It doesn't get more iconic than Catwoman. The feline-themed femme fatale has been a regular of the DC Comics world for close to a century, confounding the Caped Crusader every time they cross paths. But Catwoman has made a name for herself too, starring in her own adventures completely removed from the ones she gets up to with Batman.
One of the most enduring aspects of the Catwoman character has been her incredible suits. Selina Kyle has always made sure she looked the part whenever she goes out cat-burgling. The costume has evolved over the years too, with looks ranging from a domino mask and cat ears to a fully-blown catsuit.
That evolution has been evident in her live-action appearances, too. Over the years, Catwoman has become a regular presence on both film and in television, with actresses such as Julie Newmar, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Zoë Kravitz all donning very different catsuits. Halle Berry has mastered that whip, too, and even though she wasn't playing the Selina Kyle version of the character, she ensured that her Catwoman would live on for years to come.
With all of that in mind, which of the live-action Catwomen had the best suit of them all? Let's rank them and find out!
7. Birds of Prey
Worn by: Casey Elizabeth Easlick
Birds of Prey wasn't known for featuring Catwoman, but the 2002 TV series did focus on her and Batman's daughter Helena Kyle, who joined up with Barbara Gordon and Dinah Lance to form the titular group of heroes. Selina, on the other hand, had vanished on the same night that Batman did, leaving all of Gotham to wonder where they had gone.
We see Catwoman in an ever-so-brief glimpse of the intro, with Casey Elizabeth Easlick playing the role. The suit is clearly modelled after Michelle Pfeiffer's catsuit from Batman Returns but it's a very cheap recreation of it. Sure, it was probably a lot easier to wear that the cinematic version but the cowl has no definition, so it ends up looking a bit like a cosplay.
The suit itself is just fine; but it doesn't seem durable or even practical.
6. The Catwoman movie suit
Worn by: Halle Berry
The most infamous of all the Catwoman suits because it appeared in one of the most infamous movies of all time, this one was featured in 2004's Catwoman film. The suit itself was one of the most divisive aspects because, even though Halle Berry looked amazing in it, it was completely impractical for a crime-fighter - especially one as fierce and feline-like as Patience Phillips' Catwoman.
I will take a moment to say that the cowl is absolutely perfect (which we really should talk about more), but it's hard to disagree with the impracticality argument on this one.
5. Selina's multiple suits in Gotham
Worn by: Camren Bicondova, Lili Simmons
Gotham was renowned for its reimagining of the Batman mythos, showcasing what the iconic DC characters were like in their younger years. That includes Selina Kyle, who was portrayed by Camren Bicondova. For the majority of its run, the character wore mostly regular street clothes that normally consisted of a badass jacket, but towards the end of its run, her attire became more cat-like.
Bicondova sported a shiny black outfit, consisting of a jacket and trousers. It was a more Catwoman-esque version of her original look that undoubtedly took its cues from the Batman Returns Catsuit (which felt appropriate given how Bicondova bore quite the resemblance to Michelle Pfeiffer).
When Lili Simmons played an adult version the character in the series finale, Selina had finally started donning catsuits. It was a more practical version of the Catwoman suit (sans cowl) that even had claws on the gloves. It felt like a nod to Bicondova's more subtle look while also paying tribute to the '60s variation of the character, and Catwoman herself. Like Gotham as a whole, it was simple but effective.
4. The Batman's Catwoman
Worn by: Zoë Kravitz
The most recent of the Catwomen to make her presence felt on the silver screen, Zoë Kravitz made a major impression on viewers in The Batman, with many already calling her the best actress to play the role. She also had an incredibly practical catsuit that was, for the most part, comic-accurate.
An all-black leather one-piece with a large belt wrapped around the torso, it was an inherently Catwoman look, but one that didn't feel too extra or ambitious for the grounded world of The Batman. She's not the veteran Catwoman we know from the comics just yet, so it makes sense that - like Batman - she has opted for a more simple approach.
The biggest difference is the mask, which is your typical cat-burglar mask (albeit styled with cat-ears). It doesn't exactly go with the sleek outfit and yet it completes the look anyway; matching the tone of The Batman to perfection.
3. The '60s Catwoman suits
Worn by: Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Eartha Kitt
Three actresses portrayed Catwoman in the 1966 Batman franchise. Julie Newmar played the role in the first two seasons of the TV series, with Lee Meriwether replacing her in the big screen adaptation Batman: The Movie, and Eartha Kitt stepping in for three episodes in season 3. All three wore the same suit, albeit with slight modifications here and there, and there is a reason why it's still considered so iconic over half a decade later.
The suit was made out of lurex, which produced a stunning shimmery finish that instantly grabbed people's attention whenever Newmar first donned it in the first season of the TV series. The look was completed by cat ears that were worn on each actresses' head and a domino mask across their eyes. Newmar's was also renowned for the gold jewellery she wore around her neck, while Kitt's had a more square-shaped mask. Meriwether's had more of a straightforward look about it that made sense as she was the most logical of Batman: The Movie's foursome of villains.
All three of the '60s Catwomen wore the suit incredibly well and this look has understandably gone down in history as one of the most iconic to ever grace the big and small screens.
2. The Dark Knight Rises
Worn by: Anne Hathaway
When I first saw Anne Hathaway's Catwoman suit for The Dark Knight Rises, I was stunned. It was the first time that a modern adaptation of the character acknowledged the classic look from the '60s TV series. Somehow, a relic from the kooky world of the show found the perfect modern adaptation in Christopher Nolan's grounded and gritty Dark Knight Trilogy. And... it worked like a dream.
The beauty of Hathaway's version of the character is that she never called herself Catwoman; she was just a master cat burglar in a catsuit that was both stylish and practical. Her domino-mask also featured goggles that, when placed upon her head, gave off the appearance of cat ears (much like Newmar, Meriwether, and Kitt's cat ears from Batman '66). It was all very subtle, and that is something that Nolan's movies do to perfection, all while paying tribute to what came before.
For as beloved as these films are, Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Catwoman is actually quite underrated and we really should take some more time to acknowledge how awesome she - and her incredible suit - truly is. It was a modern spin on a classic that somehow worked in a completely different world. It was, in a word, genius.
1. Batman Returns
Worn by: Michelle Pfeiffer
There will never be a more iconic Catwoman look than Batman Returns and a large part of that is down to the fact that there will never be a more iconic Catwoman than Michelle Pfeiffer. Her performance as the tortured Selina Kyle has stood the test of time as the definitive iteration of the character, and a reminder of the vivid world that Tim Burton created in his 1992 movie.
Speaking of vivid, the Catwoman suit in that movie is a sight to behold. First thing's first: It's incredibly comic-accurate, with the typical Cat-shaped cowl and large eyeholes looking amazing on Pfeiffer. It's a look that perhaps shouldn't have translated to the screen as well as it did, but the final product negated that theory, providing that comic-accuracy is often the right way to go.
I will say this, though: Pfeiffer's catsuit was much sleeker than its comic book counterpart, with the skintight black suit looking amazing on-screen, particularly how it shimmered in the Gothic world in which Returns was set in. The stitching was also an incredible addition, as it represented how this version of Selina was fragmented, held together by each stitch. And as each one became undone and the suit got more and more torn, she became more and more unhinged. Absolutely incredible symbolism.
When you think of Catwoman's suit, you think of this Catwoman's suit; and that won't be changing anytime soon.