With the impression left by Matt Reeve's brilliant take on Batman still being felt by the fanbase, the inevitable comparisons are bound to dominate online discourse for a long while. Whether it's which actor played a particular role better, which film was closest to the comics, or even which Batmobile was cooler, these rankings will surely undergo another shake-up in the months to come.
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Of course, there's another arm to D.C.'s storytelling when it comes to Batman (and their other characters), and that is the DCAU (D.C. Animated Universe). These films tackle a lot of the seminal storylines from the comics, and their animated nature means things like budget limitations on visuals are much less apparent. Of course, an animated film or show is often only as good as its voice cast.
Benjamin McKenzie ('Batman: Year One,' 2011)
Benjamin McKenzie shot to fame in the early 2000s as the bad boy who gets adopted by the (married rich) lawyer with a heart of gold and becomes a fish out of water in affluent Newport, California. I am, of course, talking about cultural touchstone The O.C., which ran for four seasons on Fox between 2003 and 2007.
The decision to cast him as the young Bruce Wayne/Batman seemed like a no-brainer. However, McKenzie has minimal voice acting experience, and unfortunately, it shows. For a lot of the run time, he sounds at the very least bored, if not near-catatonic. He's also outshone by his far more talented co-star, with Bryan Cranston playing Jim Gordon and making him the more interesting character.
Diedrich Bader ('Batman: The Brave and The Bold,' 2008-2012 & 'Harley Quinn,' 2019-)
The original Batman: The Animated Series is an undeniable triumph, but it has also had the unfortunate effect of casting a very long shadow over the rest of Batman's animated series. The Brave and the Bold was Cartoon Network's attempt to reinvent the character as a brighter, more kid-friendly Saturday morning type cartoon figure.
Bader's performance in the role isn't necessarily bad per se; it more reflects the studio's desire for the character, leaving little room to inject his personality into it. Bader's Batman resembles the adaptations of yesteryear, a soundalike for the square-jawed, straightforward protagonists of the radio serials. His recent work as the character in the more adult-oriented Harley Quinn has let him have more fun with the role.
Adam West ('Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders'/'Batman vs. Two-Face,' 2016-2017)
The role that made him a household name, Adam West, played the second version of Batman to make it to our screens. While the first had been a film serial in the 1940s that was poorly made and had little to do with the character, this at least had some high production values and used villains from his storied rogue's gallery, and is remembered for its campiness and overall sense of fun.
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Returning to the role in animated form shortly before he passed, many fans were happy to have him back for this more fun, light-hearted outing. However, time waits for no man, and unfortunately, West can't hide the quiver in his voice that makes him sound every bit the 68-year-old man he was at the time, which leads to some disconnect given he's playing the character as a 25-30-year-old.
Jensen Ackles ('Batman: The Long Halloween,' 2021)
Already well-known to geeks as one half of the Supernatural leading duo, Ackles already lent his vocal talents to the well-regarded Batman: Under the Red Hood, in which he played Batman's former sidekick turned ruthless vigilante The Red Hood. The angst and emotion he brought to this portrayal - especially during the confronting last scene - made its mark on the fanbase.
This is probably what makes this turn less impressive. While still quite a good performance, with Ackles playing a greener version of the character and tailoring his performance accordingly, he was better as The Red Hood - even with the considerably less screen time he enjoyed as that character.
Will Arnett ('The Lego Batman Movie,' 2017)
Moving into degrees of good rather than bad territory now (although all of these performances have their merits), the idea of a Lego Batman Movie seemed a bit of a stretch on paper. Then again, they'd managed to make a fantastic Lego-based film with The Lego Movie, which already featured the Caped Crusader.
This version of the character is played for comedic effect, but the supremely talented Arnett brings a fair bit of gravitas and some surprising emotional weight to this portrayal. This is accommodated by the storytelling, which uses its detached nature to its advantage to look into what makes the character tick with a degree of accuracy not seen in more serious takes.
Roger Craig Smith ('Batman: Arkham Origins,' 'Batman Ninja,' 'Superman: Red Son,' other projects, 2012-)
Gifted voice actor Roger Craig Smith was well-known in the nerd community long before he took up the mantle of the Bat. Having played icons in video games, including Ezio Auditore da Firenze of Assassin's Creed and none other than Sonic the Hedgehog, his credentials were well-established when he took on the role as a younger, angrier Bruce Wayne for the Arkham prequel.
Despite Origins' status as a bit of an unheralded game in the Arkham canon, plenty of fans online rate Smith's performance highly — and it's easy to see why. He's also portrayed the character in several animated outings since, most notably perhaps in 2020's Superman: Red Son, in which he portrays a Russian version of the character.
Jason O'Mara (DC Animated Move Universe 2014-)
Jason O'Mara has been quite busy since taking up the Bat-mantle in 2014 with Justice League: War. Few actors have portrayed the character as often, with 11 total appearances as the Caped Crusader since he began. This covers the recent Justice League animated films, the new Robin arc in the Batman solo films, and the Death of Superman adaptation.
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O'Mara's take on the character is pretty exciting and has developed over the years. At first, it felt a bit flat, but as the style has evolved, it began to distinguish itself. O'Mara does deliver some lines in a near-laconic fashion, but that is only to provide contrast for the more dramatic and spirited dialogue.
James Woods ('Justice League: A Crisis on Two Earths,' 2010)
"But...that's Owlman, not Batman!" This is technically a cheat — but snuff out your torches and keep your pitchforks at bay. James Woods is an extremely talented actor, with not only an impressive live-action resume but plenty of voice-acting experience, with his version of Hades in Hercules being, to this day, one of his most recognizable roles.
What makes this portrayal so brilliant though is its uniqueness. While some aesthetics are different, the core of the man is remarkably similar to ours — the critical difference being no moral compass. Batman's greatest strength has always been his mind, and if that mind wasn't bound by moral constraint, who knows what it would be capable of? Woods shows us, as his character's discovery of Earth-Prime leads to a plot to destroy all of reality.
Peter Weller ('The Dark Knight Returns,' 2012)
One of the most influential graphic novels of all time, Frank Miller'sThe Dark Knight Returns was an instrumental part of the change in comic books that occurred during the mid-1980s. Along with fellow visionary Alan Moore'sWatchmen, this jettisoned a lot of the more kid-friendly content that had been the staple of comics for 50 years and presented a darker, grittier take aimed squarely at older readers.
This adaptation thankfully keeps most of the book intact. Peter Weller plays the older, grittier Bruce Wayne in such a way as to feel like the voice one hears in one's head when reading the novel. His performance is nuanced — tough when it needs to be, vulnerable when that is required — and ultimately reflects the character himself at the time, aware of his flaws, but also knowing that despite some holes in his technique, what he's doing is ultimately the right thing.
Kevin Conroy (Various projects, 1992-)
Typecasting is a funny thing in Hollywood. Some appear to loathe to embrace it, going to great lengths to shake a role they're associated with — look at the output of Daniel Radcliffe or Robert Pattinson since their star-making turns. Others embrace it and use it to their advantage, like Anthony Daniels.
For better or worse, Kevin Conroy will always be associated with Batman. His is the voice you probably hear when you picture the character in animation. First cast in the seminal 1992 Animated Series, he has played the character through television, film and video games for the last 30 years. He even had the opportunity to play him in live-action during the C.W. Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event. Conroy remains the definitive Batman voice actor, and has carved out a legacy that will continue for years to come.
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