The Batman

Should you watch The Batman?

Watch The Batman if you want Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson's detective-noir take on Bruce Wayne, not a crossover event. The 2022 film is a PG-13 crime thriller: the Riddler, a rotten Gotham, and a Batman still learning what kind of symbol he is. It is long, rainy, and closer to Se7en than to a joke-driven superhero movie. If The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, or Prisoners already worked for you, this is a clear next watch — and it is the required starting point before The Batman: Part II. Check the Watch providers section on this page for current streaming, rental, or purchase options in your region.

Why watch this movie?

The Batman (2022) is Matt Reeves' detective-first superhero film, with Robert Pattinson as a second-year Bruce Wayne investigating a Riddler serial-killer case that exposes Gotham's corruption and his own family. Zoë Kravitz plays Selina Kyle, Paul Dano is the Riddler, Jeffrey Wright is Jim Gordon, and Colin Farrell, John Turturro, and Andy Serkis round out a crime-epic ensemble. This page covers TMDB movie ID 414906 — the 2022 Warner Bros. film, rated PG-13, runtime 176 minutes — not Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, or the later sequel The Batman: Part II. If you are searching whether The Batman is worth watching, how it compares to The Dark Knight, or whether it is a detective movie more than a superhero movie, the useful framing is: it is a rain-soaked crime thriller that happens to star Batman. Box office was about $773 million worldwide. Reeves' Crime Saga continues in The Batman: Part II, scheduled for 2028.

Who should watch it?

The Batman is a strong pick if you want a grounded, noir Batman rather than a bright shared-universe crossover. It is especially recommended for viewers who liked The Dark Knight and Batman Begins for serious crime-thriller Batman, Se7en or Prisoners for grim investigation, or Joker for a darker Gotham character study. You do not need DC homework beyond the basic Batman myth. The 176-minute runtime and somber tone will feel long if you want quippy Marvel pacing or a colorful villain-team-up. If you plan to watch The Batman: Part II later, this is the required first chapter: same director, same Bruce Wayne, same flooded-Gotham aftermath.

Pros

• What The Batman is about, in plain terms: year-two Batman hunts the Riddler through a Gotham serial-killer case that turns into a city-corruption detective story — closer to Se7en than to a joke-heavy superhero romp.
• Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, and Colin Farrell give the Crime Saga a distinct cast identity from Nolan's trilogy and from the main DC Universe.
• A natural companion to The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, and the upcoming The Batman: Part II, which lets this page strengthen an existing Batman cluster instead of sitting alone.
• PG-13 detective scale with IMAX-friendly imagery: rain, forensics, and motorcycle chases rather than world-ending CGI armies.
• High search intent around 'is The Batman worth watching,' 'The Batman vs The Dark Knight,' and 'do I need to watch The Batman before Part II.'

Cons

• The title The Batman is easy to confuse with Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, or The Batman: Part II; this page is the 2022 Matt Reeves film, TMDB movie ID 414906.
• At 176 minutes, the middle investigation can feel slow if you want a tighter two-hour action movie.
• The tone is bleak, rainy, and morally grey; it is not a light or colorful Batman.
• Some viewers prefer Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy for structure and iconic set pieces; Reeves is going for process, atmosphere, and detective work.
• Streaming and rental availability vary by region; check the Watch providers section on this page rather than assuming a specific service.

If you liked this movie

If you are looking for movies like The Batman, start with The Dark Knight and Batman Begins for the other essential serious-Batman films, then Joker for a related Gotham character study. Se7en and Prisoners are the closest non-superhero matches for grim investigation and moral pressure. The Batman: Part II is the direct continuation of this Crime Saga. Zodiac is the methodical serial-case comparison many reviews reach for, and The Silence of the Lambs is the classic detective-versus-a-brilliant-killer companion. Together they cover what people usually mean by movies like The Batman: noir, corruption, and a vigilante who works a case instead of saving the planet.