Batman: The Movie (1966) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error The Dynamic Duo faces four supervillains who plan to hold the world for ransom with the help of a secret invention that instantly dehydrates people. Director: Bob Kane (character created by: Batman), Lorenzo Semple Jr. Stars: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 23 titles created 11 Apr 2011 a list of 25 titles created 01 Aug 2012 a list of 21 titles created 17 Aug 2012 a list of 24 titles created 25 Nov 2012 a list of 33 titles created 18 Nov 2014 Title: Batman: The Movie (1966) 6.5/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. The Caped Crusader battles evildoers in Gotham City in a bombastic 1960s parody of the comic book hero's exploits. Stars: Adam West, Burt Ward, Alan Napier The Dynamic Duo battles crime in Gotham City. Stars: Casey Kasem, Ted Knight, Olan Soule Directors: Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm, and 4 more credits » Stars: Kevin Conroy, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner The Man of Steel fights crime with help from his friends at the Daily Planet. Stars: George Reeves, Noel Neill, John Hamilton Edit Storyline The arch-villains of the United Underworld - the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler and the Catwoman - combine forces to dispose of Batman and Robin as they launch their fantastic plot to control the entire world. From his submarine, Penguin and his cohorts hijack a yacht containing a dehydrator, which can extract all moisture from humans and reduce them to particles of dust. The evildoers turn the nine Security Council members in the United World Building into nine vials of multicolored crystals!

Batman and Robin track the villains in their Batboat and use Batcharge missiles to force the submarine to surface. Written by Aaron Handy III <ah07@gnofn.org> See All (103) » Taglines: FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE MOTION PICTURE SCREEN IN COLOR! Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin together with all their fantastic derring-do and their dastardly villains, too! See more » Genres: 26 October 1966 (Italy) See more » Also Known As: Batman: The Movie See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia In Spain wasn't a theatrical release until 1979, 13 years later. Also was a re-release in 2015 only in Barcelona (Phenomena) for 2 days in subtitled version. See more » Goofs As the Batcopter approaches a yacht, Robin takes a device to get a bearing on the vessel, in the interior copter scenes. But in exterior shots during the same sequence, Robin is obviously not holding the device. See more » Quotes [first lines] Narrator : This yacht is bringing a revolutionary scientific invention to Gotham City.

On a peaceful afternoon motor ride, millionaire Bruce Wayne and his youthful ward Dick Grayson have been summoned back to Wayne Manor by an urgent but anonymous call for help; the invention *and* its custodian are reported in grave danger aboard the yacht! Never ones to shirk responsibility, Bruce and Dick, with characteristic speed and resolve, descend promptly into The Batcave, and then, as they have done... The film ends with THE END, then it suddenly changes to THE LIVING END.....? See more » Connections (Australia) – See all my reviews A wise man once said "The 60s Batman movie is the greatest ever." I should know, because I was that wise man. OK, it might not be the greatest movie, but it is one of the awesomest movies ever. Only in 'Batman' could intelligent writers come up with some of the most illogical situations and cheesiest dialog committed to screen. A Yacht disappears in Gotham Harbour ("How can a yacht simply disappear... unless, it was never really there!").

On board was a 'superdehydrator', a machine that can extract the moisture from any living being, and in of the most logical displays of logic ever, Batman and friends logically come to the (correct) conclusion that the culprits are the combined forces of Penguin, Joker, the Riddler and Catwoman, apparently intent on world domination. 'Batman is scene-after-scene of pure brilliance - great situations, and the greatest dialog ever. 'Batman' is very funny, but only if you appreciate and enjoy the style, otherwise you will hate it. But only those who lack a sense of awesomeness would not like it, and who is really so un-awesome, that they can't even find the captioned fights just that little bit amusing? 8/10 - Awesome, simply awesome 79 of 95 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes The 9 actors who’ve played Batman | Den of Geek Search The 9 actors who’ve played Batman We look at the nine actors who’ve graced Batman's cowl on the big screen, including Mr Ben Affleck… j Holy revolving door, Batman!

The Caped Crusader has been portrayed by more actors than any other superhero in movie history – nine to be exact. Most have lasted for just one film, but with the release of The Dark Knight Rises, Christian Bale became the first man to have played Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego more than twice on the silver screen. He didn’t have much competition – Michael Keaton was the only prior actor to reprise the role. Will Arnett will also join that club when his LEGO Batman movie hits cinemas in 2017. Ben Affleck could well throw all these records out, of course, given the sprawling DC Extended Universe plans now afoot and his vital involvement in them. Here's the nine actor who've played Gotham's Dark Knight... 1. Lewis G Wilson Wilson was the first and youngest actor ever to play the adult Batman, and also the least successful. At 23, the unknown thespian donned the cape and the cowl in the 15-part 1943 Columbia serial Batman. While he looked the part of the dashing playboy, his physique was more Danny DeVito as the Penguin.

One critic described Wilson as “thick about the middle.” Maybe that was why he wore his utility belt just below his chest. Critics also complained that his voice was too high and that he had a Boston accent. That, of course, wouldn’t be the last time someone complained about Batman’s voice. After Batman, Wilson’s career went nowhere. Most of his roles went uncredited. His next biggest movie part was probably in the 1951 cult classic Bowanga Bowanga. A few years later he was out of showbiz altogether. His son, Michael G Wilson, however, fared better in Hollywood, becoming the executive producer of the James Bond series. Lewis G Wilson died in 2000. 2. Robert Lowrey Lowery took over the role in the follow-up serial, 1949’s Batman And Robin. Unlike Lewis, Lowery, 36 at the time, was a veteran actor, having already appeared in The Mark Of Zorro (1940), The Mummy's Ghost (1944) and Dangerous Passage (1944).

He also filled out the Batsuit better than Lewis, with his utility belt hanging where you would expect it on a non-octogenarian. Though Lowery never played Batman in another movie, he did get to wear the cape once more and make superhero history in the process. In 1956 he guest-starred on an episode of The Adventures Of Superman, marking the first time a Batman actor shared screen time with a Superman actor. (One for the fact fans: the two actors also appeared together in their pre-superhero days, in a WWII anti-VD propaganda film called Sex Hygiene). After Batman, Lowrey enjoyed another 20 years in movies and TV. He died in 1971. 3. Adam West The man logging the most hours in the Batcave, of course, was William West Anderson, whom you probably know better as Adam West. Either you love him for his goofy charm or hate him for blemishing the Bat’s image for several decades. His campy, over-the-top portrayal of Gotham’s Guardian infiltrated nearly every medium, including a 1966 movie and several animated series.

Legend has it producer William Dozier cast West after seeing him play a James Bond-like spy called Captain Q in a Nestlé Quik TV ad. He beat future Wonder Woman co-star Lyle Waggoner for the role. Dozier, who supposedly hated comic books, decided the only way the show would be successful was if they camped it up. So blame him. Things would almost come full circle when, in 1970, West was offered the role of James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever. West declined, later writing in his autobiography that he believed Bond should always be played by a Brit. Holy bad career moves, Batman! After the Batman series went off the air in 1968, West was resigned to typecast hell. At one point he was forced to make public appearances as the Caped Crusader to earn a living. Then, in 1977, he returned to the tube as Batman, doing his voice in The New Adventures Of Batman, and then on such shows as Super Friends.

West’s resurgence as a pop-culture icon began in the early 90s when he starred as a has-been TV action hero in the pilot episode of Lookwell, produced by Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel. It wasn’t picked up but took on a cult following online. (Check it out here .) Since then his cult popularity has increased and he now makes regular appearances on the animated series Family Guy. He also did the Batman voice once again for the LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham videogame. 4. Michael Keaton It took more than 20 years for Adam West to lose his exclusivity on Batman. When director Tim Burton (who, like Dozier, was not a fan of comic books) and Michael Keaton were announced for 1989’s Batman, fans went bat-shit crazy, thinking their beloved superhero was going to get the Adam West treatment again. Keaton's casting caused such controversy that 50,000 protest letters were sent to Warner Bros’ offices. In an effort to appease the naysayers, Batman co-creator Bob Kane was hired as the film’s creative consultant.

Other Hollywood stars considered for the role of Batman included Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Charlie Sheen, Pierce Brosnan, Tom Selleck and Bill Murray. But producer Jon Peters said he cast Keaton because “The image of Batman is a big male model type, but I wanted a guy who's a real person who happens to put on this weird armor. A guy who's funny and scary. Keaton's both. He's got that explosive, insane side.'' This certainly showed in his portrayal of Bats ("Wanna get nuts?!"), which remains loved by critics and fans alike. Variety magazine gushed, “Michael Keaton captures the haunted intensity of the character, and seems particularly lonely and obsessive without Robin around to share his exploits.” Keaton was rewarded by being the first actor to reprise the role on the big screen. And in 1992’s Batman Returns, Keaton again garnered positive reviews. After Batman Returns, Keaton’s career slowed down, before resurging again in a big way.

Comedy roles like the inadvertently-TLC-loving police chief in Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg’s The Other Guys helped him back towards the top, before his miraculous and self-referential turn in Birdman (Or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance) cemented his position as a much-loved, Oscar-nominated talent. Even more recently, he was ace in Spotlight. 5. Val Kilmer When the Batman franchise was turned over to director Joel Schumacher, Keaton decided not to return. Daniel Day-Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, William Baldwin and Johnny Depp were reportedly considered as replacements. But the job was won by Val Kilmer – probably the most forgettable of the modern Batmen. Go ahead – try to remember. See? You can’t. Schumacher became interested in Kilmer for 1995’s Batman Forever after seeing him in Tombstone (in which he played Doc Holiday, who Adam West also portrayed in a movie before he did the Batman TV series, fact fans!). Kilmer allegedly accepted the role without even reading the script or knowing who the new director was. Schumacher quickly learned who Kilmer was, though, and the two clashed on the set.

Schumacher later described Kilmer as “childish and impossible,” claiming that he fought with various crewmen and refused to speak to him for two weeks after the director asked his star to stop behaving rudely. Kilmer’s performance got mixed reviews. As The New York Times put it, “The prime costume is now worn by Val Kilmer, who makes a good Batman but not a better one than Michael Keaton.” Bob Kane felt otherwise, saying he thought Kilmer did the best job of all the actors to have played Batman up to that point. The movie performed better than Batman Returns at the box office, but Kilmer was destined to be a one-term caped crusader. Between his bad attitude and his concern that the superhero wasn’t getting as much screen time as the villains, he left the Batcave for good. Instead of filming 1997’s Batman & Robin, he did The Saint. After Batman, Kilmer’s career headed downhill. Though it was probably 1996’s The Island Of Dr Moreau that had more to do with that than Batman Forever. 6.

George Clooney Clooney’s movie career was just taking off when he was cast in 1997’s Batman & Robin, with his breakthrough performance coming just the year before in Quentin Tarantino’s From Dusk Till Dawn. Producers probably felt they pulled off a major coup landing the soon-to-be mega-movie star. Those producers, along with Clooney, probably regret that decision now. Batman & Robin was a disaster, rife with homoeroticism, camp and those infamous Bat-nipples. Clooney once joked that he helped to kill the franchise. “Joel Schumacher told me we never made another Batman film because Batman was gay.” The actor also called the movie “a waste of money.” Critics and fans agreed. In 1997, Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “George Clooney is the big zero of the film, and should go down in history as the George Lazenby of the series.” Batman & Robin received 11 nominations at the Razzie Awards and frequently ranks among the worst films of all time. It was also the worst box-office performer of the modern Batman movies. But all that did nothing to hurt Clooney’s career.

After Batman, he went on to super stardom, starring in Out Of Sight (with a cameo from Michael Keaton), Three Kings and O Brother, Where Art Thou? over the next three years. You don't need reminding of where he's gone since then, either. 7. Christian Bale Between Adam West and George Clooney, Batman seemed destined to remain a joke, at least when it came to live-action adaptations. Then came along Christopher Nolan. The Memento and Insomnia director was given the job of realising what became Batman Begins, and he planned to reinvent the franchise, finally making the Dark Knight dark. Among the early candidates for the Batman/Bruce Wayne roles were Billy Crudup, Jake Gyllenhaal, Joshua Jackson and Cillian Murphy. But Nolan ultimately chose Christian Bale, explaining that “he has exactly the balance of darkness and light that we were looking for.” Bale got generally favourable reviews for 2005’s Batman Begins, with several critics saying it reminded them of his brilliant turn in American Psycho. Not so brilliant, it seems, was his uber-husky Bat-voice.

One reviewer compared Bale's guttural utterances to a “10-year-old putting on an ‘adult’ voice to make prank phone calls.” It got even more gravelly in 2008’s The Dark Knight, with NPR’s David Edelstein describing it as “a voice that's deeper and hammier than ever.” Even Kevin Conroy, the man behind probably the most recognisable Batman voice, chimed in, saying at a C2E2 panel in 2010 that Bale’s voice was “ridiculous” and implored the actor to stop doing it. Bale ignored this advice in The Dark Knight Rises (a film in which he wears the Batsuit a lot less, to be fair), but it was Tom Hardy's Bane vocal noises that garnered more vocal criticism from Nolan's threequel. Regardless, Bale's Batman is fondly remembered, and always pops up during discussions of 'who's the best?', not least because of the stellar scripts, direction and cinematography which generally surrounded him.

Rumours after The Dark Knight Rises insisted that Mr Bale turned down a huge pay cheque to avoid reprising the role once more, a decision that remains a particularly tantalising 'what if?' moment in Batman's cinematic history. Between his turns as Bruce/Batman, Bale gained a reputation as being an interesting on-set presence thanks to his famous Terminator Salvation rant. That hasn't slowed his career down at all, though - working with Ridley Scott on Exodus: Gods And Kings is the latest in a long line of starring roles from the former Dark Knight. His turn in American Hustle is perhaps his best loved post-cowl effort. 8. Will Arnett With any other actor in the role, the presence of Batman in the 2013 cinematic smash The LEGO Movie could easily have become the sort of performance that gets neglected from lists like this. However, Arrested Development star Will Arnett brought some comedy magic to the role and landed his own spin-off movie as a result.

It helped that movie came at the perfect time in Batman’s busy cinema schedule – long enough after The Dark Knight Rises for lampooning of Bale’s gruff Batman to be entirely welcome, and far enough before Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice that Arnett’s new iteration didn’t get lost in all the hype for Ben Affleck’s debut. The result of this perfect casting and canny scheduling was a Batman who will go down in the history books as the funniest, freshest and downright fun-est take on the character. From penning ‘dark’ lyrics to helplessly attempting to hide his secret identity, Arnett’s Batman was a gag machine who The LEGO Movie’s primary younger audience really embraced. There were knowing winks in there for adult fans too, with such as dialogue as “I only work in black – and sometimes very very dark grey’ appealing to comic book fans and LEGO Batman’s painful attempts to hit a button with a Batarang surely connecting with anyone who’s ever got stuck for hours at a simple door-button in the Arkham Asylum games.

Arnett’s delivery, combined with Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s zingers, made this portrayal a quick favourite for many, and it’s telling that no-one is complaining about Arnett’s reprisal in an upcoming 2017 standalone story ( the first trailer is here , by the way). If you want more hilarious Arnett voice work in the meantime, check out BoJack Horseman on Netflix – you wont regret it, we promise . 9. Ben Affleck Ben Affleck donned the cinematic cape and cowl for the first time in Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. After initial scepticism, vast sections of the internet seemed to warm to the idea during the film's promotional period, perhaps thanks to Affleck’s unpredictable turn in David Fincher’s novel adaptation Gone Girl, as well as his impressive trailer brooding. Now, the reviews have been pretty kind to him. Only time will tell how Affleck will rank amongst the legion of Bat-actors to go before him, though, in terms of popular consensus. We don't have to collectively decide a favourite straight away, thankfully.

Judging by the fact that Warner Bros has already signed Affleck up for two Justice League movies and is said to be considering solo stories too, it seems like he'll be the incumbent wearer of the live-action cowl for quite some time. Snyder told the world that Batfleck will "bear the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne" a few months back. Having now seen the film, it's easy to agree. Affleck's take is as conflicted-yet-charismatic as any Batmen that have gone before. As Affleck's first Bat-movie sees him fight Supes (at least to start with), his take on Bruce Wayne had to work hard on his tech-building capabilities as well his gym regimen. The fight that eventually broke out between the two heroes was a brutal affair, recalling the iconic Frank Miller comic The Dark Knight Returns. The voices of Batman Outside of this live-action realm, plenty of talented actors have loaned their vocal chords to Gotham's caped crusader over the years. For the most part, though, the bulk of the animated Batman work over the years has gone to two actors.

In real life Olan Soule was a bespectacled pencil-necked geek, but that didn’t stop him from voicing the Dark Knight in six different animated series, beginning with 1968’s The Batman/Superman Hour. His run pretty much ended when Adam West took over voicing duties in the late 70s. Soule, who also appeared in such films as The Day The Earth Stood Still and North By Northwest, died in 1994. Unlike Soule, Kevin Conroy could probably pull off Batman in real life, but so far he’s been relegated to voice work – and quite a lot of it. Conroy began voicing the superhero in Batman: The Animated Series, which made its debut in 1992. Since then, he’s done three other Batman series, a bunch of animated movies and videogames.

Others to voice Batman are Will Friedle (Batman Beyond), Rino Romano (The Batman), Diedrich Bader (Batman: The Brave And The Bold), Jeremy Sisto (Justice League: The New Frontier), Bruce Thomas (who voiced Batman in commercials for GM’s OnStar service and portrayed the character briefly in the live-action TV series Birds Of Prey) and Roger Craig Smith (Arkham Origins). The number one Batman? It’s probably not a worthwhile question to ask which Batman actor is the best. Until Affleck hit the scene, many would have argued that Christian Bale was the top dog among the live-action crowd. But Adam West and Michael Keaton had their supporters, too. And now, with Batfleck in the mix, it's even harder to choose... Joker (Batman 1966 TV Series) | DC Database | Fandom powered by Wikia Joker (Batman 1966 TV Series) 97,730pages on History Overview The Joker was a criminal from Gotham City, an intelligent, persistent and dangerous nemesis of Batman and Robin . Early Life Not much is known about the Joker's early life. On one occasion, he was implied to have been a high school dropout.

In addition, Batman once noted that he was a well-known hypnotist before he turned to a life of crime. Criminal Career Intelligent and creative, yet totally amoral, the Joker engaged in a wide variety of crimes throughout his life and clashed with Gotham's law enforcement - especially Batman and Robin - on numerous occasions. As a career criminal, the Joker was no stranger to incarceration within Gotham State Penitentiary. Though he made daring escapes from the institution on several occasions, and managed to get lawfully released from it on several others by feigning reformation, he would always find himself returned to its confines by Batman and Robin. (This was in keeping with his well-documented expertise, in the comics, in jailbreaks.) Utility Belt Caper One of the Joker's earliest crime sprees began with an ingenious escape from Gotham State Penitentiary, facilitated during a softball game in the penitentiary's exercise yard. Once free, the Clown Prince of Crime immediately set out to rob Gotham Museum of its new jewel collection, but was quickly foiled by Batman and Robin, and barely managed to evade capture. Attributing this defeat to Batman's gadget-laden utility belt, the Joker decided to create a utility belt of his own.

The belt - and the gadgets that it contained - soon proved a wise investment for the Harlequin of Hate. The Joker's next two heists - at a performance of the opera I Pagliacci and at a warehouse storing valuable African masks - saw him hold his own against Batman and Robin before making clean getaways. In the former case, the Joker even came within a hair's breadth of unmasking the duo. Soon, public confidence in Batman and Robin plunged, and crime rates soared across Gotham City. Drunk on victory, the Joker sought to finish off the Dynamic Duo at the launch ceremony of the S.S. Gotham, where Batman was to perform the ceremonial champagne-smashing. The Clown Prince of Crime tampered with the vintage champagne bottle to be used in the ceremony, leaving a bottle that would release paralyzing gas when smashed. On the day of the launch, the Joker's plan went off without a hitch: the gimmicked bottle soon (apparently) rendered both heroes helpless, and the Joker and his gang were able to swoop in and kidnap the Dynamic Duo.

A gleeful Joker brought the (seemingly) paralyzed heroes back to his hideout and eagerly televised his victory, threatening to have the heroes executed unless his demands were met. Soon after, however, he was treated to a rude surprise: the Dynamic Duo were up and about, having caught on to the Joker's ruse shortly after they had been handed the bottle--Batman had noticed that the the new bottle's cork was not discolored with age, as that of a true vintage bottle would have been. Knowing this, the heroes had taken antidote pills before smashing the bottle, and had been faking helplessness the entire time. The heroes then quickly defeated the Joker and his men, and returned them to the penitentiary. Back to School Some time after the utility belt caper, the Joker was released from the penitentiary, but quickly returned to his old ways. The Harlequin of Hate soon created a series of remote-controlled gadgets to carry out his schemes with. Among these gadgets were several vending machines rigged to deposit money, which the Joker planted inside Woodrow Roosevelt High School, as part of a gambit to tempt students into joining his gang with promises of easy wealth.

The other machines, meanwhile, were stationed inside various businesses across Gotham, and assisted the Joker's men in committing ordinary robberies. The Joker's antics soon attracted attention from Batman and Robin - attention that the Harlequin of Hate openly encouraged, to the point where he openly attended an anti-crime lecture being given by Batman at Woodrow Roosevelt. Soon enough, the arch-criminal's promises of easy living snared one of Woodrow Roosevelt's most prominent students: Susie, the school's cheerleader captain. With Susie's help, the Joker was able to successfully carry out the next stage of his plan - stealing the answer key to the Nationwide Pre-College Exam. As a pleasant bonus, Susie even earned the confidence of Batman and Robin, whom she quickly lured into the Joker's latest deathtrap. A sudden blackout, however, foiled the Joker's deathtrap (two electric chairs rigged to a one-armed bandit and designed to electrocute the two if the machine turned up three lemons, which it did) seconds before it could slay the Dynamic Duo. Frustrated, but left with no other options, the Joker was forced to flee, and Batman and Robin resumed their investigation.

Shortly afterward, the lawmen pinpointed Susie as one of the members of the Joker's gang, and Robin - in his civilian guise of Dick Grayson - attempted to infiltrate the Joker's gang through the cheeerleader. The rest of the Joker's gang, however, quickly saw through the ruse and informed the Clown Prince of Crime. Upon learning of the incident, the Joker deemed Susie a weak link in his gang, and sought to dispose of the cheerleader by giving her a "gift" of perfume that had secretly been poisoned. Batman and Robin, meanwhile, were fed a false lead that led them to another of the Joker's traps. Confident that he had neutralized every potential liability, the Joker went on with the final stage of his plan. The Harlequin of Hate tricked Woodrow Roosevelt's basketball team into picking up his stolen answer key, and promptly snapped an incriminating photograph of the scene. With the picture, the Joker intended to frame the team as cheaters, and get Woodrow Roosevelt disqualified from an upcoming game.

In doing so, the Joker hoped to hand victory to the opposing school, as he was gambling a large sum of money (through a bookmaker nicknamed "Pete The Swede") on Woodrow Roosevelt losing. Unfortunately for the Joker, Batman and Robin intervened, having outwitted his trap and saved Susie from the poisoned perfume; out of gratitude for saving her life, the duo revealed, Susie had testified to the Joker's scam. His plans scuttled, the Joker attempted to flee, but was apprehended once more. A Royal Deception An unspecified amount of time after the Woodrow Roosevelt caper, the Joker returned to menace Gotham City once more. This time, the Clown Prince of Crime committed a series of bizarre robberies, "stealing" a hole from the golf course at a prominent country club and holding up a fur salon for the sole purpose of stealing a woman's hairpin. With his "loot," the Joker managed to stage a much more impressive crime: kidnapping Gotham City's latest visiting royalty, the Maharaja of Nimpah. During the kidnapping, Batman and Robin, having deduced the Joker's intentions from the customary taunting message delivered to police headquarters, arrived on the scene.

The Dynamic Duo quickly pursued the Joker and his men, but were soon foiled when the Joker's getaway van, which was covered in folding mirrors to enable it to blend completely into the background, seemingly vanished into thin air. (The van was marked as belonging to "Gayfellow Cleaners Services," and bore the slogan, "Let Gayfellow take you to the Cleaners.") Though baffled, Batman and Robin eventually found another of the Joker's deliberately-planted clues at the scene of the crime: a tiny model of the getaway van. The model contained a written note from the Joker, from which the Dynamic Duo managed to deduce the location the Joker's latest hideout. Upon rushing into the hideout, however, the lawmen soon found themselves falling into another one of the Joker's traps, and were quickly captured by the Joker's men. The Joker promptly sealed his adversaries inside an airtight chamber, into which he poured generous quantities of poison gas. By placing their backs together and scaling up the chimney's walls, the two were fortunately able to avoid the rising toxic clouds, and a flabbergasted Joker realized far too late that they had managed to outwit him.

Escaping the roof via a nearby zip-line, Batman and Robin then paid a visit in their civilian identities to the Ferguson Novelty and Magician Supply Company, which they had carefully sussed out was a front operation for the devious trickster's schemes; sure enough, as Bruce discovered by cleverly refracting the shop's two-way mirror with a special prism, the Maharaja was there, being held captive in the basement storeroom. Returning that night after their reconnaissance, the Dynamic Duo surprised the Joker and his men, but were impeded when the Joker set off his "Defense Panel" switch to "repel the invaders." Under cover of fireworks and paper streamers, the Joker escaped in the ensuing fight, and the Maharaja was nowhere to be found. His foes neutralized for the moment, the Joker promptly rang the Commissioner's office, where he delivered his ransom demands to the Caped Crusader through a phone relay: half a million dollars, which the Maharaja himself had offered to pay with a personal check...and which Batman had to sign off on the next morning, or else the deal was kaput.

Loath though he was to participate in such a malevolent scheme, Batman reluctantly acquiesced for the sake of the rotund royal's well-being, and the two met the next day at the bank to initiate the trade. As the Maharaja rambled on, money in hand, Batman carefully drew a long dart and stuck it deep into the pompous pest's leg, exposing his fat as mere padding. Tearing away the sawdust and pillows beneath his robes in the sudden brawl, the duo exposed the Maharaja as none other than the Joker in costume - he had impersonated the other man the entire time, hoping to gain both a hefty sum of money and Batman's humiliation in the bargain. Batman had been suspicious that there had not been any protests of the Maharaja's kidnapping from the Nimpah government, and, presumably as Bruce Wayne, he had made a phone call to Nimpah - only to discover that the real Maharaja had actually been away on a hunting trip. Deflated in more ways than one, the crooked clown was quickly re-imprisoned. Powers and Abilities Abilities Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic) : The Joker was adequate in hand-to-hand combat for a man of his size.

Though he was seldom a match for Batman and Robin in a fair fight, he was incredibly resourceful in combat and certainly not above resorting to sneak attacks and other tricks. Genius Level Intellect : The Joker's intellect more than made up for his combat skills (or lack thereof). Science Gadgetry : A genius in several branches of science, the Joker invented dozens of complex gadgets over the course of his career, including a formula that could turn all water into jelly and an entire army of robots duplicating the appearance of ordinary citizens. Paraphernalia Equipment Smoke-Bomb Softball: Specially-designed softball that exploded into smoke when struck. Used to in conjunction with the giant spring to concoct an escape from the Gotham State Penitentiary. Gigantic Spring: Coiled spring secretly built in Gotham State Penitentiary's machine shop; hidden beneath the softball pitcher's mound in the penitentiary's exercise yard. Activated once the smoke-bomb softball went off, springing the Joker over the penitentiary's walls. Comedian Statues: Specially-rigged busts of the Joker himself and four legendary comedians ( Oliver Hardy , Stan Laurel , Ernie Kovacs , and W.C.

Fields ) planted in Gotham Museum's Comedian Hall of Fame. These busts (complete with pedestals) could hide full-grown men inside, allowing the Joker and four of his henchmen to bypass the museum's security. Utility Belt: Meant to mimic Batman's utility belt; contained several pouches that stored the Joker's own set of gadgets. Smoke Bomb Replica Utility Belt Paralyzing Gas Cork Trick Streamers: Ordinary-looking but unbreakable party streamers, usually deployed during battle to tie up enemies. Tend to be hidden up the Joker's sleeves. Sneezing Powder: Typical prank item that induced uncontrollable sneezing. Tended to be thrown in opponents' faces during battles as a distraction tactic. Rigged Vending Machines: Vending machines gimmicked to dispensed coins and valuable stocks & bonds instead of refreshments. Positioned inside Woodrow Roosevelt High School as a way of undermining student morale. Shackle-Dispensing Vending Machine: A vending machine meant to entrap Batman and Robin. Shot out shackles when a coin was inserted, cuffing the captive's legs to the machine. A hidden nozzle at the top sprayed knockout gas, sealing the captive's fate.

Squirting Flower: Fake flower attached to the top buttonhole of the Joker's jacket; connected to a hose that allowed it to squirt water, knockout gas, etc. One Endless Night: A half-pint bottle of - according to the Joker - high-grade Canadian perfume. Its contents were laced with poison, as it was meant to discreetly execute Susie the cheerleader. Funny Ray: A remote control-like device that emits a ray which - according to the Joker - will neutralize the gadgets in Batman's and Robin's utility belts for at least an hour. Transportation "John Doe & Sons" Moving Van: A special van designed to hold captives in the Electric Chair/Fruit Machine Combo deathtrap. To power the deathtrap, it has a line that could be connected directly to Gotham City's power main. The van's dashboard also contains a trick microphone that allows the Joker to disguise his voice when speaking to captives. "Gayfellow Cleaners" Van: A van that has its exteriors outfitted with folding mirrors. When on a monochrome environment (such as a golf course), the mirrors can be deployed to cover the van with reflections of the surroundings, turning the van invisible.

Jokermobile Flying Saucer It should be noted that one weapon the Joker did NOT use on the series was his most famous one from the comics, his infamous Joker Venom, which kills its victims by making them literally die laughing and leaves their corpses with rictus grins. Weapons Hand Buzzer : Typical prank item hidden in the palm of the Joker's glove. Allowed him to stun others with a simple handshake. (Also employed by his Burtonverse counterpart, but to electrocute people and actually burn their corpses.) Rigged Jukebox: A jukebox containing a double-barreled shotgun mounted on a turret, planted inside a Gotham bistro and operated via remote control from the Joker's hideout. Inserting a coin caused the turret to reveal itself and sweep the gun back and forth, intimidating bystanders so a robbery could be conducted. Also contained a speaker for the Joker to taunt his victims through. Death Traps Electric Chair Fruit Machine Combo : A pair of electric chairs connected to a slot machine. It dispensed fifty thousand volts of electricity into the bodies of the victim(s) when all three reels on the machine landed on the "Lemon" symbol.

Drowning Chamber: A re-purposed smokestack from the Katz, Katz, & Katz Refinery. Once the victims are locked inside, deadly gas is pumped into the confined space. The walls are almost perfectly smooth, without footholds of any sort; the only opening is fifty feet above the base. Notes This version of the character is exclusive to the continuity of the television series Batman and is an adaptation of the Joker . The original character was created by Jerry Robinson , Bob Kane , and Bill Finger and first appeared in Batman #1 . Behind the Scenes This incarnation of the Joker was portrayed by Cesar Romero , an American actor of Cuban-Italian descent. Prior to Batman, Romero had performed - as a dancer as well as an actor - for thirty-odd years, most famously as "Latin Lover"-type characters in a variety of films, as well as Duke Santos in the original Ocean's Eleven . Though Romero was nearly sixty at the time he was offered the role of the Joker, he infused the role with a powerful enthusiasm. Adam West , who played Batman, would later note, "Cesar Romero brought an enormous amount of energy to the role.

His piercing eyes, his laugh...I dunno how he did it, because he wasn't 22!"[ citation needed ] Romero, rather (in)famously, refused to shave his mustache for the role of the Joker, even though the character had always been (and still is) portrayed as clean-shaven in the comics. As a result, the makeup that Romero wore to imitate the Joker's chalk-white skin tone was applied directly over the mustache, leaving the mustache partially visible during filming.[ citation needed ] Though Romero wore a green wig to mimic the Joker's traditional hair color, the lighting on the show's sets often resulted in the Joker's hair appearing other colors - orange, yellow, etc. - when filmed. Romero would later go on to state that the wig bothered him more than any other part of the Joker's costume, as it was glued to his forehead and tended to give him headaches.[ citation needed ] According to the notes of series producer William Dozier , Romero was not the first choice for portraying the Joker; several other actors, including José Ferrer and Gig Young , had been considered.

Romero himself was perplexed as to why he was considered for the role, commenting, "Why Dozier wanted me I'll never know." Dozier's wife Ann, according to Romero, believed that Dozier had been inspired by one of Romero's previous roles.[ citation needed ] Legacy The 1966 Batman series's incarnation of the Joker marked the first time that the character was depicted in non-comics media, setting a standard for future depictions of the Clown Prince of Crime, especially where live-action works were concerned. (It is believed to have been Ben Nye Sr., a 20th Century Fox Television in-house manipulative cosmetologist, who designed the makeup format he used on Romero for the Joker.) Romero's seemingly-boundless energy, shrieking laugh, and many creative deathtraps left a powerful impression on many audiences at the time, and continues to be remembered fondly even today, decades after the series had ended.

Even the mustache that remained so conspicuously visible on Romero's face during Batman's filming has achieved a certain level of fame, becoming accepted by many as the most recognizable element of this particular incarnation of the Joker.[ citation needed ] Trivia According to a slide in the episode "The Joker Goes to School", the Joker stands 6'6". In real life, Romero stood 6'2". The Joker appeared in nineteen episodes of Batman (in addition to the theatrical film), tying with the Penguin for most commonly-appearing villain on the show. Related The Actors Who’ve Played Batman | Den of Geek Search The Actors Who’ve Played Batman We take a look back at the 8 crusading actors who’ve played Batman in TV and the movies, as well as his animated avatars! tumblr Holy revolving door, Batman! The Caped Crusader has been portrayed by more actors than any other superhero in movie history – eight to be exact. Most have lasted for just one film. But after The Dark Knight Rises, Christian Bale has become the first man to have played Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego more than twice on the silver screen. He didn’t have much competition – Michael Keaton was the only other actor to reprise the role.

And we imagine that with the kind of deals being shaken out at WB that Ben Affleck has a good shot at topping both of those numbers, especially if you count his Suicide Squad cameo, which makes 2017's Justice League his third film in the cape. But before anymore history is made next year, let’s take a look at the men who have been Batman. 1. Lewis G Wilson Wilson was the first and youngest actor ever to play the adult Batman, and also the least successful. At 23, the unknown thespian donned the cape and the cowl in the 15-part 1943 Columbia serial Batman. While he looked the part of the dashing playboy, his physique was more Danny DeVito as the Penguin. One critic described Wilson as “thick about the middle.” Maybe that was why he wore his utility belt just below his chest. Critics also complained that his voice was too high and that he had a Boston accent. That, of course, wouldn’t be the last time someone complained about Batman’s voice. After Batman, Wilson’s career went nowhere. Most of his roles went uncredited.

His next biggest movie part was probably in the 1951 cult classic Bowanga Bowanga. A few years later he was out of showbiz altogether. His son, Michael G. Wilson, however, fared better in Hollywood, becoming the executive producer of the James Bond series. Lewis G. Wilson died in 2000. Buy the 1943 Batman serial on Amazon 2. Robert Lowrey Lowery took over the role in the follow-up serial, 1949’s Batman And Robin. Unlike Lewis, Lowery, 36 at the time, was a veteran actor, having already appeared in The Mark Of Zorro (1940), The Mummy's Ghost (1944), and Dangerous Passage (1944). He also filled out the Batsuit better than Lewis, with his utility belt hanging where you would expect it on a non-octogenarian. Though Lowery never played Batman in another movie, he did get to wear the cape once more and make superhero history in the process. In 1956 he guest-starred on an episode of The Adventures Of Superman, marking the first time a Batman actor shared screen time with a Superman actor.

(The two also appeared together in their pre-superhero days, in a WWII anti-VD propaganda film called Sex Hygiene). After Batman, Lowrey enjoyed another 20 years in movies and TV. He died in 1971. Buy Batman & Robin (1949) on Amazon 3. Adam West The man logging the most hours in the Batcave, of course, was William West Anderson, whom you probably know better as Adam West. Either you love him for his goofy charm or hate him for blemishing the Bat’s image for several decades. His campy, over-the-top portrayal of Gotham’s Guardian infiltrated nearly every medium, including a 1966 movie and several animated series. [related article: Batman '66 - The Comic Book Origins] Legend has it producer William Dozier cast West after seeing him play a James Bond-like spy called Captain Q in a Nestlé Quik TV ad. He beat future Wonder Woman co-star Lyle Waggoner for the role. Dozier, who supposedly hated comic books, decided the only way the show would be successful was if they camped it up. So blame him.

Things would almost come full circle in 1970 when West was offered the role of James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever. West declined, later writing in his autobiography that he believed Bond should always be played by a Brit. Holy bad career moves, Batman! After the Batman series went off the air in 1968, West was resigned to typecast hell. At one point, he was forced to make public appearances as the Caped Crusader to earn a living. Then, in 1977, he returned to the tube as Batman, doing his voice in The New Adventures Of Batman, and then on such shows as Super Friends. Buy the Complete 1966 Batman TV Series on Amazon West’s resurgence as a pop-culture icon began in the early '90s when he starred as a has-been TV action hero in the pilot episode of Lookwell, produced by Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel. It wasn’t picked up but took on a cult following online (check it out here ). Since then his cult popularity has increased and he now makes regular appearances on the animated series Family Guy. 4. Michael Keaton It took more than 20 years for Adam West to lose his exclusivity on Batman.

When director Tim Burton (who like Dozier was not a fan of comic books) and Michael Keaton were announced for 1989’s Batman, fans went bat-shit crazy, thinking their beloved superhero was going to get the Adam West treatment again. Keaton's casting caused such controversy that 50,000 protest letters were sent to Warner Bros.’ offices. In an effort to appease the naysayers, Batman co-creator Bob Kane was hired as the film’s creative consultant. And in case you're curious, here is Keaton, Affleck, and a long list of other great castings that fans initially thought would suck . Other Hollywood stars considered for the role of Batman included Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Charlie Sheen, Pierce Brosnan, Tom Selleck, and Bill Murray. But producer Jon Peters said he cast Keaton because “The image of Batman is a big male model type, but I wanted a guy who's a real person who happens to put on this weird armor. A guy who's funny and scary. Keaton's both. He's got that explosive, insane side.'' [related article: The Evolution of Batman Returns] The studio and the fans had nothing to worry about.

Keaton’s performance received favorable reviews, and Batman killed at the box office. Variety magazine gushed, “Michael Keaton captures the haunted intensity of the character, and seems particularly lonely and obsessive without Robin around to share his exploits.” Keaton was rewarded by being the first actor to reprise the role on the big screen. And in 1992’s Batman Returns, Keaton again garnered positive reviews. Of course, Keaton has now seen a career revival thanks to the spectacular Birdman, he's even suiting up again as the winged Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming! 5. Val Kilmer When the Batman franchise was turned over to director Joel Schumacher, Keaton decided not to return. Daniel Day-Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, William Baldwin, and Johnny Depp were reportedly considered as replacements. But the job was won by Val Kilmer – probably the most forgettable of the modern Batmen. Go ahead – try to remember. See? You can’t.

[related article: Why We Never Saw Tim Burton's Batman 3] Schumacher became interested in Kilmer for 1995’s Batman Forever after seeing him in Tombstone (in which he played Doc Holiday, who Adam West also portrayed in a movie before he did the Batman TV series). Kilmer allegedly accepted the role without even reading the script or knowing who the new director was. Schumacher quickly learned who Kilmer was, though, and the two clashed on the set. Schumacher later described Kilmer as “childish and impossible,” claiming that he fought with various crewmen and refused to speak to him for two weeks after the director asked his star to stop behaving rudely. Kilmer’s performance got mixed reviews. As The New York Times put it, “The prime costume is now worn by Val Kilmer, who makes a good Batman but not a better one than Michael Keaton.” Bob Kane felt otherwise, saying he thought Kilmer did the best job of all the actors to have played Batman up to that point. The movie performed better than Batman Returns at the box office, but Kilmer was destined to be a one-term Caped Crusader.

Between his bad attitude and his concern that the superhero wasn’t getting as much screen time as the villains, he left the Batcave for good. Instead of filming 1997’s Batman & Robin, he did The Saint. After Batman, Kilmer’s career headed downhill. Though it was probably 1996’s The Island of Dr. Moreau that had more to do with that than Batman Forever. Buy The Batman Collection on Amazon 6. George Clooney Clooney’s movie career was just taking off when he was cast in 1997’s Batman & Robin, with his breakthrough performance coming just the year before in Quentin Tarantino’s From Dusk Till Dawn. Producers probably felt they pulled off a major coup landing the soon-to-be mega-movie star. Those producers, along with Clooney, may regret that decision now. Batman & Robin was a disaster, rife with homoeroticism, camp, and those infamous Bat-nipples. Clooney once joked that he helped to kill the franchise. “Joel Schumacher told me we never made another Batman film because Batman was gay.” The actor also called the movie “a waste of money.” Critics and fans agreed.

In 1997, Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “George Clooney is the big zero of the film, and should go down in history as the George Lazenby of the series.” Batman & Robin received 11 nominations at the Razzie Awards and frequently ranks among the worst films of all time. It was also the worst box office performer of the modern Batman movies. However, despite its many, many, many flaws, we will stick up for it a little... [related article - Batman & Robin: The Judas Defense] But all that did nothing to hurt Clooney’s career. After Batman, he went on to super stardom, starring in Out of Sight (with a cameo from Michael Keaton), Three Kings, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? over the next three years. 7. Christian Bale Between Adam West and George Clooney, Batman seemed destined to remain a joke, at least when it came to live-action adaptations. Then came along Christopher Nolan. The Memento and Insomnia director was given the reins and he planned to reinvent the franchise, finally making the Dark Knight dark.

Among the early candidates for the Batman/Bruce Wayne roles were Billy Crudup, Jake Gyllenhaal, Joshua Jackson, Heath Ledger, and Cillian Murphy. But Nolan ultimately chose Christian Bale, explaining that “he has exactly the balance of darkness and light that we were looking for.” Bale got generally favorable reviews for 2005’s Batman Begins, with several critics saying it reminded them of his brilliant turn in American Psycho. Not so brilliant, it seems, was his uber-husky Bat-voice. One reviewer compared Bale's guttural utterances to a “10-year-old putting on an ‘adult’ voice to make prank phone calls.” It got even more gravelly in 2008’s The Dark Knight, with NPR’s David Edelstein describing it as “a voice that's deeper and hammier than ever.” Even Kevin Conroy, the man behind probably the most recognisable Batman voice, chimed in, saying at a C2E2 panel in 2010 that Bale’s voice was “ridiculous” and implored the actor to stop doing it. If The Dark Knight Rises trailer is any indication, Bale hasn’t taken the advice.

Still, while that film was not as well received as 2008's sterling The Dark Knight, especially in the fan community, we still will happily come to the defense of The Dark Knight Rises . Also, Bale was crucial to the alchemy in Nolan's second Batman feature, The Dark Knight. That film is generally considered the benchmark in the superhero genre that all other movies about caped do-gooders are compared to nearly a decade later. It is also the only superhero movie to win an acting Oscar, for Heath Ledger's iconic Joker, and is considered responsible for why the Academy now nominates 10 films instead of five for Best Picture. This occurred after The Dark Knight was egregiously snubbed in 2009. Buy the Complete Christopher Nolan Dark Knight Trilogy on Amazon 8. Ben Affleck It is often said that history repeats itself, and so it did when Ben Affleck was cast in the role of Batman for Zack Snyder's controversial Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Affleck was fresh off of seeing his third directorial effort, Argo, win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, cementing one of the most grandiose career comebacks in Hollywood history.

He also was in the midst of filming Gone Girl with legendary auteur David Fincher at the helm. Nevertheless, fans went epileptic that the star of notorious flops like Gigli and Jersey Girl was now the "Bat-Fleck." The fact he appeared in the mediocre Daredevil movie from 2003 likely did him no favors. Yet, ironically, Affleck is now generally considered the very best part in an otherwise tortured viewing experience. Like Michael Keaton before him, Affleck enjoys fan adulation only a few years after intense backlash. Of course, the actual depiction of his Dark Knight in director Snyder's hands is far less universally loved. For the record, Affleck offers a solid performance as the Batman. He is neither as haunted and emotionally elusive as Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne, or as noble and psychologically broken as Christian Bale's take on the character. In fact, Affleck lacks the lived-in quality of either performer's interpretation. But what he does have is a picture-perfect physique for the role that no actor has showcased before them, and a sense of dashing charisma that all other Bat-actors have lacked or underplayed.

[related article: Batman v Superman and Batman & Robin: Two Sides of the Same Coin] Some fans even suggest he could be the perfect Batman due to his appearance and natural charm, but he was hampered in BvS with a voice modulator no less absurd than Bale's gravelly alternative, as well as a characterization of Batman that bordered on fascism, including as he ambivalently murdered many folks with direct gun shots, car collisions, grenades, knife stabs, and even crushing one's head in with a crate. This cruelty and totalitarian streak is in-keeping with Frank Miller's extreme vision of the character in The Dark Knight Returns graphic novel. But that story was always a major departure from mainstream interpretations of the character. In fact, for all the visual upgrades to Affleck's Batman, his characterization completely lacks the altrusitic heroism and sense of driven purpose enjoyed by the much more humanistic (read: flawed) take offered by Christian Bale. Nevertheless, WB has indicated Justice League will be a course correction for the DCEU and Affleck's take, and might allow the actor to give the definitive Batman fans want, assuming of course Snyder's most 'creative' flourishes are reined in.

The Voices of Batman Speaking of Batman voices, there have been about as many men to voice the Caped Crusader as have portrayed him in live-action. But the bulk of the animated Batman work over the years has gone to two actors. In real life Olan Soule was a bespectacled pencil-necked geek, but that didn’t stop him from voicing the Dark Knight in six different animated series, beginning with 1968’s The Batman/Superman Hour. His run pretty much ended when Adam West took over voicing duties in the late '70s. Soule, who also appeared in such films as The Day The Earth Stood Still and North By Northwest, died in 1994. Unlike Soule, Kevin Conroy could probably pull off Batman in real life, but so far he’s been relegated to voice work – and quite a lot of it. Conroy began voicing the superhero in Batman: The Animated Series, which made its debut in 1992. Since then, he’s done three other Batman series, a bunch of animated movies and videogames.

Others to voice Batman are Will Friedle (Batman Beyond), Rino Romano (The Batman), Diedrich Bader (Batman: The Brave And The Bold), Jeremy Sisto (Justice League: The New Frontier), and Bruce Thomas (who voiced Batman in commercials for GM’s OnStar service and portrayed the character briefly in the live-action TV series Birds Of Prey). But Will Arnett deserves special attention. With any other actor in the role, the presence of Batman in the 2014 cinematic smash The Lego Movie (which we reviewed here ) could easily have become the sort of performance that gets neglected from lists like this. However, Arrested Development star Will Arnett brought some comedy magic to the role and landed his own spin-off movie as a result. It helped that movie came at the perfect time in Batman’s busy cinema schedule – long enough after The Dark Knight Rises for lampooning of Bale’s gruff Batman to be entirely welcome, and far enough before Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice that Arnett’s new iteration didn’t get lost in all the hype for Ben Affleck’s debut.

The result of this perfect casting and canny scheduling was a Batman who will go down in the history books as the funniest, freshest and downright fun-est take on the character. From penning ‘dark’ lyrics to helplessly attempting to hide his secret identity, Arnett’s Batman was a gag machine who The Lego Movie’s primary younger audience really embraced. There were knowing winks in there for adult fans too, with such as dialogue as “I only work in black – and sometimes very, very dark grey’ appealing to comic book fans and LEGO Batman’s painful attempts to hit a button with a Batarang surely connecting with anyone who’s ever got stuck for hours at a simple door-button in the Arkham Asylum games. Arnett’s delivery, combined with Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s zingers, made this portrayal a quick favourite for many, and it’s telling that no-one is complaining about Arnett’s reprisal in an upcoming 2017 standalone story. If you want more hilarious Arnett voice work in the meantime, check out BoJack Horseman on Netflix – you wont regret it, we promise . The number one Batman? It’s probably not a worthwhile question to ask which Batman actor is the best.

It’s hard to argue that Christian Bale isn’t tops among the live-action crowd (Though I’m sure there are some Adam West Michael Keaton, and Ben Affleck fans out there who might take up the cause). Still, Bale is no Christopher Reeve, whose iconic portrayal of Superman has made replacing him a seemingly impossible task. Bale has been a respectable Bruce Wayne/Batman, but the franchise can and has moved on without him. And though another half-dozen actors have resided in Wayne Manor, we have not found the definitive Batman. Until then, Hollywood is sure to keep trying, and maybe Affleck will be able to do it all on his own when he's allowed to direct his own solo Batman movie following 2017's Justice League. The Late Movies: 7 Actors Who Played Batman Before Ben Affleck (And What Fans Had to Say About Them) | Mental Floss The Late Movies: 7 Actors Who Played Batman Before Ben Affleck (And What Fans Had to Say About Them) Getty Images Like us on Facebook News broke last night that Ben Affleck will be the next actor to portray Batman on the silver screen.

Fans immediately took to the internet to decry the decision, recalling his previous roles in the poor-performing Gigli and Daredevil. Here, a look back at previous actors who've donned the costume and how fans and critics received their performances. Lewis Wilson Wilson was the youngest person to play Batman. He appeared in the 15-part 1943 Columbia serial. Critics complained about everything from his weight to his accent. Robert Lowery Lowery took over the role in the 1949 follow-up serial, Batman And Robin. He was a forgettable actor in this role. Adam West West played the Caped Crusader from 1966 through 1968 in the Batman television series in addition to a film spin-off. Fans were torn: Either they loved his campy portrayal or hated it. Michael Keaton Keaton's casting in the 1989 Tim Burton Batman film caused such controversy that 50,000 protest letters were sent to Warner Bros’ offices. Val Kilmer Kilmer put on the suit in 1995 and received mixed reviews.

Director Joel Schumacher called the actor “childish and impossible." George Clooney It's safe to assume Clooney regrets his decision to star in Batman & Robin. It was the worst box-office performer of the modern Batman movies and Clooney once joked that he killed the series. Christian Bale Though Bale is largely favored as the best actor to play the Dark Knight, he was not without criticism. NPR’s David Edelstein described his husky voice as “a voice that's deeper and hammier than ever.” Actors Who Have Played Batman Actors Who Have Played Batman Batman has been played by many over the years. This About.com video catches you up on all the famous actors who have put on the famous black cape. Show transcript Hide transcript Transcript: Actors Who Have Played Batman Hi, I'm Christian Bryant and today we're here to talk about the actors who have played Batman. Overview of Actors Who Have Played Batman Batman is a fictional comic book character created by DC comics in 1939, with the first full length adaption of the character premiering in 1966. The film series has spawned 8 full length movies directed by four different directors and starring five different actors as Batman.

Adam West in Batman TV actor Adam West was the first actor to portray Batman on screen in 1966 film Batman. The film is an adaptation of the hit 60's TV series that starred West and was directed by Leslie Martinson. The film surrounds Batman taking on villains The Joker, Penguin, The Riddler and Catwoman. Michael Keaton in Batman The Batman franchise was reignited in 1989 by Warner Bros. who purchased the film rights to Batman. Tim Burton signed on as director and cast Michael Keaton, who starred in 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns. Despite escalating budgets, both films were a commercial success for Warner Bros and received positive reviews. Val Kilmer in Batman Tim Burton choose not to continue as director of Warner Bros. franchise, so Joel Schumacher was chosen to direct 1995's Batman Forever. Warner Bros. made the decision to install a new director for the series as they felt Batman would become more commercially successful if it was designed as a family film. Michael Keaton was reportedly unhappy with the new direction the series was taking, so opted not to stay on as Batman.

Instead, Val Kilmer was cast for the role of Batman. George Clooney in Batman George Clooney became the next star to play Batman in 1997 for Batman & Robin. The film also saw Chris O'Donnell reprising his role as Robin and Uma Thurman and Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Batman's enemies. Despite some commercial success, the film was heavily criticized for taking an extremely light hearted approach. After the film, Clooney himself reportedly said “I think we may have killed the franchise” and called it a waste of money. Christian Bale in Batman The franchise was rebooted in 2003, when Warner Bros. hired director Christopher Nolan to direct Batman Begins. Nolan considered Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, but eventually settled on Christian Bale for the role of Batman. This Batman movie retold Batman's origin story, this time with a darker and much more serious tone compared with previous installments. Bale reprised his role of Batman for 2008's ‘The Dark Knight' and 2012's ‘The Dark Knight Rises'. Both Dark Knight films were enormous successes for Nolan and Warner Bros.

grossing more than 1 billion dollars each along with extremely positive reviews. ...And that's your overview of actors who have played Batman. For more information, go to About.com. About videos are made available on an "as is" basis, subject to the Terms of Use .

Question: Who played Batman in the 1966 movie, Batman?
Answer: Adam West