Matt Reeves “The Batman” starring Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader is soon to be released. Only a couple of weeks remain before fans will be able to witness the latest take of this iconic comic character on the big screen yet again. “The Batman” will be the first solo film since “The Dark Knight Rises” by Christopher Nolan in 2012. With the approaching release of the film, I thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect on my current top picks of the greatest live-action films based on the Batman character.

Batman (1989)

This is the film that made me fall in love with the character. Starring Michael Keaton, “Batman” was the first really gothic take on the character. Before this, general audiences were familiar with the character being lighthearted because of the campy television series from the ’60s. This film was directed by Tim Burton and his creative influence can be seen throughout the aesthetics of the film. While not super gritty compared to later incarnations of the character, it nonetheless succeeds in introducing audiences to the Dark Knight himself and the city of Gotham. “Batman” features stellar performances by the cast, most notably, Jack Nicholson as the Joker.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

“The Dark Knight Rises” is the conclusion to the trilogy that started in 2005. Throughout the entire trilogy, audiences watched Bruce Wayne, played by Christian Bale, and other supporting characters develop and fight to make the city of Gotham a better place. This film in particular becomes a modern love letter to fans of Batman by showing why he truly is a hero and a beacon to inspire others.

The Dark Knight (2008)

This is, so far, the greatest depiction of the character in modern cinema. This film exemplified the ethos of the character and utilized various aspects of the character that audiences are familiar with. Taking inspiration from iconic comic book storylines, “The Dark Knight” also gives us one of the best depictions of arguably the best villain, the Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger with a masterclass performance.