12 Movies The Batman Fans Should Watch Next

When it was first announced that Robert Pattinson would be the new Batman, some fans weren't sure it was the right choice. Christopher Nolan's trilogy is so beloved that a new, three-hour-long reboot of the character wasn't the easiest sell. Luckily, upon watching the film, most viewers agreed: "The Batman" rocks. Its sumptuous visuals — which give the film a sleeky, sexy neo-noir feel — are a delight to witness and perfectly illustrate director Matt Reeves' new vision of Gotham. It now seems obvious that Pattinson was the perfect choice for our titular hero as his dramatic broodiness is perfectly calibrated, and Zoë Kravitz – milk drinking and all — is just as alluring as you'd expect as Catwoman.

There are a number of elements in "The Batman" that feel really unique and wonderfully specific. The visuals and the music really add to Reeves' brilliant new vision for the character and his world. But no film exists in a vacuum, and any film director worth their salt makes movies in conversation with those that have come before. If you loved "The Batman" and are looking for other films with a similar style, then you're in luck, because there are plenty of other films to choose from. You could go the obvious noir route or check out some other classic vigilante films that have the same broodiness as our newest Bruce Wayne. Even better, you could peruse our curated list of what you should watch next if "The Batman" is your newest obsession.

When we think of DC, the first thing that often comes to mind are classic superheroes like Batman or Wonder Woman. We sometimes forget that DC Comics has produced hundreds of different characters, some of which don't really fall into the superhero genre at all. One example is John Constantine, first introduced in the "Hellraiser" comic book series. More of a supernatural horror figure than anything else, the character was first brought to life on film by Keanu Reeves in the 2005 movie "Constantine."

John Constantine is a suicide survivor and demon hunter, which gives him a unique take on good and evil. Having already gone to hell himself, Constantine knows he will return there once he dies unless he can rack up enough good deeds to reverse his fate. On his journey to redemption, he meets Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz), a policewoman investigating the suicide of her twin sister. The two get ensnared in a celestial battle between good and evil that tests Constantine's commitment to walking a righteous path.

Like "The Batman," "Constantine" is very dark, both visually and thematically. Both films depict protagonists who struggle to do the right thing while also fighting their own self-loathing and loneliness. Though it wasn't especially well-received upon its initial release, it's recently been re-evaluated by critics and fans. (Reeves liked the character so much he's been trying to play him again.) If you were thrilled by "The Batman," you might enjoy the angsty world of "Constantine."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

One of the most memorable aspects of any Batman film is the depiction of Gotham. While it sometimes bears resemblance to New York City or Chicago, every iteration of the famed city in some way delves into its darkness, seediness, and generally dystopian aura. Gotham may be one of the most memorable fictional cities in recent history, but the town of Sin City gives Gotham a run for its money in terms of general filth and decay.

"Sin City" is a series of neo-noir graphic novels written by Frank Miller. Miller's work was then adapted into an anthology film in 2005, directed by Miller himself along with Robert Rodriguez. The film is comprised of six vignettes that all take place in the dark and violent title town. The ensemble cast features the likes of ​​Jessica Alba, Benicio del Toro, Brittany Murphy, Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Elijah Wood, among others.

One of the most celebrated elements of the film is its visual style and coloring. Much of the film appears in black and white, while certain objects retain their color, giving it a distinct and evocative style. (Blood, for example, appears in its original red form.) "Sin City" is all about creating a unique milieu — a vibe, if you will — which fans of the stylistic touches of "The Batman" may be especially primed to appreciate.

While the visual style of "The Batman" may seem modern, it's impossible to properly evaluate the film without considering the genre that it most clearly draws from: the film noir. While film noirs are still being made today — though often called "neo-noirs" in the modern context — the genre dates back to the 1940s with films like "The Maltese Falcon" and "Laura." One of the most celebrated film noirs is 1948's "Touch of Evil," directed by the legendary Orson Welles.

The film follows Mexican drug agent Miguel Vargas (Charlton Heston) as he investigates a car bomb that has exploded on the U.S.-Mexico border. Vargas is joined by American police captain Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles), who Vargas quickly begins to suspect is corrupt. Vargas' investigation into Quinlan puts him and his new wife (Janet Leigh) at risk, and the case becomes very dangerous indeed.

"Touch of Evil" is celebrated for many reasons, but one of its most stunning achievements is its cinematography and expertly executed visual style. Its three-minute-long opening shot, aided by the use of a crane, is a masterful example of how to establish a world and its characters. "The Batman" is certainly an impressive achievement in filmmaking, but it owes a lot to directors like Welles, who laid the groundwork for this type of gritty yet highly stylized technique.

"The Batman" may not be entirely about vengeance, but Bruce Wayne's anger about what happened to his parents clearly plays a part in everything he does. If a little more righteous revenge is what you're in the mood for, we have two words for you: John Wick. 2014's "John Wick" stars Keanu Reeves as the titular character, a former assassin who is grieving the sudden loss of his wife. When a deranged mobster (Alfie Allen) steals John's car and kills the dog his wife gave him as a gift, John becomes dead-set on retribution. Unfortunately, John's sudden return to the underworld attracts the attention of his former colleague and the mobster's father (Michael Nyqvist), who puts an enormous bounty on John's head.

One of the very best action films in recent years, "John Wick" is an exquisitely made piece of entertainment. One of the most celebrated elements of "John Wick" is its visual style, which resembles "The Batman" in terms of its darkness and pointed use of neon. "John Wick" also contains some of the best fight scenes we've ever seen, which are certain to delight fans of the more brutal elements of Gotham's seedy underbelly. John Wick and Bruce Wayne are both characters who have lost almost everything they've ever loved, and while they should both be going to therapy, the two films are elegant illustrations of the darkness within.

"Atomic Blonde" may not be about vengeance or vigilantism per se, but it is one of the sexiest action movies we've seen recently. If you enjoyed the beautiful coloring and the perfectly calibrated soundtrack of "The Batman," we'd suggest "Atomic Blonde" for your next movie night.

"Atomic Blonde" follows Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron), an elite spy for British intelligence service MI6. Just days before the fall of the Berlin Wall, Lorraine is sent to the city to retrieve a very important list that would reveal the names of every agent currently working in Berlin. While in Berlin, the ruthless and brilliant Lorraine encounters David Percival (James McAvoy), a wayward MI6 agent, as well as Delphine (Sofia Boutella), a French agent who is in way over her head.

The plot can get confusing at times, but what really sells it are the action sequences and the excellent soundtrack. All the songs included in the film came out around the period in which it takes place, which only adds to its sexy, sleek style. If you're a fan of action, you can't miss the astounding 10-minute-long "single take" fight sequence that nearly defies explanation. (The film was directed by David Leitch, a stunt coordinator who worked on "John Wick.") While you might be tempted to dismiss the film as style over substance, it doesn't seem fair to complain when the style is just so good.

Movie directors often use other films as inspiration for their own projects. That is certainly true of "The Batman" director Matt Reeves, who has spoken about his many cinematic references for the movie. Reeves told Den of Geek that he thought of the film as "a noir detective story set outside of DCEU continuity," which is why it is no surprise that he took inspiration from classic noirs and detective stories.

One of his references was the 1971 neo-noir "Klute," which stars Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda, who won her first Oscar for Best Actress for the film. Sutherland plays an old-fashioned detective named John Klute, who is hired to investigate the disappearance of a businessman. He becomes enamored with Bree Daniel (Fonda), a call girl who is central to the investigation.

Reeves was most interested in the dynamic between Sutherland and Fonda's characters in the film, which he saw mirrored in Bruce and Selina's relationship in "The Batman." Like Sutherland's character, Bruce judges Selina when he first meets her and makes assumptions about who she is as a person, but he's drawn to her nonetheless. As with Bruce and Selina, Sutherland and Fonda's relationship becomes quite dangerous, and the stakes of their partnership are extremely high. "Klute" is a star-crossed romance disguised as a gritty detective story, making it a perfect pairing with "The Batman."

When it comes to noir detective stories, corruption is almost always the name of the game. The machinations of unscrupulous government officials are also central to the story of "The Batman," which is why the genre was a key inspiration for director Matt Reeves. One of the central references for Reeve in making his film was Roman Polanski's "Chinatown," which is often considered the last great film noir. Reeves told the audience at DC FanDome in 2020 (via Collider) that "Chinatown" was an inspiration for him because of its focus on "the depth of corruption of Los Angeles." 

"Chinatown" stars Jack Nicholson as a hard-boiled private eye named Jake Gittes. When he's hired by a woman named Evelyn to investigate her husband's infidelity, he finds out there's more than meets the eye as he uncovers a tangled web of government corruption and disturbing family secrets. Faye Dunaway stars as an alluring, deceitful femme fatale, while her father, played by John Huston, becomes one of Jake's primary suspects. The movie is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end, and Nicholson and Dunaway's slippery romance does not disappoint. If you want to get a better sense of how "The Batman" came to be, feast your eyes on this classic.

If you're in the market for more movies about psychological warfare and sinister games of cat and mouse, you can't go wrong with the films of Michael Mann. Though Matt Reeves has said that Mann's 1986 film "Manhunter" was an inspiration for an early version of "The Batman," we think the Mann film that will most appeal to "Batman" fans is his 1995 magnum opus "Heat."

The film stars Robert De Niro as Neil McCauley, a master thief planning one last job before retiring. Al Pacino plays Lieutenant Vincent Hanna, the cop trying to track down McCauley before he disappears forever. Both men are also dealing with their own personal issues, as McCauley considers the dangers of a new romance with Eady (Amy Brenneman), and Hanna faces problems with his wife (Diane Venora) and stepdaughter (Natalie Portman).

De Niro and Pacino are perfectly suited nemeses, and the stakes of their showdown only get higher as the three-hour film goes on. If you liked the drawn-out battle between Bruce Wayne and The Riddler in "The Batman," then De Niro vs. Pacino should be the next face-off on your list. The emotional punches hit just as hard as the physical ones.

David Fincher's "Seven" may not be a comic book movie, but it has certain almost fantastical elements that align it with the gritty environment of the fictional Gotham City. The film follows William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a police detective who is about to retire. He begins investigating his final case with the help of a newbie named David Mills (Brad Pitt), who has just moved to town with his wife (Gwyneth Paltrow).

At first, "Seven" seems like a typical crime thriller. But not everything is as it seems. Most interestingly, the location where the film takes place is never named. It initially seems like it might be New York City or perhaps Chicago, but by the end of the film they wind up in a desert that looks a lot like California. This spatial ambiguity adds to the film's eerie tone. Whatever city "Seven" takes place in feels a lot more like Gotham than any real-life city.

Much more grimy and gross than your typical crime thriller, with a truly shocking ending, "Seven" is a serial killer movie with major teeth. In many ways, "The Batman" has a lot in common with serial killer shows and films: you can imagine The Riddler appearing on "Criminal Minds" or Fincher's own "Mindhunter." If you're looking for a creepy movie with all of the thrills of "The Batman" but absolutely none of the vindication, then "Seven" is your lucky number.

For those who had only seen Robert Pattinson in the "Twilight" films prior to seeing "The Batman," his casting as Bruce Wayne might have been a surprising choice. But true R-Patz fans already knew he would be the perfect actor for a gritty thriller, as he already starred in the A24 movie "Good Time" back in 2017.

Directed by the Safdie brothers, who have become more well-known recently for their film "Uncut Gems," "Good Time" is a crime thriller that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Pattinson plays Connie Nikas, a bank robber whose brother, Nick (Benny Safdie), has been sent to prison because of a botched job. Connie becomes determined to free Nick from prison, embarking on an all-night odyssey that leads him deep into the bowels of New York's criminal underground.

If you're looking for something relaxing, "Good Time" is most certainly not for you, but it will definitely give you a powerful jolt of anxiety. Pattinson's incredible performance is the highlight of the film, and we wouldn't be surprised if it was one of the things that helped land him "The Batman." As critic ​​Steven Prokopy wrote, "Anchored by a career-best performance by Pattinson, it's an unforgettable work that will rattle you in all the best ways." Prepare to be unsettled.

2011's "Drive" is a neo-noir with a lot of style and sentiment. Ryan Gosling plays Driver, a talented stuntman who spends his nights working as a getaway driver for criminals. Though he comes off as cold and emotionless, he slowly begins to grow closer to his neighbor, Irene (Carey Mulligan), and her son, Benicio (Kaden Leos). Things get complicated when Irene's husband, Standard (Oscar Isaac), gets released from jail and hires Driver for a high-stakes heist. When the job goes sideways, Driver finds himself fighting to protect Irene and Benicio, no matter what the cost.

As violent as it is romantic, "Drive" pulls a lot from classic noirs, especially those set in Los Angeles. There's nothing broodier than driving around L.A. at night in your cool car with no one to come home to, and Gosling pulls off the role flawlessly. Like "The Batman," it's also got an excellent soundtrack — the opening credits are truly a thing of beauty –- which contributes in a huge way to the film's overall atmosphere. The film's shocking elevator sequence is one of the most devastating in Gosling's career, and it really drives home (no pun intended) how tragic the film truly is. Driver and Bruce Wayne may not be on the same team, but they've certainly got that brooding self-hatred in common.

This one might seem obvious, but we feel compelled to include it anyway for accuracy's sake. It's hard to watch Reeves' take on Bruce Wayne and not think of the Batman films that have come before it, which is why "The Dark Knight" deserves a spot on this list. Out of all the Batman films made thus far, "The Batman" has the most in common with the Christopher Nolan trilogy that came before it. The second of his three movies, "The Dark Knight," is a particularly masterful illustration of Nolan's vision for the character and his world.

Like "The Batman," 'The Dark Knight" takes a very dark, mostly serious look at the world of Bruce Wayne. It also features arguably the most beloved Batman villain of all time — Heath Ledger's Joker. The Joker is a terrifying villain because there seems to be no rhyme or reason to his actions apart from his desire to sow chaos and destruction wherever he goes. That makes him a formidable adversary for Batman, who struggles to define himself as a hero against the Joker even as the Joker leads Bruce to give in to some of his darker instincts.

What's great about both "The Batman" and "The Dark Knight" is the masterfully assembled atmosphere they create. Both films are deeply dark and brooding, though they each have their own take on Gotham. If you're a fan of the grittier version of Batman, these two films make a superb double feature.