Batmanis one of the few superheroes whose roster of villains is strong enough for a multitude of them to have their own dedicated movies and TV shows. Thebest cinematic Batman villainshave all certainly left a big impression on general audiences and DC fans alike, presentingsome of the most compelling characters under the DC umbrella.Knowing this, its no wonder the company has capitalized on The Dark Knight’s rogue’s gallery with various films and series putting them on center stage, with even more to come in the near future.
The different projects focusing on Batman villains do so in a few different ways. Some are intense live-action films that can stand with the best Batman solo movies, whereas others are lighthearted cartoons with an emphasis on comedy above all else.No matter the medium, Batman’s enemies provide no end of entertaining melodrama, helping to fuelrumors of more Batman villain solo moviesblossoming under James Gunn in the upcoming DCU.
Catwoman
Cast
A cosmetics industry employee is murdered after discovering a dangerous secret about an anti-ageing product. However, an Egyptian cat saves her, giving her the power of speed and the senses of an agile feline.
The very first dedicated feature film to revolve around a Batman villain is also by far the most infamously bad, featuring Halle Berry’s wasted talents as the titular Catwoman. Completely scrapping every aspect of Catwoman’s pre-existing comic book origin in favor of brash original ideas,Catwomanreworks Selina Kyle the cat burglar into Patience Phillips, a sensitive artist who is killed in a criminal conspiracy, only to be magically resurrected by a cat goddess to channel various feline powers and personality traits, becoming a wholly original version of Catwoman.
DC Just Confirmed Exactly How Badly Robert Pattinson’s Batman Failed Gotham
The Penguin has confirmed how much Gotham City suffered due to Batman unwittingly helping the Riddler and failing to protect the city in The Batman.
This Catwoman has nothing to do with Batman, but using the famous villainess' title, her solo film technically qualifies as one revolving around one of Bruce Wayne’s nemeses. Just like Catwoman in the comics and many other Batman films,Patience Phillips is more of an anti-hero, definitely acting as a protagonist. With painfully unfunny cat puns, a gaudy costume, its utter contempt for the source material, and the infamous basketball scene,Catwomanhas earned its reputation as one of the worst comic book movies of all time.
Joker
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker is an origin story for Batman’s most iconic villain. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a down-on-his-luck clown who is trying to become a successful stand-up comedian. When things don’t go according to plan, and Arthur feels Gotham is oppressing him and others with mental illness, Arthur sparks a violent revolution within the city.
On the polar opposite side of the spectrum of critical quality for a Batman villain movie oppositeCatwomansits 2019’sJoker.A clear love letter to the great dramas of Martin Scorsese likeTaxi DriverandThe King of Comedy,Jokeris an atmospheric character study following the life of Arthur Fleck.
A lonely failed comedian with a debilitating psychological condition causing him to frequently erupt in bouts of uncontrollable laughter, Fleck gradually morphs into the figurehead of an anarchist movement as his frustrations with society slowly mount and boil over.
While some criticizedJokerfor being a step too derivative of its prestige cinema inspiration, for a movie based on a comic book villain, the level of craft that went into it is truly exceptional.
Joaquin Phoenix’s incredible performance as Joker took home one ofDC’s few Academy Awards,winning the Oscar for Best Actor in 2020. While some criticizedJokerfor being a step too derivative of its prestige cinema inspiration, for a movie based on a comic book villain, the level of craft that went into it is truly exceptional. Interestingly, likeCatwoman, Jokerlargely relies on an original origin for its titular villain, having only a few sprinkles of comic nods throughout its runtime.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips' critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.
The critical and commercial success ofJokermade a sequel a surefire prospect. EnterJoker: Folie à Deux, a continuation of Arthur Fleck’s story that seemingly begins with his incarceration at Arkham Asylum, wherehe meets none other than Lady Gaga’s Lee Quinzel, who goes on to become Harley Quinn.
Notably,Joker: Folie à Deuxwill have a strong musical element, turning Joker and Harley’s chaotic romance into a circus of sight and sound with stageplay aesthetics. Harley Quinn is not only one of the most popular Batman villains ever created, but one of DC’s most popular flagship characters in general, having already been the headlining star of several live-action movies already.
However, it seems as though Lady Gaga’s version of Harley Quinn will ground her in a disturbing truth in the same way Joaquin Phoenix did for the Joker himself in the previous film, presenting a wholly unique iteration of the Clown Prince of Crime’s love interest.It’ll be fascinating to see howJoker: Folie à Deuxdevelops the grounded lore ofJoker’s vision of Gotham.
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad team is made up of villains, captured and kept in a secret prison, and offered reduced sentences if they participate in dangerous missions. In the tradition of continuity within DCEU films, the event comes in the wake of Superman’s death and the seclusion of Batman after the events that occurred in Batman V Superman. Agency head Amanda Waller, played by award-winning actress Viola Davis, is the one striking deals with the inmates of Belle Reve Prison. Heading “Task Force X” is Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag, alongside Will Smith’s Deadshot, Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang, Jay Hernandez’s El Diablo, Adewale Akinnuoye’s Killer Croc, and Adam Beach’s Slipknot. Karen Fukuhara’s Katana also joins the mission to keep Rick safe from the villains. Jared Leto (Joker) and Ben Affleck (Batman) have smaller roles in David Ayer’sSuicide Squad, as does Cara Delevingne’s Enchantress.
WhileJoker: Folie à Deuxwill be the latest live-action incarnation of Harley Quinn, the very first was Margot Robbie’s performance in 2016’sSuicide Squad.The film follows the exploits of the eponymous team of state-mandated villains-turned heroes, spurred into action as Task Force X thanks to compliance-assuring bombs planted in their heads that keep them on-mission.
Other than Harley Quinn, the film featured a whole team composed of DC’s worst scoundrels, including fellow Batman villains like the sniper assassin Deadshot and the ferocious Killer Croc. Sadly,Suicide Squadturned out to be one of theworst films of the DCEU, arguably being the first nail in the coffin of the cinematic DC continuity.
With haphazard cinematography, hasty last-minute editing, awkward cliché-ridden dialogue and hammy performances,there’s a lot to dislike aboutSuicide Squad.If nothing else, the film at least featured Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, who does a good job of embodying the character despite the mess of a story she finds herself in.
The Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad: Released in 2021, The Suicide Squad features supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, and Peacemaker, among others, as they join Task Force X. The team embarks on a mission on the enemy-held island of Corto Maltese under the direction of Amanda Waller in this entry of the DC Extended Universe.
Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn was good enough to feature even more prominently in James Gunn’s second attempt at the concept of the Suicide Squad. This time around, Amanda Waller deploys Task Force X yet again to tackle a clandestine operation on an island nation harboring a terrible secret of the United States government.
Robbie’s Harley Quinn is one of the few returning characters from the 2016 film, marking her third movie appearance alongside the debut of other villains who have tangled with Batman in the comics like Polka Dot Man, Ratcatcher, and King Shark.The Suicide Squadredeems the concept by living up to the promise of a quirky ensemble cast of villainous misfits coming together to do something good.
Which Batman villain would work for a solo movie?
Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker franchise shows the potential that some Batman villains have for solo movies. Two Batman villains will be getting that treatment next, as new reports have claimed that a Bane and Deathstroke movie is in development at DC. The three characters are not the only ones who would work within that format, as other players from Batman’s mythos, like Mr. Freeze and Hush, would be perfect due to their rich backstories and how that shaped the villains they would become in the future. Poison Ivy would also make for an interesting movie lead.
The film’s success was something of a trial run for James Gunn, who has gone on to become the creative lead for the upcoming DCU continuity that will begin withSuperman: Legacy.Hopefully, the quality ofThe Suicide Squadwill be a portent for good things to come.
Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn focuses on Harley Quinn, played by Margot Robbie, as she teams up with Black Canary, Huntress, and Renee Montoya to protect a young girl targeted by crime lord Roman Sionis after she steals a valuable diamond.
After seeing how well Margot Robbie could do as Harley Quinn despite the other failings of 2016’sSuicide Squad,the DCEU sought to give her a more focused solo film of her own. Despite the working title ofBirds of Prey,and the presence of other DC heroines like Huntress and Black Canary, the movie largely plays out as such, being a Harley Quinn story first and foremost.
Here,Harley comes up against fellow Batman villain Black Mask following her traumatic breakup with the Joker.On the whole,Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)is something of anunderrated DC movie, going largely under the radar thanks to its unfortunate theatrical release coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s rare to see a female-led superhero movie, let alone an entire female team, and the spectacular action choreography of the film alone makes it worth watching.
It’s rare to see a female-led superhero movie, let alone an entire female team, and the spectacular action choreography of the film alone makes it worth watching. That being said,Birds of Preywas a letdown in its depiction of certain DC characters, particularly the reduction of comic Batgirl Cassandra Cain into a ragamuffin pickpocket.
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn is a 2019 animated series focusing on the titular character’s evolution after severing ties with the Joker. As she seeks to establish herself as an independent force in Gotham City’s criminal underworld, the film explores her journey toward becoming Gotham’s criminal Queenpin.
Harley Quinn’s popularity doesn’t stop at the live-action movies or comics, as proven by the success of HBO’sHarley Quinnanimated series. Also taking place right after Harley Quinn’s split with The Joker,Harley Quinnfollows Harley’s misadventures navigating life, villainy, and heroismalongside her best friend (and later romantic interest), the plant-based supervillain Poison Ivy.
The cartoon quickly rose through the ranks of HBO’s most on-demand comedy series on the platform, skyrocketing thanks to Harley Quinn’s popularity as a character.Harley Quinntakes place in a hilarious pastiche of the DC universe, with plenty of characters having their personalities altered in pursuit of laughs.
To that end, the show’s unfettered violence andimpressive cast of vocal performers works to its advantage, doling out no end of comedy in between moments of genuine emotional drama. Already four seasons strong,Harley Quinnis set to revive for a fifth season, premiering in November.
Kite Man: Hell Yeah!
Kite Man, along with his partner Golden Glider, ventures into the world of business by opening Noonan’s, a dive bar in Gotham’s underworld, shadowed by Lex Luthor’s Legion of Doom. The couple balances their criminal exploits with managing the bar, where Gotham’s infamous rogues come to unwind. The series, spinning off from “Harley Quinn,” showcases the humorous and chaotic private lives of these villains, filled with absurd heists and personal drama.
One-off seasons like that ofKite Man: Hell Yeah!prove that even the most obscure and silly of Batman’s villains are still compelling enough to be able to carry their own show. A spin-off set in the same universe asHarley Quinn,Kite Man: Hell Yeah!follows the campy flying supervillain in his quest to secure the success of his favorite local bar, a pub named Noonan’s.
At the same time, Darkseid’s arrival on Earth and subsequent interest in the bar makes for some wacky hiccups in Kite Man’s plans.Kite Man was something of a fan favorite after his introduction inHarley Quinnas Poison Ivy’s ex-fiance, and seeing him get a dedicated series was an unexpected, but welcome gift from DC.
Thus far, the single season ofKite Man: Hell Yeah!has managed to dispense with the same black comedy and morbid laughs as its predecessor series, even if it does rely on less iconic DC characters. Theversion of Bane inKite Man: Hell Yeah!also gets some surprisingly hilarious screen time, adding another Batman villain to the series' roster.
The Penguin
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
Not all series that center on Batman villains are necessarily animated, as demonstrated by HBO’s other shining Batman villain project,The Penguin.Taking placein the same Gotham only a week after Matt Reeves’The Batman, The Penguinbrings back Collin Farrell in his heavily-disguised role as Oz Cobb, a.k.a. The Penguin.
While Cobb was something of a minor antagonist in the film,The Penguinexamines his rise to power amid the crumbling infrastructure of Gotham following The Riddler’s devastating terror attack and the death of mafia giant Carmine Falcone. At the time of writing,The Penguinis two episodes in, setting a mostly promising precedent for the series' future legacy.
The Penguin Episode 2: 14 Easter Eggs & DC References
The Penguin episode 2 has several exciting Easter eggs from The Batman alongside references to the original Batman mythos from DC Comics.
While the second episode,Inside Man,has hit a small stumbling block with pacing, the gripping narrative and continued character study ofboth The Penguin himself and the terrifying Sofia Falcone has kept the series enrapturing. More than anything else, getting another glimpse into Matt Reeves' unique vision for a grounded, true-to-life Gotham is well worth the price of admission.
1The Upcoming Bane & Deathstroke Movie
A Rare Dual-Led Feature Film Starring Batman Villains
The most recent development in Batman villain media has been the confirmation of aBane and Deathstroke team-up moviebrewing in the DCU. Having had two live-action movie appearances before,Bane is perhaps the better known of the two supervillains, a mastermind criminal with powers of super strength stemming from his use of a dangerous chemical compound known as Venom.
Meanwhile, the masterclass mercenary Deathstroke has only had a single brief teaser appearanceJustice League, but is also known by his real name, Slade, as the classic antagonist of the 2003Teen Titansseries.Details regarding Bane and Deathstroke’s team-up (If indeed it is a team-up) are still very sparse, with little being confirmed about the film save for its two main characters.
It’s worth noting that the film may have been formulated in the wake of the success ofDeadpool & Wolverineover at the MCU, prompting a DC response featuring a similar anti-hero cast. That being said, the potential for a Bane and Deathstroke movie is endless, and could easily become the bestBatmanvillain movie around.
