Batman

Justice is always darkest before the dawn.

RELEASED 21 Jun 19892h 6m★ 7.2 TMDB★ Essential pick

Having witnessed his parents' brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a costumed hero who strikes fear into the hearts of villains. But when a deformed madman known as 'The Joker' seizes control of Gotham's criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis ever while protecting both his identity and his love interest, reporter Vicki Vale.

Why it matters in DC

Bruce Wayne's double life and confrontation with the Joker establish the starting point for this run of Batman films. The conflict between his public identity, private relationships and masked role provides a useful basis for comparing the very different versions of Gotham elsewhere in the catalogue.

Watch these first

2 titles to watch before Batman — 51h 45m in total.

BatmanOptional background50h★ 7.3
BatmanOptional background1h 45m★ 6.4

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How these titles are selected

Story prerequisites are curated. Likely prerequisites are inferred from sequel numbering or explicit synopsis references. Recommendations are earlier stories in the same continuity; background picks are separate adaptations. Series lists cover whole shows, not an episode-by-episode watch order.

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Where it fits in the DC universe

Batman is title 1 of 4 in our Classic Batman viewing sequence. The 1989 Batman begins the classic four-film sequence, followed by Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. It establishes the initial Bruce Wayne and Gotham for that run. The later Dark Knight trilogy and The Batman restart the character in different settings rather than continuing directly from these events.

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