Summary
Throughout the entirety of theBatmanfranchise, the Caped Crusader and his villains have provided some of the best quotes in cinema. There have been multiple versions of Batman on the big screen, and all of them have had at least one memorable line (if not more). To that end, it’s fun to look back and pick out one of the best lines from every theatrical Batman release.
While actors and universes may change,Batman and Gotham Cityhave long been a quintessential part of the superhero film genre. After all, The Dark Knight is easily one of the most popular superheroes of all time whether he’s on the page, in live-action, or in animated form.To that end, here are our picks for the best quote from every Batman movie.
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11"Some days, you just can’t get rid of a bomb!"
Adam West as Batman InBatman: The Movie(1966)
Batman: The Moviestarring Adam West was the first major Batman film released in theaters. Connected to theBatmantelevision series, the movie saw several of Batman’s villains joining forces. To that end,one sequence involves the Caped Crusader desperately trying to dispose of a bomb at a crowded boardwalk, only to face baby carriages, nuns, marching bands, and even baby ducks. This prompted one of West’s most famous lines before he finally finds a place for the bomb to safely detonate. It’s a prime example of just how much lighter and campy the originalBatmanmovie and series were compared to futureBatmanprojects.
Batman: The Movie
Cast
The Caped Crusader’s first theatrical debut arrived in 1966 as Batman: The Movie, directed by Leslie H. Martinson. Connected to the television series Batman: The Movie follows Batman and Robin as they face off with the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, and Catwoman as they hold the world hostage with a powerful weapon that can dehydrate human beings instantly.
10"You Wanna Get Nuts? C’mon! Let’s Get Nuts!"
Michael Keaton As Bruce Wayne inBatman(1989)
While facing the Joker as Bruce Wayne, Michael Keaton’s Batman hides a serving tray under his shirt before pretending to be extremely agitated, betting on the fact that Joker would shoot him and leave. This allowed Wayne to get Vicki Vale to safety and suit up as Batman.However, the"Let’s get nuts"line is one ofKeaton’s most iconic Batman quotesby far.
Not only is this line one of Keaton’s best from the firstBatmanmovie, but it’s also been quoted in other DC films, and by other versions of The Dark Knight. Not only was it repeated in 2017’sLEGO Batmanmovie when the Caped Crusader faces his version of the Joker, but it was also quoted by an older version of Keaton’s Batman as seen in 2023’sThe Flash. As such, it’s clearly a quote that begs for callbacks.
Batman
Batman is a 1989 superhero movie directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne. The film features Jack Nicholson’s chilling portrayal as Jack Napier, who turns into the Joker and reigns terror on Gotham. Kim Basinger also stars in the film as Vicki Vale, along with Michael Gough as Bruce’s trusty butler named Alfred.
9"Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it" “But a kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it.”
Michael Keaton as Batman and Michelle Pfeiffer inBatman Returns(1992)
With a twisted romance only Tim Burton could have brought to life on the big-screen,Batman and Catwoman’s back-and-forth banter about mistletoe is certainly one of the best quotes fromBatman Returns. Initially, the lines were used during the first encounter betweenMichelle Pfeiffer’s Catwomanand Keaton’s Caped Crusader. However, the same exchange later ends up revealing their alter egos to each other at the masquerade ball which they had both attended as Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne. As such, mistletoe and its traditions became a key symbol of their relationship, one that increasingly became quite complex throughout the iconic DC film.
Batman Returns
Batman Returns sees the return of Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne after his victory over the Joker. This time, the Dark Knight faces a new threat in the form of The Penguin, an outcast who wants revenge on Gotham City. Featuring Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot, Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman, and Christopher Walken as Max Schreck, Batman Returns is Tim Burton’s second and final movie based on the iconic DC comics character.
8"Your entrance was good. His was better. The difference: Showmanship!"
Jim Carrey as The Riddler inBatman Forever(1995)
Jim Carrey played the Riddler in 1995’sBatman Foreverfrom director Joel Schumacher. Having joined forces with Tommy Lee Jones’s Two-Face to take over Gotham and kill Batman, Edward Nygma finances his own company using funds from a series of robberies committed with Harvey Dent. Gaining power and influence, Nygma also becomes smarter from his brainwave devices sold to the public. However,Two-Face ends up crashing a gala thrown by Nygma himself, one that Batman also crashes moments later. However, Riddler appreciates Batman’s entrance more than Dent’s for the sake of pure showmanship and drama.
Batman Forever
After Tim Burton’s plans for a third Batman film fell through, director Joel Schumacher took over the franchise with 1995’s Batman Forever. Replacing Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer stars as Bruce Wayne opposite to Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones, who play The Riddler and Two-Face, respectively. Batman Forever also marks the first time Robin appears on the big screen since Burt Ward reprised his Boy Wonder role in 1966’s Batman: The Movie.
7"She knows who we are." “Guess we’ll just have to kill her” “Yep, we’ll kill her later. We’ve got work to do.”
Chris O’Donnell as Robin and George Clooney as Batman inBatman and Robin(1997)
While there are so many ice puns from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mister Freeze that could be chosen, one of the best lines from1997’sBatman and Robinactually comes near the end from Batman and Robin themselves.Having received her own mask and suit from her uncle Alfred, Barbara Wilson became Batgirl and joined forces with the Dynamic Duo. As such, their humorous line about having to kill her later due to learning their secret identities is a campy yet humorous way of welcoming the new Gotham hero to their ranks.
Batman and Robin
Following the events of Batman Forever, Batman & Robin is the fourth entry into Warner Bros.’s original Batman film franchise. Batman (George Clooney) and his sidekick Robin (Chris O’Donnell) team up with Barbara Wilson (Alicia Silverstone) to thwart the evil plans of Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman). With Barbara assuming the mantle of Batgirl, the three heroes fight to save Gotham from two of Batman’s greatest enemies.
Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth and Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins (2005)
Questioning his decision to center his crusade around the symbol of a bat, Bruce tells Alfred that he wants criminals to share his dread and childhood fear of the nocturnal creatures.WhileBatman Beginshas a plethora of iconic quotesincluding the one about falling from Bruce Wayne’s father, there’s something inherently epic about Bruce’s explanation,especially as he’s literally forging his symbol as Batman by making one of his first batarangs. As origin quotes go, it’s certainly one of the most impressive and powerful considering the legend that Batman becomes.
Batman Begins
Batman Begins is the inaugural film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, featuring Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. Released in 2005, it follows Wayne as he transforms into Batman to combat the pervasive corruption in Gotham City, creating a new identity to fight crime outside the system.
5"You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent inThe Dark Knight(2008)
Perhaps one of the most famous Batman movie quotes of all time, Harvey Dent is the first to give voice to Gotham’s shifting perspectives on Batman and the growing criticisms inThe Dark Knight.Likewise, the line becomes even more powerful when not only the shining Gotham hero that was Dent has become Two-Face, but Batman himself chooses to take the blame for his crimesto keep Gotham’s hope and all the good Dent did from being undone. Batman becomes the villain at the end ofThe Dark Knight, a heroic act in and of itself.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, is the second installment in the Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale as Batman. Released in 2008, the film follows Batman’s alliance with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent as they combat the organized crime that threatens Gotham, facing the menacing Joker.
4"A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended."
Christian Bale as Batman inThe Dark Knight Rises(2012)
Proving that he always has been a hero dedicated to protecting Gotham, Batman prepares to seemingly sacrifice himself and take the nuclear bomb out of the cityat the end ofThe Dark KnightRises. However, he tells Gordon that his true identity shouldn’t become public, while also revealing to Gordon alone who he really is.It’s a powerful moment, one that acknowledges the impact of the good Gordon did when Bruce was a child after losing his parents, as well as the importance of the Batman legend itselfand its ability to inspire Gotham to be better (regardless of who’s under the mask).
The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises follows Batman as he returns to Gotham City eight years after the death of Harvey Dent. Now pursued by law enforcement, he faces new challenges from Selina Kyle and Bane, a formidable terrorist leader who threatens the city’s safety, compelling Batman to defend a city that sees him as a foe.
3"Tell me something…do you bleed? You will."
Ben Affleck As Batman inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016)
The iconic first live-action encounter between Batman and Superman, a vengeful Dark Knight played by Ben Affleck gives one of the most epic Batman lines after facing Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel for the first time in 2016’sDawn of Justice.Asking the Kryptonian if he bleeds, Batman promises that he will even as he flies off, determined to make Kal-El pay for the destruction of Metropolisas seen in 2013’sMan of Steel.It’s an incredibly foreboding and powerful line, one that sets up all of Batman’s work to prepare both himself and his arsenal to face an all-powerful alien before eventually finding the humanity within that is Clark Kent.
2"‘If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change. Hooo.’ No. I said that. Batman is very wise."
Will Arnett as LEGO Batman inThe LEGO Batman Movie(2017)
Taking credit for Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”,LEGO Batman’s “quote” at the beginning of his 2017 movieis as hilarious as it is surprisingly poignant. Not only do the lyrics get referenced multiple times throughout the movie, but it essentially becomes the through-line representing the brick-built Dark Knight’s entire character arc. Eventually,LEGO Batman does indeed take a look in the mirror to change not only himself but also Gotham for the better, recognizing that he needs to open himself up and allow himself to build a family again.
The Lego Batman Movie
The LEGO Batman Movie is a spin-off of 2014’s The LEGO Movie, which centers around the titular hero; where after another day in Gotham City goes wrong thanks to the Joker and other fellow DC villains, Batman tells the Joker he’s a pitiful villain, not worth his time and hurts his feelings. Wanting to prove himself to Batman and get his ultimate revenge, Joker concocts an idea that will require the Caped Crusader to learn how to give up the lone vigilante act and recruit the help of allies Robin and Batgirl.
