Top 10 Best Batman Actors

Who was the best actor as Batman? Do you prefer camp or dark? Animated or live? Make your choice here!
The Top Ten
1 Christian Bale (The Dark Knight) Christian Charles Philip Bale (born 30 January 1974) is an English actor. Known for his versatility and physical transformations for his roles, he has been a leading man in films of several genres. He has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Forbes magazine ranked him as one of the highest-paid actors in 2014... read more

Great performance, for the first time for me, someone made that psychodrama story about his parents more plausible. Greatest Alfred ever, Michael Caine, also a very interesting interaction. I am glad the plain Katie Holmes character was thrown away and replaced with a much better Catwoman version for our time.

On the low side, a few things could have been better defined in the screenplay. That prison/hole, honestly, what was that? Batman's voice would have been the best ever had they not overdone it as they did, and the villain's voice, well, was it really necessary to have it in a way that we cannot understand most of what he says? We all know the guy was an animal, but seriously?!

Christian Bale is so outstanding as Batman because his performance comes across as soulful and real. He has the perfect intensity and menace to portray someone on the brink of insanity like Batman, and the nuances to hold it all together. His personification of the character's self-sacrificing spirit and perseverance makes him endlessly compelling in the role.

2 Michael Keaton (Batman) Michael John Douglas (born September 5, 1951), professionally known as Michael Keaton, is an American actor. He is best known for portraying the DC Comics superhero Bruce Wayne / Batman in the films Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), and is set to reprise the role in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films The Flash (2023) and Batgirl. Keaton is also known for his work as Jack Butler in Mr. Mom... read more

Michael Keaton, hands down, is the best Batman ever! Keaton's eyes are intense in Batman/Batman Returns. I didn't get that from Christian Bale. When you're an actor and your face is covered by a mask with only your eyes and mouth showing, it's difficult to show the character's emotions, but Keaton blows all other Batman actors out of the water with his impressive acting skills! And he has the best Batman voice, very believable. So yeah, for me, it's Michael Keaton all the way, with C. Bale second, and Clooney as Bruce Wayne (Wayne only, not as Batman).

I give Christian Bale full marks for effort. However, if any of you were old enough to watch Tim Burton's Batman in theaters back then, it was the best movie of the year, and it's all thanks to Michael Keaton. Michael Keaton is Batman. For you young ones out there who have voted above because they haven't seen Michael Keaton as Batman, go back in time and watch it.

3 Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) Kevin Conroy (November 30, 1955 - November 10, 2022) was an actor known for portraying the DC character Batman from Batman: the Animated Series & many more. He died on November 10, 2022, after a short battle with cancer.

He is the definitive Batman voice. He is nearly in every Batman animated film and game. He also starred in one of the best cartoons ever, Batman: The Animated Series. When I read a comic, I hear the intimidating and legendary voice of Kevin Conroy. He has also been Batman for over two decades. This is why Kevin Conroy is the best Batman that ever was and ever will be.

Bale is the best live-action Batman (in my opinion), but nowhere near Conroy in the voice department. Probably because with animation (and video games) they just need the voice, whereas for a film they need someone who not only sounds like Batman, but looks and acts like him too.

He is amazing and should be number 1! He understands the character more than anybody else. Who else thought that for Batman, being Bruce Wayne is acting, but being Batman is the only thing he could be?

4 Ben Affleck (DC Extended Universe) Benjamin Geza Affleck-Boldt is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

SPOILER ALERT
I don't get why everyone thought BvS was terrible. I saw the movie with low expectations, but ended up astounded at the end. Mostly because I was cheering for Batman and, SPOILER ALERT, SPOILER ALERT, Batman wins the fight with Supes. Well, kind of, but Ben Affleck was AMAZING, like my favorite Batman ever.

Before the movie, I liked Bale, but, well, I just forgot him and went to every toy store to buy a Ben Affleck Batman action figure. My one is really cool, by the way. I think he's the best because he's really, really, well, big. Big and strong. Ben Affleck actually looked like Batman from the comics, with that square chin and the grey suit with the bat sign on it. Best Batman ever.

Ben Affleck played an amazing Batman. He is the Batman that fans have been waiting for. He surpassed our expectations and redeemed himself from that awful Daredevil movie. He portrays both Bruce Wayne and Batman in an incredible manner.

So what if he killed people in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, whose mothers' names were Martha? In every live-action portrayal, Batman has killed. I can see why he kills people, as he sees no other way to stop criminals from committing crimes and then escaping from jail (Blackgate or Arkham), since they get out over and over again. His actions are, therefore, understandable.

He is also a brilliant strategist and detective, analyzing situations and thinking of numerous scenarios to stop them. His Batsuit looks like it's been ripped right out of the pages of the comic book. It shows that this Batman relies on muscles, not armor (excluding the Bat Armor to fight Superman).

People don't understand that Ben Affleck is an amazing actor, starring in incredible movies such as The Town and the Academy Award-winning film Argo. So, make fun of Ben Affleck as much as you want. I don't care, but there is no denying that he is Batman.

5 Adam West (Batman TV Series) William West Anderson, known professionally as Adam West, was an American actor known primarily for his role as Batman in the 1960s ABC series of the same name and its 1966 theatrical feature film.

Adam West didn't use rubber padding and he threw his Batrope by hand. He didn't need to shoot it out of a gun, which proves he is the toughest of Batmans. Plus, his fights look best because you can see what's going on in full view. His Bruce Wayne is very convincing as a very generous philanthropist. There's just way too many good things to say about Adam West.

He was suave and serious, both as Batman and as Bruce Wayne. He didn't wear a stupid rubber/plastic suit (no stupid bat nipples!) - he was pure West! I loved the campy world he was in, and that he took himself so seriously throughout the show. He was the genuine article.

Adam West was by far the best. He was James Bond meets Batman. He was refined and suave and debonair and dressed in old-school glamour with tuxes and ascots. He also seemed like a real man, not the modern boy men that never grow up.

6 Val Kilmer (Batman Forever) Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret!

In my opinion, as a big fan of Batman, this must be my favorite actor. I mean, he's got everything you need for a Batman. The beard, the hair, the shape. He's just perfect.

Kilmer had the voice and he's a good actor, but the script and director ruined any chance he had of succeeding in the role.

Batman Forever was a bad movie, but Val Kilmer looked and acted like the Bruce Wayne I think of.

7 Rino Romano (The Batman)

It's too bad that this is a more forgettable performance, which I thought was alright.

8 Olan Soule (The Batman/Superman Hour)

I agree that the best Batman is Christian Bale, but Olan Soule is better than Val Kilmer at least. Batman Forever was the worst of Batman. I hate that movie.

Very underrated. He did a great job of voicing a wholesome Batman.

He is easily the best voice for Batman. He was the first Batman I watched and he sounds the most like Batman to me. He is way underrated!

9 Peter Weller (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns)

He has that unique, rough, deep voice that makes him sound like a war veteran. His voice perfectly matches the older, brutal Batman which the creators of The Dark Knight Returns were aiming for.

10 Diedrich Bader (Batman: The Brave and the Bold)
The Contenders
11 Will Arnett (The Lego Batman Movie)

The perfect mix between Kevin Conroy and Christian Bale. Mark my words, he will be your kids' favorite.

Come on, nobody can argue with Arnett's portrayal of Lego Batman!

12 Will Friedle (Batman Beyond) William Alan "Will" Friedle is an American actor, voice actor and comedian. He is best known for his comedic roles, most notably the underachieving elder brother Eric Matthews on the long-running TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000. More recently, he has voiced a number of animated characters such as Terry McGinnis/Batman, the title character of Batman Beyond, and Ron Stoppable of Kim Possible... read more

I really liked Will Friedle's voice portrayal of Terry McGinnis/Batman Beyond. Even though it's not Bruce Wayne/Batman, it's still an amazing portrayal of Batman. Will Friedle brings an element of youth to Batman, which is something fans of Batman haven't seen before Batman Beyond.

Good Batman, but I don't think he should count because it was not the Bruce Wayne.

13 Bruce Greenwood (Batman: Under the Red Hood, Young Justice)
14 Roger Craig Smith (Batman: Arkham Origins) Roger Craig Smith is an American voice actor and former stand-up comedian best known as the voice behind Chris Redfield in the Resident Evil series, Ezio Auditore da Firenze in the Assassin's Creed games, Deidara in the hit anime Naruto: Shippuden, Zhang Liao in Dynasty Warriors, as the current voice of Steve Rogers Batman in Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman Unlimited and Batman Ninja, Kyle Crane in... read more

I thought he did a pretty good job portraying a young Batman/Bruce Wayne.

15 David Mazouz (Gotham)

Even a young actor had an extremely amazing performance. He deserves top 10.

David Mazouz legitimately is the best Batman I've seen. He is a phenomenal actor for such a role.

Bruce Wayne is so brave and nice.

16 George Clooney (Batman & Robin) George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, filmmaker and activist. He has received three Golden Globe Awards for his work as an actor and two Academy Awards, one for acting and the other for producing.

Horrible script, great performance. He was a convincing Batman. The others looked awkward in their costumes. They stood so stiff. Clooney had a confidence to his Batman. He was convincing. He also made a great Bruce Wayne. Kilmer was boring. Keaton didn't look like he could get any girl he wanted, which was what Bruce Wayne was. There was something off about Bale. You saw less of the public face of Wayne with him.

In the scene where he's at the observatory and Ivy goes up to him, he talks to her and invites her to his event with swag, confidence, and charm. George Clooney should be recast as Batman with a better script. He had the potential to be the greatest Batman EVER.

As much as I hate Batman and Robin, at least Clooney is a better Batman than Kilmer. George Clooney's Batman voice sounds like Kevin Conroy's Batman, but just not dark. Not saying much because Clooney is bad, but better than Val Kilmer.

17 Joey de Leon (Alyas Batman en Robin)
18 Robert Pattinson (The Batman) Robert Douglas Thomas Pattinson is an English actor, producer, model, and musician. He started his film career by playing Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, a 2005 fantasy film.

Best Batman sweetheart of all time - awesome!

19 Jason O'Mara (Son of Batman)

Although he hasn't worn the cape and cowl in real life, he gave his voice in over six animated movies, and for good reason too. He has the voice and suit of Christian Bale's portrayal, but both are much better. He really does have the style and attitude of Batman.

20 Benjamin McKenzie (Batman: Year One)
21 David Jason (Only Fools and Horses)
22 Lewis Wilson (Batman Movie Serial)
23 Robert Lowery (Batman and Robin Movie Serial)
24 Jeremy Sisto (Justice League: The New Frontier)
25 Seth Green (Robot Chicken) Seth Benjamin Green is an American actor, voice artist, comedian, producer, writer and director. Green is the creator, executive producer, writer, director and the most-frequent voice on Adult Swim's Robot Chicken.
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