Batman: Every Live-Action Alfred Pennyworth Ranked Worst To Best

Because there are so many facets of Alfred Pennyworth, it feels impossible for any actor to cover them all. But Michael Caine pulled it off in The Dark Knight trilogy. He's caring when Bruce is lost but isn't afraid of giving him some tough love when he needs it. He fuels Bruce's drive to become a vigilante, knowing it's a practical way to convert his grief into a force that can help others. He nails every quip with impeccable delivery and improvised some of the funniest lines (including the "bloody log" bit in Batman Begins). He proves he can take care of himself when he beats up one of Ra's Al Ghul's goons.

Even though some people complain this Alfred is exposition-heavy, Caine is so effortlessly charismatic, he's able to keep your attention while giving a long-winded monologue. Also, his speeches have some of the most emotional moments in the trilogy like his breakdown in The Dark Knight Rises. His story about "some men just want to watch the world burn" in The Dark Knight is among the greatest summaries of the Joker's mental state ever written.

But the most important thing about Caine's performance is how tender he is. Although he was originally tasked with being Bruce's caretaker, we see how he looks after him, mind, body, and soul through all three movies. Batman may be the face of the trilogy but Alfred is the heart.

Even though there has never been a bad Alfred, we're probably going to get one on the same level as Caine for a long, long time.