With The Batman hitting theaters Friday, we'll be getting to know a new Batmobile (not to mention a new Batman) very soon. Naturally this has us debating which of the Dark Knight's cars is the coolest. We decided to come up with a ranking. Opinions are all over the place, but since I'm typing this up, I'm the final decision-maker. Unless Rod disagrees and tells me to make some changes.
To simplify things a bit, we're sticking with live-action movie or TV vehicles here. Not getting into any of the designs from the comics or animated series.
1. Batman (1989)
The Michael Keaton/Tim Burton version is still undefeated. Introduced in 1989's Batman, the vehicle also appeared in 1992's Batman Returns, plus a couple of On-Star commercials and some other advertising stuff. Built on a Chevrolet Impala chasis with a heavily modified 1970 Corvette body, it looks weird and alien without looking silly.
2. The Batman (2022)
We may be putting this too high, but it looks really badass in the trailers and still images released so far. Nothing official, but car guys online say it appears to based on a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda. It gives off some real Mad Max vibes. Director Matt Reeves says that he wanted it to read more like a work-in-progress muscle car that this guy is building and modifying himself.
3. Batman TV Series (1966)
The iconic Adam West version of the Batmobile was built out of an abandoned Ford concept car called the Futura. It might not scare the bad guys quite like some of the others, but it would probably be the most fun to drive around in the real world.
4. The Tumbler (2005)
The Tumbler debuted in 2005's Batman Begins, and appeared in its two sequels The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). The idea here was that it was a high-speed armored military vehicle developed by Wayne Enterprises, but it never made it out the door. It was a fun way to shake things up and make it clear that the Christopher Nolan Batman movies were going to be more grounded than the previous Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher films.
5. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
This one is like a cool hybrid of the Tumbler and the custom muscle cars. Ben Affleck's Batman drives it first in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and then a slightly updated version in Justice League. It looks great, but it's in two movies that don't completely work. Plus, it loses points for having machine guns and missile launchers mounted on the front and top. Batman doesn't use guns and his cars shouldn't either. Most of the movie ones do, but they at least have the decency to keep them hidden.
6. Batman Forever (1995)
Director Joel Schumacher came in with new Batman Val Kilmer and this new version of the car. It looks really cool sometimes, but it's got maybe one fin too many and it emits blue neon light from its engine panels, wheels, and undercarriage. Bonus points for being the Batmobile Drew Carey wins through a fast food contest in a 1997 episode of The Drew Carey Show.
7. Batman & Robin (1997)
This one kind of sucks. New Batman George Clooney gets a new Batmobile. It really doubles down on the weird light-up thing from Batman Forever, it's really long, and has two huge wings on top. Not a fan.
7. Titans TV Series (2018)
I've never seen this show, but it sounds like you never really get a good look at its older Batman or his Batmobile. So this one doesn't really count. Concept art looks cool though.
If that's not enough Batmobile stuff for you, here's an hour-long documentary that Warner Bros. Entertainment released a couple of years ago on the history of Batman's iconic car.
Photo: Photo: Warner Bros.