Every Non-Comic Batmobile Ranked Worst To Best

With the full moon's image gleaming off the sleek, jet-black chrome finish of Batman's versatile, highly capable combat vehicle, villains tread lightly, unsure of what tricks lie beneath the hood of the Caped Crusader's criminal-stomping machine. Before Robin entered the picture, the supreme duo in Gotham City was indeed Batman and his trusty rocket-fueled steed. While Batman is known for such things as his detective skills, martial arts competency, and array of gadgetry, the Dark Knight would not really be the hero he is without the Batmobile. In the streets of Gotham City, this show of muscle parading through the streets is all the advertisement criminals need to abandon their unsavory actions — or risk eating through a straw in a hospital bed.

Since Batman's inception as a character in the pages of "Detective Comics," the character has owned numerous Batmobiles to aid in the fight for the soul of Gotham City. Throughout his eras of cinematic glory, television serials, and video games, many thrilling Batmobile designs have appeared on the screen. Let's face it, nearly every young superhero fan has found themselves suiting up in their colorful imaginations, hopping into the wild red-and-black '60s era Batmobile, or sliding the roof of the Burton-esque vehicle's cockpit shut. 

The Batmobile is a dream drive, and every fan's delight. But just as dependably, every fan of the Dark Knight has a favorite. Let's take an in-depth look at the on-screen legacy of the Batmobile, ranking every appearance of the best vehicle to ever drift through the streets of Gotham City.

Even for its time, the Batmobile of Joel Schumacher's "Batman Forever" is, perhaps, one of the strangest designs in Batmobile history. Hot on the heels of Tim Burton's "Batman Returns" with a Batmobile design that achieved legendary status, it was clear that any follow-up in design would have major tire treads to fill. Despite the appearance of a jet turbine engine, the actual machine was outfitted with a typical high-performance 350 Chevy engine. For the sake of fiction, however, the vehicle was built for speedy maneuverability, just like its predecessor.

The stranger aspect of the vehicle had to do with its body aesthetic. The build carried over a different arrangement for the rear bat-fins. However, the gills that lined the body with a glowing blue light emanating from within gave the vehicle more of a "fashion over function" feel. While the vehicle might look interesting enough, it doesn't necessarily convince the viewers that it was built to perform. Every Batmobile needs to find a happy middle-ground that captures a certain swagger while also appearing to be an intimidating piece of hardware. Ultimately, this Batmobile meets an early demise, thanks to the devious Riddler — it seems doubtful that anybody shed tears as it made its way to the trash heap.

In Joel Schumacher's follow-up "Batman & Robin," a new design was presented that felt ripped out of the golden age of comic books. Gone were the strange gills and extra-terrestrial look of the "Forever" machine. Now, the vehicle had more accentuated fenders and a longer body. Though, just looking at images of the vehicle, it's a wonder anyone in the driver's seat could maneuver it with all those inevitable blind spots. 

Of all the Batman films, "Batman & Robin" is the most critically-panned feature of the bunch. While Batman's story and characters may have rocketed to camp and beyond, the Batmobile had a lot of character, aesthetically. Despite any grievances fans may have with the film, there is a fun sequence where the Batmobile gives chase to Mr. Freeze in his ... Freezemobile? Racing along the top of statues, the chase ultimately gives way to Mr. Freeze's arrest. The Batmobile was, perhaps, the best part of this film — although admittedly, that's not saying much.

In 2008, Batman made a refreshed, animated debut in the form of "Batman: The Brave and the Bold." Pushing back against modern takes on the caped crusader as a brooding vigilante steeped in darkness, "Brave and the Bold" targeted a more light-hearted tone, taking its cue from the comical 1966 live-action series starring Adam West. Most adventures highlighted Batman's relationships with the other heroes in the DC universe, as they thwarted villainy together.

As such, the Batmobile presented itself this time as a hybrid of silver age comics and modern-day design. The vehicle reached into the depths of Batman history for inspiration: the front of the car is adorned with an armored bat head that was first implemented when Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson designed the first true Batmobile for Batman issue # 5 in 1941; the curvy fenders over the wheels, and a striking central bat fin in the rear of the vehicle, evoked the classic 1941 design. The vehicle's finish mixed a little of the 1966 car in, with a red lining around the trim. Ultimately, the show created a solid, reverential vehicle true to the Batmobile's legacy.

Acting as a continuation of the popular early '90s show "Batman: The Animated Series," "The New Batman Adventures" revamped the design of its characters. The series continued to be led by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini just like the show's predecessor, however the series now aimed to give more screentime to other heroes in the bat-family like Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl.

The Batmobile also received a bit of a refresh from the sleek, elongated design of "The Animated Series." While not regarded as highly as the original "Animated Series" aesthetic, "The New Batman Adventures" managed to capture the spirit of the early '90s vehicle while adding some modern (late '90s) flair. The snout was shortened, which likely made taking corners much simpler for the Dark Knight. Instead of a rigid and flat trim, the vehicle introduced curves to its rear fins, as well as the front fenders. While it may not have had as much character as the prior vehicle, this Batmobile was certainly more practical for urban combat.

Bruce Timm continued his adventures of Batman well into the future. "Batman Beyond," meanwhile, saw the elderly Bruce Wayne hanging up the cape and cowl and mentoring young Terry McGinnis on the role. Because the series was based on a high-tech future, this Batmobile had to fit that mold. As a result, the McGinnis Batmobile was ultimately a flying ship — the first of its kind. Sure, the history of Batman has seen numerous vehicles, including various Batwings, Batcopters and flying drones. But for all intents and purposes this was, in fact, considered the Batmobile as Terry used it for his primary mode of transportation.

The design was drastically overhauled, looking like nothing fans had ever seen before in Batman history; the futuristic setting was also new territory for the Dark Knight. Instead of obvious "bat-like" references in the body's design such as fins, Batman logos in the wheels, or other standard design trappings of the past, this Batmobile was a sleek, jet-black aerial ship with pointed ridges to give it a "dangerous" edge — no pun intended. 

This Batmobile was equipped with a jet thruster that could send Terry flying at speeds of Mach 3, should he ever be short on time — although, it's a wonder that a teenager could manage to navigate a city at such speeds without pancaking into the side of a building. The machine was also synced to Terry's suit, enabling him to remotely activate it with ease. In combat, the vehicle came equipped with table-turning firepower that included missiles, as well as evasive mechanics like cloaking technology. All in all, it's a pretty formidable system, should any baddies tempt the use of its power.

Shortly after the character of Batman was created on paper, he began stalking the streets of Gotham City in live action. This 1943 serial was the first time fans were able to see the Caped Crusader in action. Of course, the serial film isn't anything to write home about in the eyes of all us spoiled children living in the age of modern comic book film adaptations; this Batman was a low-budget affair, and as such, the Batmobile wasn't anything extravagant.

A non-custom 1939 Cadillac Series 75 convertible, this Batmobile honestly didn't look all that different from other vehicles on the road at the time. But, while there's nothing special about it on the surface, it's hard not to appreciate its classic beauty — as well as its pop-culture significance. Just two years prior, Bill Finger helped envision a true definitive Batmobile in comic books. However, the 1943 serial told a tale from Batman's earliest days in 1939, when his mode of transportation was an average vehicle for the day. It pre-dated the term "Batmobile," which would soon be coined by Bill Finger in 1941.

Batman would appear in another serial (typically short, action-packed stories that would play weekly at your local theater before the main feature film) in 1949 alongside his faithful ward, Robin. These films had the Dynamic Duo going toe-to-toe with the villainous Wizard. Just like the 1943 mini-series, this serial was also a low-budget production, unfolding over a series of chapters.

Also similar to its predecessor, the Batmobile wasn't anything extravagant. This time, however, the vehicle used by the Dynamic Duo was a 1949 Mercury Convertible. While angling for a low-budget production, most of the budget must have gone into replacing the vehicle. The actor who portrayed Robin (Johnny Duncan) stated that the crew went through six cars by the time filming was complete. Because of the vehicle's heft, it apparently didn't handle taking corners at higher speeds very well. Whenever a vehicle was wrecked, they'd replace it and quickly resume the shoot. 

"Batman Unlimited" started as a web series in 2015. There were also three animated films based in the "Unlimited" universe, but ultimately, the series was created for a line of toys from Mattel. As such, the series, which can be viewed these days on the DC Kids YouTube channel, complemented the toy line.

In the series and films, there were multiple Batmobiles presented. The two primary automobiles featured drastically different designs. 

One design was black with the accented fenders made famous by the Tim Burton Batmobile. It also has a central fin, as well as two rear fenders that come to a point. Additionally, it has a cockpit that slides open similar to the Burton film. 

The other Batmobile that could be seen in the series looks similar to a Corvette, with a sports car design and blue accents on the trim. It also has a big yellow bat logo on the hood, and transforms into an airplane. In action, it could shift from racing on the ground to hitting the skies rapidly. 

In 2004, the same art director behind the popular "Jackie Chan Adventures," Jeff Matsuda, worked on recreating Batman and the characters of Gotham City in the WB series "The Batman." The series lasted 5 seasons, focusing on the Dark Knight during his earliest years combating the criminal element in the city. To fit with that youthful vibe, the designers opted to give the Batmobile a sports car appeal.

The vehicle was a lightweight as far as Batmobiles are concerned, sporting a turbo booster alongside an efficient, high-powered engine. The body wasn't a far cry from typical sports car body designs, save for a dark color palette and small bat fins to fit the mold of its driver. In the series, the Batmobile undergoes multiple upgrades due to various circumstances, including the need for increased performance or simply because the vehicle was badly damaged. In the fourth season, a future is seen where Batman operates a tank-like Batmobile not unlike the one in Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" comic series.

While Batman has appeared in numerous video games, only a select few have designed wholly-unique Batmobiles for an original story. Aside from the "Arkham" series of video games developed by Rocksteady Studios, "Batman: The Telltale Series" produced by Telltale Games prior to the initial closure of the studio in 2018 similarly highlighted a new take on the Batmobile. This video game, like many of other games developed by Telltale, was essentially an interactive narrative where players were charged with performing actions or making choices that impacted the storyline. 

The Batmobile was presented as a sleek machine, typical of the Batmobiles of old. Despite having extensive combat capability, this vehicle could also transform into a sports car doubling as Bruce Wayne's transportation when not under the cape and cowl. Not since the early days of the 1940s Batman serials has the Batmobile gone incognito for Bruce's personal use. However, in those serials the "incognito" element was as simple as lowering the roof on the Cadillac convertible — as nonsensical as it is reminiscent of Clark Kent putting on a pair of glasses to "go civilian." 

Following on the heels of "Batman: The Brave and the Bold," Warner Bros. opted to produce a new Batman series in "Beware the Batman," which took the crime-fighting vigilante back to his roots. As such, the tone was a bit darker than fans of "The Brave and the Bold" series were accustomed to. The series focused on Batman's earliest years in the business of doling out punishment to the villains of Gotham City; instead of Robin, Batman had a new crime-fighting partner, in the form of Alfred Pennyworth's goddaughter, Tatsu Yamashiro.

The Batmobile was designed with a gothic theme in mind. The front fenders and hood came to sharp points, while the rear resembled the fins and turbines of a fighter jet. The body hung low to the ground and was designed for speed. As with previous Batmobile designs, the vehicle could be remotely operated and came with an array of offensive and defensive mechanisms, including hefty armor plating and missile launching capabilities. Aside from maintaining the status quo as far as Batmobile functionality is concerned, this machine was certainly one of the more stylish Batmobiles to be designed in animation.

In the 1970s, Batman incarnations predominantly maintained the campy temperament of the Batman 1966 series. However, during this decade Batman didn't hog the spotlight, but instead chose to get by with a little help from his friends. "Super Friends" was an animated series that focused on the Justice League of America, alongside other DC heroes and characters. The animation was colorful, light-hearted and proved to be a winning formula, resulting in crossovers with "Scooby-Doo" and lasting a total of 9 seasons.

But regardless of his teammates and their abilities, of course, Batman wouldn't be complete without the Batmobile. The vehicle seen in "Super Friends" paid homage to the design of the Lincoln Futura body of the 1966 live action series. However, the designers took a few additional liberties, like adding a point to the front bumper with a Bat-head logo to honor the faceplate designs of the past. Additionally, the ridges of the fenders were sharpened, and the color of the vehicle was changed to blue. The twin bubble-like windshields stayed in place, and the rear-end was given two slight-but-distinctive fins not seen before on the Futura body style. Functionally, the vehicle was mostly used simply as transportation.

In 2016, the short-lived "Justice League Action" series debuted on Cartoon Network. The series depicted the exploits of not only the big three (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman) but also the rest of the Justice League. Once again, Batman voice-acting legend Kevin Conroy was behind the brooding dialogue of the Dark Knight. The Batmobile managed to make a few appearances throughout the series, aiding the Justice League in the fight against villainy.

By appearance, this Batmobile took on characteristics of both classic and modern designs. The vehicle was a two-seater with dual glass domes separating each seat. This design was, of course, made famous by the 1966 Batmobile that was a modified Lincoln Futura. However, instead of a roofless style like the 1966 vehicle, the two seats are covered this time by glass-domes. The vehicle also takes inspiration from modern designs with a sleek black body and a singular tail fin. The vehicle is outfitted with non-lethal offensive actions like shooting cables to trip or restrain opponents. While the car is standard fare for Batman, it's another animated design that respects the legacy of the vehicle.

As video game graphics increasingly caught up to the imaginations of their designers, the console adventures of the Dark Knight became truly exciting via Rocksteady's trilogy of Arkham games that began with "Batman: Arkham Asylum" in 2009. The series culminated in 2015 with the explosive finale of "Batman: Arkham Knight." This game added a new prominent mechanic that featured the Batmobile in action.

In "Arkham Knight," players could shift between a standard driving mode and a multi-directional tank mode, making the vehicle capable of strafing in all directions while firing its powerful machine guns and heavy artillery swiftly. By design, this Batmobile was a beast capable of high speeds and intense collateral damage if not used precisely. The vehicle was also equipped with a defensive mechanism that would hit any criminals touching the body of the automobile with an electric shock, rendering them unconscious. The transformative nature of the Batmobile from rocket-powered speed-demon to nearly-indestructible tank with an unlimited range of motion was key to gameplay, and ultimately made this vehicle one of the most formidable to ever emerge from the Dark Knight's garage.

Hot on the heels of the box-office breakthrough "The Lego Movie," it was only a matter of time before Warner Bros. commissioned the creation of a Lego Batman spin-off. Will Arnett's take on the character was comical, fourth-wall breaking, and refreshingly tongue-in-cheek. In 2017, "The Lego Batman Movie" became a reality, and with it came a completely new Batmobile design that was original for many reasons — beyond the fact that, you know, it was made out of little kid-friendly blocks. 

This Batmobile was an amalgamation of characteristics from past Batmobiles, including a long slender body and bat-fins in the rear. However, it stood off the ground with large tires, giving the vehicle a bit of a "hot rod" appeal. While this Batmobile may have been able to do many things, one feature it did not possess (much to Robin's dismay) was seat belts. Later in the film, an "Ultimate" version of the Batmobile was constructed by these master builders, resulting in a bigger vehicle with more weapons and bat fins for one giant Batmobile monstrosity.

Ben Affleck began his cape-and-cowl career in the film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." For a majority of the film, Bruce Wayne and (by extension) Batman acted as an antagonist, seeking to bury Superman. The Dark Knight saw the Kryptonian hero as a threat who wielded far too much power for the good of humanity. After his throwdown in Metropolis during the events of "Man of Steel," it was clear that the damage he could cause is devastating. To thwart Superman, Batman made heavy use of his famed vehicle to squash the criminal element beholden to Lex Luthor and steal the megalomaniac's piece of kryptonite.

Zack Snyder and company took a different approach with the character of Batman, as he is scene destroying enemy vehicles with extreme prejudice, likely resulting in many deaths. The slender design of the vehicle complemented its versatility on the back streets of the city. While the vehicle's maneuverability was on full display, it also boasted armored plating and two turrets mounted on its front end. At one point, Batman is seen using a grappling hook that launches out of the Batmobile (snagging a disabled enemy vehicle), only so the Dark Knight could drift at precisely the right moment to launch the car into another hostile. While Batman's thin tank-like beast was enough to dismantle several thugs, it was still no match for Superman. Turning a corner, the Man of Steel suddenly appeared in Batman's headlights, only for the Batmobile to careen into the hero and bounce off him like a car slamming into the side of a mountain.

Batfleck's Batmobile style didn't change dramatically heading into the "Justice League" movie. However, the Dark Knight was definitely in need of additional firepower for the battle ahead with Steppenwolf and his acolytes (parademons). Otherworldly tyrants require a certain edge in any hero's armory, as they tend to always be over-powered and nearly immortal. The Batmobile certainly had to be combat ready and capable of fending off swarms of parademons coming from all directions in order to win the day.

Whether Alfred and Bruce constructed a completely new Batmobile or salvaged the one that was totaled in "Batman v Superman" is up for debate. Regardless, upgrades were added to the original design, most notably, a massive central high-caliber gun capable of doing some serious damage. This Batmobile's mettle would be tested when Batman full-on assaulted Steppenwolf's fortress, combining speed and combat versatility in an action-packed sequence that may have exceeded the intensity of any previous live-action Batmobile sequence. While the machine ultimately met a fiery demise, it most assuredly got the job done.

This Batmobile only appeared for a small moment at the tail-end of "Zack Snyder's Justice League." Unfortunately, viewers never get to see it in action, but if you look closely you can catch a glimpse of Batman standing on top of the vehicle. This Batmobile is ranked high mostly because of its roots; its design was ripped straight from the pages of Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns." If you want to understand the machine's formidable prowess, it's in the pages of Miller's legendary story.

In that graphic novel, Batman comes out of retirement to put an end to a criminal gang known simply as the Mutants. These miscreants pose a serious challenge for the Dark Knight, because they are younger and stronger than the aging Batman, and outnumber him substantially. Accordingly, this Batmobile is a show of force, a singular weapon that can non-lethally eliminate the threat of a small army. If Batman were to ever equip the vehicle with live rounds instead of rubber bullets, this Batmobile could take out a city; it is designed for brute force, not speed. The vehicle is quite literally a tank, with two tracks of tank treads instead of a standard chassis with four wheels. 

"Does it come in black?" With a goofy grin, that's all Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) could think to utter after test driving the Tumbler in Christopher Nolan's 2005 genre-redefining classic "Batman Begins." Despite becoming a stoic hero who pulverizes baddies with his bare hands, even Bruce is a little boy inside, giddy enough to enjoy the thrill of a jet-engine tank equipped with controls for vertical thrusts that enable the vehicle to jump without the need of a ramp. Eventually, Batman gets to test its "bridging" ability in real-time, when he evades law enforcement by taking a detour across the rooftops of Gotham City.

Even though the vehicle's designation is the "Tumbler," for all intents and purposes, it was the Dark Knight's Batmobile in this grounded Nolan-verse of films. The machine was equipped with thrusters that boosted speed and aided in vertical movements. Because the speed can be quite intense with a jet engine, the rear is also equipped with flaps that aid the vehicle in braking. It's equipped with firearms for offensive actions and a stealth mode, amounting to shutting the lights off the vehicle and switching power over to an electrical motor for quiet movement. 

Perhaps most importantly, the vehicle is capable of transforming into the Batpod (or Batcycle), which Batman utilized in "The Dark Knight." This advanced military vehicle aids Batman's efforts effectively — but also worked against him when Bane utilized the vehicle to police the city. With a weapon that powerful, it seems, Batman should have installed a better security system in his whip.

Bruce Timm and Paul Dini are known for making one of the most iconic animated versions of Batman's crusades to ever grace television screens. Appropriately, their Batmobile revitalized the vehicle, exuding a new attitude via classic futurism. The body was slender and long, mimicking 1940s body styles; like most Batmobiles, it was equipped with a jet engine for speed. But the body bypassed curvature in favor of a flatter low-to-the-ground approach that visually communicated there was business that needed to be attended to — and Batman was hard at work.

Throughout the history of the car on screen, it has always shown off an array of gadgets to rival 007's iconic Aston Martin, and this time was no different. An armored mode protected the vehicle from direct assaults, and it also came equipped with ejector seats, tear gas, missiles and other toys. Batman could also remotely control this vehicle, which came in handy during a pinch. 

Batman fans recognize this Batmobile for its historical prominence in the legacy of the Dark Knight, as "Batman: The Animated Series" would go on to become the most popular animated Batman incarnation of all time.

Robert Pattinson's turn at the Caped Crusader includes a new ride for Batman, which has a decidedly John Wick vibe to it. With director Matt Reeves at the helm, fans are treated to a more detective-oriented version of the character in the 2022 noir-themed film — and even before the movie reached theaters, the sheer excitement alone over its design put this Batmobile into the upper echelons. 

In "The Batman," Batman is still just as aggressive as ever, ready to distribute punishment to the villains of Gotham whenever necessary. Working in conjunction with the aggression of this young Batman is his newest take on the Batmobile — because nothing says "mean" like a muscle car outfitted with a massive engine.

According to Jalopnik, this machine appears to be packing a Ford Triton V10 engine in the rear, while the body is both flame-retardant and sturdy as a rhino. Harkening back to a day when steel-framed muscle cars like the Chevy Camaro or Plymouth Barracuda ruled the road, this vehicle could possibly once again change the game for Batmobile designs.

Arguably the most famous Batmobile design (and certainly the one that influenced every model after it) was constructed by automotive legend George Barris — the grandfather of so-called "Kustom Kulture" who would also have a hand in designing cars for TV incarnations of The Munsters, Green Hornet and the A-Team. Utilizing the body of a Lincoln Futura, the Barris Batmobile would become every bit as essential a star of the hit 1966 "Batman" TV series as Adam West and Burt Ward's Dynamic Duo. 

Although the series never took any of its criminal capers too seriously, preferring to choose camp over criminality, the Batmobile capably depicted Batman and Robin as possessing all those wonderful toys while still giving the series a fun, frivolous, pop culture vibe.

Interestingly, the Futura was never sold to the public, existing merely as a concept car from 1955. Like its name implies, there was an element of retro-futurism in its design; with dual bubble windshields, its appearance was almost like something ripped out of "The Jetsons." Ultimately, this Batmobile's black body and red trim lining became iconic: ready for combat, wielding a Bat-zooka, a battering ram, a high-powered magnet, a laser beam, a mobile phone, flaming exhaust and more. Plus, you just know there was a can of Shark Repellent Bat Spray in the glove compartment, just in case. Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed ... time to roll out.

Tim Burton's Batmobile is unmistakable. To this day, Burton's 1989 "Batman" with Michael Keaton endures as a culturally iconic film in the world of comic book adaptations — to the point where the 2022 "The Flash" movie is aiming to bring back Keaton (and, fingers crossed, his Batmobile) in the near future. 

Burton's "Batman" resurrected the Caped Crusader on screen after several decades of existence as a post-Adam West punchline, now featuring a significantly darker tone than the campy cartoons to which fans had become accustomed. Once again, Batman entered the darkness of Gotham City, trading punches with criminals amongst the gothic architecture and thick steam rolling across its murky streets.

This Batmobile honored the darker tone of its driver, boasting a jet-black finish covering the entire body and the famous bat-fins in the rear. The slender body and elongated hood would set a precedent for Batmobile designs yet to come. 

From a construction standpoint, the vehicle was created with a combination of two Impala chassis, and powered by a standard 8-cylinder Chevy engine. In the film, the Batmobile was equipped with an array of offensive features that included disc launchers and grappling hooks, as well as an Alexa-predicting voice recognition system and an armor layer encompassed the entirety of the machine. In terms of iconography, this Batmobile stands above the rest because it returned the Dark Knight to his roots and signaled a new era for the character upon its 1989 debut, one that still fuels the franchise.