Every Screen Batman Ranked From Worst To Best

2. Christian Bale

Look, the criticism of his pantomime-gruff Bat-voice is entirely pertinent, but Christian Bale's Bourne inspired, combat-ready Batman was the perfect answer to his contextual need.

After Joel Schumacher's day-glo travesty threatened to kill Batman with camp again, Bale's riot-gear wearing ghost was the correct stroke and the perfect medicine. And thanks to the trilogy format, he's also the only Batman who was ever really given the chance of a development arc.

Wonderfully, as Bruce Wayne, Bale drew on his experience playing Patrick Bateman, to add a distinctly unlikeable American Psycho edge to his performance, which was as interesting as it was revelatory.

Yes, it's all a little joyless, but the focus on symbolism and fear was a brilliantly effective approach.