Ranking Every Animated Batman Film From Worst To Best

In a drastic shift in tone from Lego Batman, The Dark Knight Returns wrote the book on how to wonderfully adapt a beloved, gritty graphic novel.

Released in two parts, The Dark Knight returns is easily one of the best the animated Batman franchise has to offer. This is because in addition to being a faithful adaptation of the iconic Frank Miller comic, it also brings a few new elements to the table, which blend together perfectly with the source material and make the story feel even bigger and better as a result.

The premise of this film is incredibly dark, but rather than the brooding atmosphere feeling forced, it comes naturally as a result of how believable the grim plot is in the context of the world it takes place in and the characters that reside in it. Plus, the animation is stunning and the voice work is some of the very best, with Michael Emerson's one and only portrayal of the Joker being a true standout.