--- title: "Batman Begins: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/batman-begins/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/batman-begins" critics_score: 73 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Batman Begins (2005): what the critics said Critics' score 73 from 15 reviews: 11 positive, 2 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics like it, and they like it for the same reason: Nolan takes the character seriously. The reviews credit him with pulling Batman back from the camp of the previous films and building Bruce Wayne as a person before a costume, with a Gotham that looks like a real, corrupt city rather than a set. Christian Bale’s brooding, inward performance is the most frequently praised single element, with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Cillian Murphy named often among the supporting cast. The reservations are about weight. Even admirers find it long and talky, and some fault the cluttered structure, with too many mentors and villains, and murky fight scenes. The spread is wide: two reviews are hostile, with The Independent calling it leaden and overloaded and The Times finding it tedious, both objecting to the very solemnity and focus on trauma that others admire. Variety sits between, respecting the craft while doubting the fun. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2005. The critic praises the film for finally penetrating the dark and troubled depths of the Batman legend with persuasive character development and emphasis on story over high-tech action. He singles out the atmospheric direction, Bale's inward performance as Wayne, and the grounded, shadowy production design. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/batman-begins-2005) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2005. The critic celebrates the film as the first to usher Batman into the kingdom of movie myth through Nolan's serious treatment of the material and focus on Bruce Wayne's humanity. She singles out Bale's superbly menacing performance and the director's rescue of the character from previous campy incarnations. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/style/a-superheros-journey-into-kingdom-of-myth.html) ## Time Out — CT Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 May 2011. Nolan delivers one of the most stunning superhero films yet made by re-imagining Batman as a psychologically grounded figure in a believable, corrupt Gotham. The film excels through its careful origin story, strong ensemble cast including Bale, Caine and Oldman, and sophisticated handling of the source material, with only minor issues in some fight scenes. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/batman-begins) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). The critic praises Nolan's radically different, grittier take on the character, emphasizing psychological depth, a realistic Gotham, strong performances (especially Bale), and effective action sequences that help DC compete with Marvel adaptations. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/batman-begins-review/) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2005. The critic views Nolan's film as a logical and grounded reboot that treats Bruce Wayne's transformation into Batman as a serious response to surrounding darkness. They highlight the strong ensemble performances, particularly Bale and Caine, and the film's ability to blend mythic elements with human-scale storytelling and real-world relevance. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/batman-begins-1798200814) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2005. The critic praises Nolan for bringing Batman back to its dark, serious comic-book roots with a plausible, psychologically grounded story and meticulous craft in a big-budget production. They single out the realistic world-building, locations, miniatures, and Bale's committed performance as the brooding hero. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jun-14-et-batman14-story.html) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2005. The critic finds the film a big, bold and dark reset for the franchise with an elaborate new backstory for Batman, crediting Nolan for restoring depth after previous missteps. It singles out the Asian martial arts influence for bolstering the hero's credibility and Cillian Murphy's sinister performance as a standout element. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2005/jun/17/1) ## Sight and Sound — Edward Lawrenson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2005. Nolan brings a distinctive stamp to the Batman origin story with psychological depth and assured direction, though the film runs too long. The critic praises the robust set pieces, psychological shading of Bruce Wayne, and subtle handling of themes like revenge and justice. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/2401) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 2005. The review calls the film ambitious and well-made but overly dark, talky, and serious, focusing on psychology and backstory at the expense of excitement or broad appeal. It singles out the lavish production, Bale's performance, and supporting cast while noting it may not inspire repeat viewings or appeal much to kids. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2005/film/awards/batman-begins-1200525369/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 2005. The critic finds Nolan's reboot a somber, atmospheric take on the character that gets under the cape and cowl with its pessimistic tone and real-world tech details, but faults the cluttered three-story structure, weak villains, and poorly staged fight scenes. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/batman-begins/) ## The Independent — Jonathan Romney Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 11 June 2005. The critic views the film as a leaden, overloaded mish-mash that prioritizes solemnity and trauma over comic-book energy or fun. They single out the excessive length, multiple mentors and villains, and Christian Bale's neurotic performance for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/batman-begins-12a-225528.html) ## The Times — Cosmo Landesman Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 19 June 2005. The critic finds the film tedious and overly focused on Bruce Wayne's trauma and psychology at the expense of excitement or mythic grandeur. They single out the realistic approach and liberal messaging for complaint, arguing it leaves viewers with ordinary characters and a man in a silly costume. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/film-far-from-a-gripping-yarn-jv7p22x0zdt) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2012. The critic hails Nolan's film as the one that successfully revived the Batman franchise after its previous low point, grounding the ridiculous concept in a realistic world and human motivations. It singles out Christian Bale's nuanced, three-layered performance as Bruce Wayne for making the character feel relatable and the story's post-9/11 resonance with themes of fear, terrorism, and urban corruption. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/batman-begins-lookbackreview/) ## Digital Spy — Daniel Saney Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2005. Christopher Nolan has performed a miracle in resurrecting the Batman character and franchise with the darkest, most complex and most interesting interpretation yet. The critic singles out Christian Bale's intense, psychologically dark portrayal of Bruce Wayne for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a21872/batman-begins-review/) ## Eye for Film — Scott Macdonald Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 July 2005. The critic praises Nolan's dark, grounded take on the origin story, highlighting Christian Bale's portrayal of Batman and the strong supporting cast as standout elements. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/batman-begins-film-review-by-scott-macdonald) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/batman-begins.md