The Knight of the Night He is one of the most famous fictional characters in the world. Besides the millionaires sales of comics and hit TV shows, Batman movies are synonymous with high grossing at the box office, some of them considered as true works of art.
Which is the origin of these appearances on the big screen? The Batman movies begin with "The Bat-Man," the bat man created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. His birth dates from May 1939.
Batman (1943)
Six years took Batman to reach the big screen. The first of the batman movies It was produced by Columbia Pictures and directed by Lambert Hillyer, who was already very popular after making "The Daughter of Dracula" (1936).
It was about a series of 15 chapters, which were shown in American theaters between July and October 1943. (From the 20s to the mid-1950s, Hollywood popularized this “serialized film” format, which would derive with the advent of television, in series as we know them today).
Batman and robin (1949)
After the success of the first serial, Columbia Pictures always had in mind to repeat the experience. Thus, with Spencer Gordon Bennet as director, the character returned to theaters with 15 new chapters.
Batman, The Movie (1966)
Batman He returned to theaters after almost 20 years of absence, taking advantage of the notoriety that the character had recovered thanks to the famous television series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. The Narrative style of this new installment was very similar to that of the previous series.
This new sample of the Batman films was shot in just over a month, with an investment (very high, for the time) of just over a million dollars. It was also a box office phenomenon, grossing more than $ 8 million.
Batman (1989)
For a good part of the followers of the dark knight, the movies of Batman officially start here. Directed by Tim Burton and with Michael Keaton as Batman / Bruce Wayne, the film became the role model in terms of superhero cinema.
Burton gives the superhero a gloomy and gloomy vision, which took him away from the pseudo-psychedelic image left by the television series of the 60s.
Jack Nicholson he stole all the attention with his portrayal of Joker.
Batman Returns (1992)
After the soaring success of 1989, making a sequel was the right thing to do. Tim Burton repeated in the direction, as did Michael Keaton as Batman / Bruce Wayne. As villains they joined Danny DeVito playing The Penguin and Michelle Pfeifer as Catwoman.
The public and critics praised her unanimously, although the box office was considerably poorer than its predecessor.
Batman Forever (1995)
Tim Burton became producer, although he was able to impose his friend Joel Shumacher to direct the third chapter, of what at first was supposed to be only a trilogy.
Michael Keaton, quit the character. To replace him he was hired a little known Val Kilmer. The result was an extremely successful movieNot as much as the 1989 film, but rather more than the 1992 film.
In addition to a much less obscure film, the other notable novelty was the addition of Robin, a character played by Chris O'Donell.
Batman and robin (1997)
For this fourth film Tim Burton disengaged completely, and Joel Shumacher assumed all creative control. The result was a very mediocre movie, considered until today unanimously as worst of batman movies.
George Clooney took on the lead role, with Chris O'Donnell again as Robin and the accession of Alicia Silverstone.
Batman starts (2005)
After the 1997 fiasco, at Warner Bros (owners since the late 80s of DC Comics and the character) took it easy to take on a new Batman project. This would finally arrive eight years later, by the hand of a new English director called Christopher Nolan, who would end up redefining the character's universe.
Christian Bale took over as Batman / Bruce Wayne, while the villains fell on Cillian Murphy as The Scarecrow and Liam Neeson like Ra's al Ghul.
Batman Begins (2008)
Christian Bale repeated as leader of the cast under the orders of Christopher Nolan, while Heath Ledger would play the Joker. Precisely the tragic death of the young actor three months before the premiere of the film, gave it an unusual boost among the public, which made it the highest grossing of the entire franchise.
For most critics, it is one of the best Batman movies.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The final chapter of Nolan's trilogy repeats the style and success of the previous one, combining in the existential conflicts of his character and his apparent lack of fear of death.
Anne Hathaway would play Catwoman, while Tom Hardy He put himself in the shoes of Bane, the villain who has given the batman the most work.
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
A film that confronts the two iconic comic book heroes American was a project that had been talked about for years. In 2016 it materialized.
Critics have considered Batman v superman a bad movie, especially a bad adaptation of a comic.
Batman Lego: The Movie (2017)
"Batman Lego" was a surprising box office and public success, parodying as no one had been able to achieve it. Bruce Wayne's particular relationships with his "pupil" Dick Grayson and with his butler Alfred.
It is not a "classic" far from it, but it is a very funny movie.
What will be the next Dark Knight Movie?
The information about what will be the next solo movie of The Knight of Gotham does not stop. Matt revees (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) has been confirmed as director, while Ben afleck keep pondering if he continues to play Batman (his work on Batman v superman turned out to be one of the few redeemable things) or is retired.
The truth is that after so many successes, it seems that we will have The Bat Man in the cinema for a long time.
Image sources: Vintage Everyday / YTS / FayerWayer