If there’s one thing you can count on with Batman, it's that you know he will arrive at the scene in style. Having no actual superpowers, Batman has always needed a method of transportation from crime scene to crime scene, and we can't expect him to pull up in a Hyundai, now can we? And so, the Batmobile was created, with the first appearance of the Caped Crusader's whip being introduced in Detective Comics #27 in 1939, and the iconic name being coined in issue #48.
Since then, DC Comics has blessed us with various versions of the vehicle over the years, which raises an obvious question: Which is the best Batmobile?
There have been good, great, and, let's just say, not-so-impressive versions of the car, but we at Complex have compiled a ranking of the on-screen Batmobiles that we can be most proud of. Ranked from ok to best, we explore which Batmobile is the illest in the Caped Crusader's on-screen history.
10.1949 Mercury Convertible (Batman Serials 1949)
This entry ranks last on the countdown because this Batmobile is actually a car, a regular old Mercury Convertible. While possibly a fashionable vehicle at the time, it doesn't offer much to help Batman's war on crime. No gadgets, no jet turbine, but hey, at least the top goes down, which would be ideal for those hot summer Gotham nights.
9.Batfleck Mobile (Batman Vs Superman, The Justice League)
When it became Ben Affleck’s turn to don the suit and cowl, much like his predecessors before him, he needed a new Batmobile. First appearing in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Affleck's car was similar to the Tumbler from the Christopher Nolan films — but much more streamlined. While this Batmobile was smaller than the Tumbler, it featured additional gadgets and appeared to travel at much higher speeds.
8.The Rocksteady Studios Batmobile (Arkham Video Game Series)
Yes, we know that this Batmobile is notorious for its use in repetitive missions in 2015's Batman: Arkham Knight video game. But, c'mon, this design is way too sick not to be mentioned. Similar to the Batfleck Batmobile, this iteration featured a slim body but incorporated off-road wheels, 180-degree steering, and a multitude of anti-lethal deterrents, which were dope enough to earn it a spot on the list.
However, this car seemed more like a means to an end in this universe. Admittedly, the best times of the game were spent outside of the vehicle. But the design itself is fire and should be acknowledged.
7.The Chevy Camaro Mobile (The Batman)
A heavily supped-up muscle car, this Batmobile was ideal for a Batman that was just starting to cut his teeth in Gotham. With a sleek design, armored plating, and a jet propulsion system, this Batmobile was really cool to look at.
Unfortunately, despite its excellent design, we don't see it much in The Batman and what it's capable of. But the scene where Pattinson chases The Penguin throughout the streets in Gotham showcases why Batman chose this as his preferred form of transportation. As far as the car's design goes, this Batmobile will no doubt be improved as his career progresses in 2026's The Batman 2.
6.The Jaguar D-Type Batmobile (Batman And Robin)
After Val Kilmer's one-and-done turn as the Caped Crusader, George Clooney was cast as the replacement. Naturally, the new casting called for a new Batmobile. Not only did
the new car have to contribute to Clooney’s new design properly, but it also had to sell A LOT of toys. Enter 1997's Batman and Robin.
Critics didn't like Batman and Robin. At all.However, this Batmobile was one of the film's bright spots. The Batman and Robin Batmobile was a must-have for any toy collection after it appeared on the big screen. The car featured a calm neon blue exterior, cartoonish large batwings, and an open cockpit — which didn't offer much in terms of protection. But this Batmobile was the perfect fit for the multicolored fever dreams that were the Schumacher Batman films.
5.The Tumbler (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight)
A more realistic approach to Batman called for a Batmobile that resembled something that could exist in the real world. A vast departure from the Batmobiles we knew before then, such as the Burton Batmobiles or the one from the hit animated series, this iteration was simply a tank. Sacrificing a sleeker design for a fortress-on-wheels look, this Batmobile emphasized practicality and function over superfluous dressings, such as wings or neon spoilers. If you were a criminal in Gotham, you would be just as terrified seeing The Tumbler coming for you as its driver.
4.The Toyetic Batmobile (Batman Forever)
Vastly under appreciated in its original run, Batman Forever has only recently started to get its flowers, with many fans claiming that Val Kilmer was one of their favorite Batmen. After Michael Keaton finished his run, director Joel Schumacher took the franchise in a different direction, thus altering the infamous Keaton-mobile. A distinct design, yet not significantly dissimilar from its predecessor, this Batmobile featured gadgets, a jet turbine, a sleeker and more aerodynamic shape, and a new wheel design that could turn sideways for quick getaways. Plus this Batmobile just looked really cool with the neon lighting and illuminated rims.
3.The Shayne Poindexter Batmobile (Batman The Animated Series)
The lasting impact this Batmobile had on the fandom at large was very significant. Tailor-made for the Bruce Timm Batman universe, a dark, streamlined, and very foreboding Batmobile, this only added to the various ways Batman instilled fear in the criminals of Gotham City. This Batmobile had all the bells and whistles you would expect in a modern iteration, but the unique design of this car was so beloved that it became a highly sought-after Christmas gift when it hit toy store shelves. Clearly influenced by muscle cars, this will go down as one of the coolest Batmobiles in Batman history.
2.1966 Lincoln Futura Concept Car (Batman 1966)
A legendary car that still lasts the test of time. Despite its goofy surroundings, the Batmobile from the hit 1966 live-action series Batman featuring Adam West and Burt Ward has become iconic and is what a lot of people think of when you bring up the term “Batmobile”. A much more stylized car, this was the first live-action iteration of The Batmobile, whereas previously it had been a series of regular vehicles. The Red and black exterior, two pod seats, jet turbine engine, and bat wing-like fins solidify this as one of the greatest Batmobiles of all time that jumps off the page of a golden era comic book onto your screen.
1.The Keatonmobile (Batman 1989)
The tried-and-true classic that set the bar for years to come, the Batmobile from Tim Burton's Batman might be the best in terms of design, function, and impact. With a much darker take on the caped crusader than we had seen up until that point, Michael Keaton’s Batman needed a car that complemented his new suit design, and this was very much so an extension of the man behind the cowl. Hundreds of gadgets like disc projectiles, bomb launchers, a grappling hook, and an option to cover the car entirely in armor, this Batmobile ushered in a new era of how we should take Batman MUCH more seriously. Yes, the vehicle may not have been able to go very fast in real life, but let’s suspend our imaginations for a bit, shall we?