There have been many different actors to dawn the cowl of the Batman over the years. One of the most fervent debates comic-book movie fans have on the internet is which Batman is best. While some maintain that classics like Adam West and Michael Keaton were the definitive takes on the character, others prefer the more recent versions played by Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson. However, the one Batman that undoubtedly has the most vocal fan base of them all, is the version of the character played by Ben Affleck.

Affleck was initially cast as the Caped Crusader nearly a decade ago, in August of 2013. He stepped into the role as Warner Bros. began developing their own interconnected universe of DC superhero films. Although this universe, either the DCEU or the Snyderverse, depending on who you ask, failed to replicate the same financial success as Marvel’s, Affleck has still appeared as Batman in more films than any other actor that has worn the mask. He’s still going as well, as Affleck is also slated to appear twice more, first in the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in March and then also in The Flash next summer (assuming that movie is still released then). These two appearances will likely serve as Affleck’s final performances in the role, as Keaton will also be returning in The Flash and any solo Batman flicks will likely star Pattinson moving forward.
As audiences gear up for the final year of Batfleck, now is a good time to look back on the decade the actor has spent in the role. Here is a ranked list of Ben Affleck’s appearances as Batman.

4 Suicide Squad (2016)

Warner Bros. Pictures

2016’s Suicide Squad was a bitter disappointment for WB, as many audiences and critics found the film to be a colorful but disorienting mess of a movie. The film does have some excellent sequences that have earned it a bit of a following over the years, but there’s a reason that the movie was largely ignored by the time James Gunn’s quasi-sequel The Suicide Squad was released in 2021. The 2016 film marked the second occasion that fans saw Affleck’s Batman on the big screen after he debuted in Batman v. Superman earlier that year. The film primarily focused on various villains from Batman and the DC universe’s rogues gallery, but the bat does appear briefly in the film on a number of occasions.
Affleck appears in costume as Batman through various flashbacks that establish the characters of Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and The Joker. With Deadshot, he appears in a short scene that sees him apprehending Deadshot while the sharpshooter was out shopping with his daughter. As for Harley Quinn and The Joker, there is a bit of a more extended sequence of Batman chasing the two of them in the Batmobile before Mr. J escapes and Batman saves Harley from drowning. His final appearance in the film comes in a post-credit scene that sees Bruce Wayne meeting Amanda Waller and gathering information on the group of meta-humans that he will bring together to form the Justice League.
Overall, while it was a nice bit of interconnectivity to have Batman in 2016’s Suicide Squad, his appearances in the film are fairly forgettable. They don’t really add much to the film, nor do they develop Batman beyond what audiences already knew of him from Batman v. Superman. Props to WB and David Ayer for working the character into the movie, but at the end of the day it doesn’t leave much of an impression.
Related: Zack Snyder Reveals His Second Batman Pick if Ben Affleck Said No

3 Justice League (2017)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Although the 2017 version of Justice League bears director Zack Snyder’s name, in reality the film was mostly directed and molded by Joss Whedon, which has resulted in many nicknaming the film “Josstice League.” Well, the “Josstice League,” is a real mixed bag when it comes to Affleck’s Batman. While his version of the character is arguably the lead in the movie, with the entire plot centering around him bringing the team together to fight Steppenwolf and revive Superman, the characterization of Batman in the film is incredibly bland. While watching it, it’s apparent that Affleck had mentally checked out of the role during the extensive reshoots, and who can blame him? All indications show that the production of the film turned into a nightmare after Snyder left and Whedon came on board.
The way that Batman is portrayed in the 2017 Justice League is just not that interesting. He’s turned into a generic “cool guy” that is just spewing half-baked dialogue and cheesy jokes the whole time. The only reason this outing is ranked above Suicide Squad is that it featured some pretty decent action sequences; it brought back the classic Batman theme from Tim Burton’s films, and there’s one conversation he has with the Flash that is excellent. The conversation in question comes when Barry Allen is doubting his ability to be a hero and Batman encourages him by saving “Just save one person” and then the rest will come. As bad as the movie may be, that was a great scene.

2 Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

HBO Max

Alright, now we’re at the point in the list that consists of genuinely great performances from Affleck in the role. At this point, everybody is well aware that the Zack Snyder cut of Justice League that was released on HBO Max in 2021 is significantly better than the 2017 version. Affleck’s Batman is one of the main reasons for that. There’s so much more of an edge to the character in this film, and it’s much more in line tonally with how the character was established in Batman v. Superman. Much of this version of the movie was filmed at a point in which Affleck was still all-in on the character and that really shows on screen. Whereas in the 2017 version it felt like it was Affleck dressed up as Batman, in Zack Snyder’s Justice League the actor really disappears into the role and embodies this version of Bruce Wayne/Batman.
He’s a character driven by guilt, grief, and desperation. He’s not forming the Justice League just for the fun of it; he’s doing it because he knows that he can’t stop Steppenwolf alone. This version of Batman is so much more developed and well-realized than that of the 2017 film, and he is given much more meaningful material. Rather than being the main character by default, he’s thoroughly part of the ensemble while also being an active driver in the plot. Seeing this performance and iteration of the Batman in Justice League all the years after the initial 2017 release really hammers home the lost potential of the Snyderverse and this particular take on the character.
Related: How Zack Snyder’s Justice League Gave Us the Best Batman Arc We Could’ve Hoped For

1 Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Warner Bros. Pictures

This is where it all started. 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was where DC fans around the world were first introduced to Affleck’s Batman, and it was the first time the character had been on-screen since Bale’s take on the character. What Affleck brought to Bruce Wayne/Batman in this movie was incredibly refreshing and exhilarating. It’s a very different take on Batman than what had been done previously in the Dark Knight trilogy and the various other Batman outings. Affleck’s Batman is much darker, more aggressive, and damaged. Affleck really embraces the character in Batman v. Superman, and the performance he delivers is arguably one of the best anyone has ever been given in the role.
While the overall reception to Batman v. Superman wasn’t super positive, which began the downward spiral that plagued the DCEU in the years following (it’s still a mess if we’re being honest), none of that is the fault of Affleck’s performance. He came on board, committed to the character, and embodied this iteration of Batman better than anyone else could have. Despite some of the story and pacing issues, Affleck’s Batman really stands out as a massive bright spot in the film. Of the all-time great Batman performances, Affleck’s in Batman v. Superman certainly deserves to be in the conversation for the top spot.