Image via Complex Original
7.
Ever since Matt Reeves’ The Batman hit theaters on March 4, people are already dying to know where Robert Pattinson falls within the rankings of the best actors to take on the iconic superhero role. We’ve already judged the actors based on their performances; now we are joining a conversation with a ranking that focuses solely on a Batman topic [Ed note: Battopic?] that sprung up with the release of The Batman: Which Batman has the best chin? Before Pattinson, other big Hollywood names put on the Batman cowl including Christian Bale, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Ben Affleck, and Val Kilmer. Since the superhero’s mask covers the top half of his face to conceal his identity when he’s fighting crime, the actor’s chin, their mouth, and how they speak, are essential parts of nailing the Batman role.
Last year, a TikTok user pointed out in a now-viral video that some actors, like Jennifer Coolidge, Owen Wilson, and Keira Knightley, heavily rely on “mouth acting” in their performances, and that is also the case for anyone who takes on the Batman role. The chin is the apex of our lower jaw and it often determines how attractive a person is or isn’t. It is so significant that chin implants and chin surgery have become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures among men and women. Vulture tapped Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Ashkan Ghavami last year to rank the Batmen chins. The surgeon judged them based on their appearances and how popular they are among his patients. But this ranking is based entirely on my personal preferences. I went back and watched some of the most popular Batman iterations to help me decide which actor’s chin gave the best performance. It wasn’t easy and the results even surprised me, a longtime fan of Clooney and Affleck’s chins. Let’s take a look back at the history of Batchins, and see which actor comes out on top.
6.Christian Bale got the voice right
Movies: Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Actors who take on superhero roles are not often celebrated for their acting chops, but Bale changed all of that when he took on the role in Christopher Nolan’s famed Dark Knight trilogy. His performance was so convincing and one of the best parts was the actor’s outstanding choice to make the caped crusader’s voice deeper and lower than his version of Bruce Wayne. The mask Bale was given also seemed to be more covered up than the ones used in previous movies, adding to his mystery. Unfortunately, the mask overpowers the Oscar winner’s face and there’s nothing noteworthy about the areas that are still visible. There are no specific features that would set Bale apart from anyone else wearing a Batman costume. There’s nothing wrong with his chin, per se, but there’s also nothing memorable about it. No offense.
5.Michael Keaton’s laugh lines saved him
Movies: Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992)
Most of Keaton’s appeal and handsomeness comes from his deep blue eyes, his unique eyebrows, and the top half of his face. The cowl he wore in 1989’s Batman obviously covers those features, and almost makes him unrecognizable behind the mask, which is ultimately the point of it all. His chin is not unique in any way, though, and it doesn’t really grab your attention. (He does have some of the best lips on this list, but that’s a conversation for another day.) While most people, especially in Hollywood, would opt to Botox away their laugh lines, Keaton’s work in his favor in these films. His laugh lines actually accentuate his mouth and lips in a stunning way and make the lower half of his face appear more masculine, which is ideal for a manly superhero role. His chin may not have been as memorable as others, but his lips definitely helped, and he might even look better when he’s wearing the mask.
4.Ben Affleck has a fascinating chin
Movies: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017)
Ben Affleck might not have gotten his solo Batman movie (yet!) but he made an impact when he starred in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, and 2017’s Justice League. While there are some who weren’t happy with Zack Snyder’s choice to cast him, others have ranked the Oscar winner pretty high up on their best Batman of all time lists. Snyder shared the first look at Batfleck in May 2014, and even in the dark black-and-white shot, his chin truly thrived. Surprisingly, his chin has him ranked only halfway through this list.
There is so much to be said about Affleck’s chin. The actor looks incredible with a full beard, but nothing beats his cleanly shaven look that makes the deep dimple at the center of his chin stand out. (The photos of him on the red carpet at the Gigli premiere in 2003 still live rent-free in my head.) Regardless of how anyone feels about cleft chins (It’s a shame John Travolta never put on a Batman cowl for the people), I happen to find them adorable, especially on Affleck. When he was younger, his features were a bit sharper and his cheeks were less full, which made his chin look more defined than it does now. Still, the mask highlighted some of his best features. His lips are a bit on the thinner side, but they suit him, and so does the slight stubble he sported in the movies. With all of that said, it really seemed like the Deep Water actor would rank higher up on this list, but even his immaculate chin couldn’t beat out the competition.
3.George Clooney is so classically handsome
Movie: Batman & Robin (1997)
Batman & Robin was released in 1997 and it might easily be one of the least liked Batman films ever—and let’s be honest, fans and critics weren’t wrong on that one. We’re not here to judge the movie or the acting, though, we’re here to talk about George Clooney’s chin. The actor stepped into Gotham after charming millions of women as Dr. Doug Ross in ER for years, so we already knew he had the looks to pull this off. He was handsome, that was a given, but did the Batman cowl help or hurt his appearance? Some might say an older, more seasoned Clooney would make for a great Bruce Wayne now—but I disagree. Looks-wise, he was perfect for the role then, and was so easy on the eyes. He was young, yet his salt and pepper hair made him look more refined, especially in the scenes where he wore a tux. As Batman though, the way the mask showcases his chin makes it look a bit rounder than it really is.
The actor has a perfectly square chin that protrudes forward slightly, making it one of his strongest and most attractive features. The mask overwhelmed his face, however, and made his chin appear simply average. It is important to note that Clooney looks more like the cartoon character in Batman: The Animated Series than the other actors on this list, so he might be the most spot-on in terms of casting. I’m just glad we got to see him in a black turtleneck at one point in the film because he looked damn good in it, and so did his chin. (Honorable mention to Chris O’Donnell, who played Robin in this film. His nearly perfect jawline and chin would’ve placed him high on this list if he was cast as the lead instead.)
2.Robert Pattinson has an incredible bone structure
Movie: The Batman (2022)
We already knew Robert Pattinson had incredible features when he played a moody vampire named Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies. But this? This is next level. He is a grown man in The Batman, and the babyface we saw when he played Cedric Diggory in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is long gone. He hasn’t aged one bit though and is somehow more attractive now than when he was a teen heartthrob.
I’ll be honest: The main reason I went to watch The Batman in theaters was to see him wearing the mask. And during his first scene, I got my money’s worth. Pattinson’s position on this list has more to do with his sharper-than-a-knife jawline than his chin, though. He has a broad, square chin, with a faint dimple in the center, but it is his chiseled bone structure and perfectly carved cheeks that really set the stage for the Batman mask to flourish on him the way it does in the movie. He doesn’t do much for me as Bruce Wayne, since he’s playing a more emo version of his predecessors, which is unfortunate because Pattinson’s smile is his most charming feature. The actor has certainly exceeded expectations in every aspect with this character, and his chin definitely helped.
1.Val Kilmer’s lips helped him win
Movie: Batman Forever (1995)
Clooney was brought on to take over the role as the Dark Knight in Batman & Robin after Val Kilmer and the film’s director, Joel Schumacher, reportedly had issues working together on the Batman Forever set. Kilmer also had a scheduling conflict with another film at the time, so we only got to see him play Batman in one movie. It’s such a shame because the world really deserved to have at least one more shot at seeing Kilmer’s face killing it in that mask. Clooney might be one of Hollywood’s most desirable men but he honestly has nothing on Kilmer. I watched Batman Forever for the first time as an adult in preparation for this list, and it was surprising how quickly it dawned on me that Kilmer would be No. 1.
Any time the man appeared on the screen, I couldn’t look away. He was just as pleasant to look at as Bruce Wayne as he was as Batman. The Top Gun star has the typical Hollywood, blond hair, blue-eyed look that made men movie stars once upon a time. Even if that’s not your type, you can’t deny Kilmer’s appeal. But it’s his lips in the Batman mask that really did it for me. His pout is fuller and has a more flattering shape than any of the other actors, and the mask only further accentuates it. His lips are so flattering that even Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman) compliments them in the movie. His entire face is so symmetrical and the cowl somehow made him even more attractive. He has an incredible jawline that leads into a perfectly, narrow-shaped chin that’s boyish yet manly. Kilmer’s version of Batman is overall the best looking out of the bunch, and his chin beats out some of the best chins Hollywood has ever seen. Sorry to those men, but Kilmer takes home the trophy for the best Batman chin.