All 31 animated Batman movies ranked from worst to best

6. Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker

The DC Animated Universe was the gift that just kept on giving, and Batman Beyond might have just been its greatest gift. Set decades after Batman: The Animated Series, it showcases a new future for the mantle of the Bat when high school student Terry McGinnis teams up with an elderly Bruce Wayne to introduce New Gotham to a new Batman. And the series never shined brighter than in its own spinoff movie.

As you might have guessed by the title, Batman: Return of the Joker brings the Clown Prince of Crime back to Gotham. Every Batman needs a Joker, but Terry has to prove himself against the original, who somehow resurfaces years after his apparent death to terrorize New Gotham. And speaking of The Joker’s death, the film showcases how the world of the animated series came to an end, using a harrowing 10-minute flashback to bridge the gap between The New Batman Adventures and Batman Beyond.

Needless to say Will Friedle and Kevin Conroy are as dynamic a duo as ever, and Mark Hamill’s darker take on The Joker is downright terrifying. The DCAU masterminds produced another banger with this one, solidifying Batman Beyond as a worthy chapter in the iconic universe.