from Darkseid's minions.
Ben Affleck reprises his role as Batman, following his appearance as the caped crusader in Batman v Superman. Affleck’s Batman dawns a suit filled with padding and Kevlar, and sometimes with extra armor on top of it, that helps him fight the criminals of Gotham.
The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005)
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy was a 3-film epic following the beginning and end of Batman. Christian Bale takes on the role of Batman as we see him take on the likes of Ra’s Al Ghul, Scarecrow, Joker, Two-Face, and Bane. Fans follow Bale’s journey from the start of his training in Batman Begins all the way until Batman’s death in Batman: The Dark Knight Rises.
In this series, fans see Bale’s Batman create his suit and make many modifications until it was perfect for his needs. He uses different armors and materials to keep the suit flexible and lightweight while being able to sustain an incredible amount of damage, making this one of the best suits fans have seen on screen.
Batman v Superman (2016)
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Batman v Superman was Batman’s first entrance into the DCEU, as well as Ben Affleck’s first time portraying the role. As the title implies, in this film viewers see the two most iconic DC characters pitted against each other. Batman thinks Superman is a threat to the world, while Superman is coerced by Lex Luthor into attempting to kill Batman.
Batman, being only human, stood no chance against the godlike Kyrptonian with his normal suit. With the help of Alfred Pennyworth, Affleck’s Batman designs a suit that can hold its own against Superman. This new suit was covered in armor and gadgets that were designed to take down The Man of Steel.
The Batman (2022)
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The Batman is the newest take on the beloved character. Portrayed by Robert Pattinson, fans will see their hero face off against the Riddler in this reboot of the franchise.
Pattinson’s suit seems to take fans back to the armored and spandex look. While covered with plates of armor, this version has strategic breaks between the plates to help with his flexibility and mobility. This suit seems to be the perfect balance between protection and usability.