Batman has had a lot of looks over the years. One of the most famous characters in all of fiction, the Caped Crusader has had several iterations with many different actors playing him, different villains to come up against, and, of course, different costumes as well.
Arguably one of the most important aspects of any superhero adaptation, Batman has had a number of unique suits. Some are highly regarded and others, like George Clooney’s infamous outfit, are more derided than anything else.
Ben Affleck (Tactical Suit) – Justice League
Justice League is one of the most controversial and divisive films ever made, mainly because of the firing of Zack Snyder and subsequent hiring of Joss Whedon. One slightly less divisive element is the presence of Ben Affleck as Batman, with the actor shining as a rare highlight in the theatrical cut especially.
It’s not his best turn as The Dark Knight (that would go to Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice), but he’s still impressive in Justice League, as is his unique suit.
Labeled as Batman’s tactical suit, his look in this film features Affleck’s enlarged, thick bat symbol on the chest and metal armor to protect him from Steppenwolf and his army. He also has glasses to protect him from enemies from the sky and the mist infecting the entire area. Overall, it’s not the best Batman suit, but is certainly one worthy of a mention here.
Kevin Conroy (Live-Action Kingdom Come Suit) – Batwoman
One of the most unique suits on this list, Kevin Conroy sports the adapted version of Batman’s Kingdom Come look from the comics in the CW’s Batwoman show. It’s not your traditional Batman outfit by any means, but seeing Conroy finally play the character in live action after voicing him in Batman: The Animated Series is a thrill, especially in an adaptation of such a famous comic book storyline.
Additionally, the futuristic look adds to the character’s older, more advanced Bruce Wayne, and also goes a long way in teasing the many battles that have made a suit like this a necessity for him. This suit is especially impressive given the limited budget that the CW had for this project as well.
Adam West – Batman
Adam West’s iteration of Batman helped pave the way for future adaptations, showing that the character can garner a huge audience in live action. All the characters in the show (and movie) have eccentric, early comic book looks to match the performances of the actors, including Adam West’s Batman.
Equipped with a unique cowl (which includes eyebrows and hints of blue) and Batman’s iconic grey look, Adam West may not have the most modern take on the hero, but there’s no doubt about the influence he (and this suit) had on future appearances of the character. This suit proved that Batman’s grey appearance can be translated well into live action, paving the way for future, similar-looking suits.
Christian Bale – Batman Begins
West was a comedic, light-hearted Batman, but Christian Bale’s take on the character further proved that he can go in the exact opposite direction and still succeed. The same goes for the suit that Bale wears in his first of three outings, Batman Begins. He sports an all-black, almost military-like suit that deemphasizes color and instead highlights Batman’s desire to exist only in the shadows and darkness of the night.
Moreover, Bale’s suit perfectly matched the dark and gritty tone that Christopher Nolan deploys in this film. Crucially, this is the first appearance of Batman since George Clooney’s aforementioned much-ridiculed suit in Batman & Robin, so Bale’s look also stands out as a great inverse of that, showing that the character could still be taken seriously.
Kevin Conroy – Batman: The Animated Series
Conroy appears again on this list, and for good reason. The actor is best known for voicing the title character in Batman: The Animated Series, the much beloved and highly influencial TV show that debuted in the 1990s.
The hero also has one of his all-time best suits in this show, with a black and yellow color scheme that is visually appealing and, crucially, white eyes akin to Batman’s look in the comic books, which gives him a classic feel that no live action suit has managed. Batman: The Animated Series excels in almost every area, from Batman to the Joker to the dark, noir feel, and the suit is certainly no different.
Val Kilmer – Batman Forever
Arguably the most underrated Batman suit, Val Kilmer’s one and only appearance as the hero features a sleek, almost all-black look that makes the character look serious while still matching with Jim Carrey’s Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face. Kilmer had big shoes to fill, following up Michael Keaton’s Batman, but he does so admirably, and there’s no doubt that the design of Batman’s suit plays a big part in this, too.
Although not the best or most memorable of the hero’s appearances, it’s still one that deserves more mention than it gets. The colors are more muted than Keaton’s, which makes it stand out from the previous iteration and creates a clear distinction between the two actors (even though both are technically playing the same version of the character). Kilmer may not have enjoyed some aspects of playing Batman, but there’s no doubt that his suit excels in every department.
Ben Affleck – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Ben Affleck reappears on this list with his suit in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, an even better look than his one in Justice League. Like that film, Batman v Superman is also shrouded in divisiveness, but Affleck was again one of the most universally liked elements here, as is his suit.
The black and grey look is great, and the suit feels genuinely worn and as if Batman has been wearing it for years, which works well with the older, more mature version of the character that Affleck plays in this film.
The symbol is also unique in that it, like the Justice League suit, is large and covers most of his chest, making it truly pop on the screen. This is vastly different than Affleck’s predecessor, Christian Bale, who boasted a more muted black-Batman symbol on his suit. Overall, despite a film that is full of ups and downs, Affleck (and suit) are true highlights.
Christian Bale – The Dark Knight
Christian Bale’s The Dark Knight suit builds on the positives of Batman Begins‘ own version of the costume and then some. The all-black color scheme remains the same but, interestingly, the armor is more pronounced, giving the suit a more muscle-like look, and adding to the military feel of the suit’s overall appearance.
The stronger armor also plays right into the story of the film, in which Batman is facing even more dangerous enemies than in Batman Begins.
He comes up against not only a variety of mob bosses, but also Aaron Eckhart’s Two-Face and Heath Ledger’s Joker, with the latter proving to be one of the most challenging villains that Bale’s Batman faces off with, and quite possibly the protagonist’s most dangerous foe. The Dark Knight is one of the best superhero movies ever made, and the title character’s appearance certainly reflects that with one of the best Batman suits ever made.
Michael Keaton – Batman (1989)
Michael Keaton’s Batman suit is pure nostalgia for a wide variety of fans. The actor debuted in Batman (1989) during a period which has since been labeled “Batman summer” due to the intense marketing of the film and extreme amounts of promotional tie-ins with fast food restaurants, cereals, and more. The film didn’t disappoint, and neither did Keaton, who many fans doubted could successfully play the character when he was first cast.
The iconic suit Keaton wore in the film certainly helped his cause in winning over movie viewers, with a black design and yellow bat symbol that provides the perfect contrast. This iteration feels like he’s straight out of the comics, arguably more so than any version of Batman since, and the suit plays a huge role in this.
Robert Pattinson – The Batman
Robert Pattinson was considered a unique choice to play Bruce Wayne/Batman when he was cast given his role as Edward in the Twilight franchise. The first trailer for the film debuted in 2020 and was a hit, convincing many fans that Pattinson was the right choice for the character in the latest iteration. The suit was divisive when it first appeared in leaked set photos, but the film truly does the design justice.
The cowl is the best Batman has ever had, choosing to move away from the mouth-exposing design from previous films to make the entire lower half of the character’s face visible. It means that Batman is able to emote more than he ever has, and also gives Pattinson an opportunity to show off his range more. The Batman is an exceptional film, with a rawness and realistic story that still manages to match the comic books, and the decisions made with the hero’s suit help ensure the Batman movie works.
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