The Dark Knight has been portrayed by many stars, but which actor played Batman the best over the years?
The Caped Crusader. The World’s Greatest Detective. The Dark Knight. Batman has been a regular presence in the lives of comic book fans for over 80 years. However, soon after his 1939 debut, he made the transition to the big screen, as the character’s popularity led to the first ever live-action Batman production in 1943 (which came in the form of a serial).
Since then, he has appeared in another serial, starred in over 10 theatrical productions, led his own TV series and spawned countless animated offerings. During that time, a multitude of actors have placed a variation of that iconic mask over their head in an attempt to give audiences their own unique interpretations of The Dark Knight himself. While some were more successful than others, all of them earned their place in history as a rightful part of the character’s legacy. Robert Pattinson has added his name to that legacy in Matt Reeves’ The Batman franchise, while Michael Keaton returned for the first time in 30 years to play the character in this summer’s The Flash. And now, we’re getting an exciting new actor to play the role in The Brave and The Bold. It’s true, the Batman legacy is alive and well.
However, which of these Gothic warriors reigns supreme over the rest? As we continue to celebrate Batman Day 2023 for the remainder of the year, prepare yourself for a trip into the Bat-Cave as we look back (and forward) at all of the actors to bring the Caped Crusader to life in a bid to figure out just who is the greatest Batman of them all.