All 10 Batman movies ranked from worst to greatest

7. Batman Forever

Release Date: June 16, 1995

Plot Summary:  In his latest mission, Batman finds himself up against Two-Face, a former district attorney, and The Riddler, also known as Edward Nygma. To aid him in his fight, Batman enlists the help of a smitten psychologist and a young circus acrobat who becomes his trusted sidekick, Robin.

Cast: Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent / Two-Face, Jim Carrey as Edward Nygma / Riddler, Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian, Chris O’Donnell as Dick Grayson / Robin, Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth, Pat Hingle as Commissioner James Gordon, Drew Barrymore as Sugar, and Debi Mazar as Spice.

Box Office Results: $336.6 million

While Batman Forever attempted to bring a vibrant and campy energy into the Batman franchise, it ultimately fell short of expectations and didn’t quite live up to the two films before it, due in large part to the change in who was behind the Dark Knight’s cowl.

Val Kilmer’s portrayal of the Dark Knight lacked the brooding intensity that fans had come to associate with the character thanks to Michael Keaton’s performances, and the excessive use of neon colors and over-the-top villains in Riddler and Two-Face seemed more suited to a cartoon  (or the old Batman show from the ’60s) rather than a gritty superhero film.

Although there were some enjoyable moments and visually striking scenes, the overall execution felt disjointed. Fans yearned for a darker exploration of the characters of the kind they’d seen in Batman and Batman Returns, which the film failed to deliver.