The Batman: Every Cinematic Batman Symbol, Ranked | ScreenRant
It's not just a bat, it's a symbol of justice and vengeance for Gotham City. The bat-shaped insignia is one of those things that will always appear on any new Batman incarnation. The cape, the cowl, utility belt, and the bat symbol are the ingredients needed to make a proper Batman, each one usually having a unique design.
Whether it is to be flashy and bombastic or to be a more subtle take, the bat symbol is in many ways a perfect representation of the Batman portrayals. Some work better than others while others can end up being better than the entire suit. With so many Batman versions, there are many variations of the symbol.
10 Ben Affleck
For many fans, Ben Affleck was the first time Batman looked straight out of the comics with the grey bodysuit and dark grey cowl. One of the only aspects not taken from the comics was his symbol that was clearly intended to be a tribute to Frank Miller's large Batman symbol.
Unfortunately, the symbol from all his DCEU appearances ended up losing a lot of what fans love about a good Bat-symbol. Ben Affleck's Batman symbol is essentially a large block with bat ears that stretches across his chest. To give it credit, it is a unique symbol for Affleck's unique Batman but it looks too large and blocky to look like a bat.
9 Christian Bale Ver. 2
With the upgraded Batsuit in The Dark Knight, Batman wore a much smaller and streamlined symbol reminiscent of his iconic gadgets: the Batarangs. Again, it's a unique insignia that fits the more grounded and realistic version of Christopher Nolan's Batman.
It's similar to the Batman Beyond logo but condensed down into a sharper and simplified one. It looks nice on posters and as a Batarang but it is treated less fairly on the Batsuit. On Batman himself, it's barely visible from the overly detailed armor due to barely being embossed and being so small.
8 George Clooney Ver. 1
There are many things to make fun of in Batman & Robin; it's such a disaster that it became a guilty pleasure for fans. The symbol that was worn by George Clooney, meanwhile, is a mixed bag that takes the classic yellow oval symbol of previous films but features the same color of the bodysuit.
As a result, the George Clooney logo suffers from the same problem as The Dark Knight. It blends in too much and hardly stands out but the actual Bat-insignia is a sleek redesign of the classic insignia. It's not too flashy nor is it too derivative, it just needed to be utilized better, especially not on a Bat-Credit Card.
7 Michael Keaton Ver. 1
Overall, many things from Tim Burton's Batman still hold up but Michael Keaton's first suit, despite being iconic, actually suffers from age, with some pieces needing upgrades. The symbol is a perfect example of that where it has the familiar yellow oval shape of the comics and other movies that fans love.
However, the symbol itself has some odd details such as the very curved wings and extra points in the bat-tail. Though it hardly detracts from any scene as the symbol is a delightful starter symbol for the 90s anthology of Batman movies that would use it as a foundation for their redesigns.
6 George Clooney Ver. 2
This is a rare case where the Batsuit betrays the symbol. The symbol itself is easily the better part of George Clooney's second suit in Batman & Robin. Unfortunately, the suit itself is so brightly colored and designed purely to sell toys that the bright silver symbol is held back by it.
The symbol is akin to Val Kilmer's second suit but even bigger and broader. If it had been given a suit that was more in the style of Christian Bale's or Michael Keaton's suits, this symbol would be fondly remembered.
5 Val Kilmer Ver. 1
There is very little difference between Val Kilmer's first symbol in Batman Forever and what was seen prior in the Michael Keaton films. The symbol remains the same oval-shaped logo but with slightly more dynamic curves to the wings and spiked tips.
An interesting detail that makes it stand out is that the symbol is not molded right into the suit. Instead, the symbol is a separate piece that rests on the chest piece, allowing for certain parts of the symbol to hover over the piece instead of flush against the suit. It's a subtle yet effective change.
4 Val Kilmer Ver. 2
With the upgrade to Val Kilmer's Sonar Batsuit, Batman received a total redesign with the symbol. This time, the oval was ditched to have the symbol spread across his entire chest. It's a proper upgrade that feels refreshing and helps Val Kilmer's Batman appear more unique from Keaton's portrayal.
Similar to Christian Bale's suits, the symbol is molded right into the torso but is embossed just enough to help it appear more noticeable. It retains a similar symbol of Michael Keaton's but much wider, leading to a familiar but fresh take on the symbol for its time.
3 Michael Keaton Ver. 2
It's strange how a simple change can make something so much better. The first Batman symbol was effective but perhaps a little overdone in execution. With the sequel, Batman Returns, the symbol was given the same treatment as the Batsuit: streamlined and the result is a design that most fans prefer.
Having fewer but longer wing points effectively recreated the iconic symbol of the comics while still retaining a unique look for the films. It remains an iconic symbol that is even being brought back for Michael Keaton's return to the role in The Flash and Batgirl.
2 Christian Bale Ver. 1
Only for Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan went for a Batman symbol more akin to symbols seen in the comics at the time. It's a very modern take on the symbol but with some unique twists such as the wing points being much closer together, which is more accurate to real-life batwings.
Though it suffers from blending in too much, similar to its successor, it manages to bring the Batman Begins suit together, complimenting it as a nearly perfect starter suit for Christian Bale's Batman origin story.
1 Robert Pattinson
Before fans even saw the rest of the suit, the symbol was the first look at Robert Pattinson in The Batman via the first teaser. Matt Reeves presents one of the most unique symbols, one that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The lack of a bat head and ears is reminiscent of Batman's first appearance in the comics.
It is also a symbol that can be detached and used as a weapon. That is something that has never been done before but at the same time, the design for the symbol retains the qualities of a modern Batman logo. Instead of a direct translation, the symbol is still unique to Pattinson's world.