20 Greatest Performances In Superhero Movies
7. Michael Keaton - Batman (Batman & Batman Returns)
Michael Keaton's casting received probably the most hostile fan reaction of any single actor in a superhero movie to date, which coming prior to the age of Internet really means something.
Keaton was of course known primarily as a comedy actor prior to playing the Caped Crusader, but proved all his doubters wrong with a magnificent dual performance that moved away from the campy theatrics of the Adam West years and made Batman dark, brooding and intense.
A lot of actors struggle with the duality of the character (for instance, Christian Bale is a great Bruce Wayne but merely an OK Batman), but Keaton nailed them pretty much equally. His contemplative Wayne might be the best one yet, and his Batman is a superbly serious counterpoint to the more goofy villains he was largely paired with in Burton's films.