--- title: "The Batman" year: 2022 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-batman" fi1m_score: 74 critics_score: 73 critics_reviews: 21 published: "2026-09-19T11:40:41.532802+00:00" updated: "2026-09-19T11:40:42.014746+00:00" region: "US" 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." --- # The Batman (2022) Directed by Matt Reeves · 2h 57m · MPA PG-13 · Crime, Mystery, Thriller **Fi1m score: 74** · Critics 73 from 21 reviews *In a sentence:* Three hours of rain, and the only man in Gotham without an umbrella is the one dressed as a bat > Matt Reeves has made a Batman film that is mainly a detective story, and for two hours it is a good one: wet, patient, frightening and superbly photographed. The third hour trades the mystery for a spectacle it did not need. ## Synopsis It is Halloween night in Gotham, and Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) is in his second year as the Batman, a figure the city’s criminals fear and its police do not trust. The mayor is murdered in his own home and the killer, who signs himself the Riddler (Paul Dano), leaves a greeting card addressed to the Batman and a puzzle that points at the city’s leaders. Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) brings the Batman onto the case over his colleagues’ objections. The clues lead to a nightclub run by Oz (Colin Farrell) for the crime boss Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), where a waitress, Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz), has reasons of her own to be watching. At Wayne Tower, Alfred (Andy Serkis) worries about the boy he raised. ## Review Matt Reeves opens with a murder on Halloween night and spends most of the next 177 minutes on the investigation. That is the novelty. Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) is two years into the costume, narrates a journal in voiceover, and has little interest in being Bruce Wayne; the parents are dead and nobody says the word origin. When Gotham’s mayor is killed in his own home and a greeting card addressed to the Batman is left with the body, Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) walks a man in a cape onto the crime scene, and the uniformed officers stare at him as though a bear had wandered in. Reeves and his co-writer Peter Craig then let the riddles do the plotting for the better part of two hours. It is beautifully done for a long time. Greig Fraser shoots Gotham in rain and sodium orange and keeps the Batman dark until something lights him: in one corridor the only light is gunfire, so the fight arrives as a series of flashes with a man inside them. The Batmobile is introduced as two headlamps in a garage and later comes through a wall of fire, and Fraser turns the camera over so we watch the aftermath upside down. James Chinlund’s Gotham is a wet, brown, overbuilt city of overhead rail and stained stone, and Wayne Tower a mansion nobody has dusted in years. Michael Giacchino gives the Batman a four-note theme that lands like footsteps on a stair, and the film keeps returning to Nirvana’s “Something in the Way”, which is a bit much and works anyway. Pattinson plays Bruce as a sullen rich boy who has found a use for his misery, and he is at his best in the mask, saying little in a low, unshowy voice while the eyeliner does the rest. Wright’s Gordon is the film’s grown-up, patient and tired, and their scenes together, two men walking through evidence, are what keeps the detective idea upright. Paul Dano’s Riddler is a plastic mask and a breathing pattern for most of the film, and his video messages unsettle in a way this kind of film rarely manages. Colin Farrell, under so much prosthetic that we did not recognise him, plays Oz as a mid-level crook enjoying himself. Zoë Kravitz’s Selina Kyle is practical and cross and the most alive person on screen. John Turturro’s Carmine Falcone never raises his voice, and is the most frightening thing in the film. We were gripped for the first hour. The corridor fight had us leaning forward, and the first Riddler video, a man in a mask breathing at a camera, made us want to look away and not quite manage it. It has been a while since a comic-book film frightened us, and this one did, for a while. Then it goes on. Editors Tyler Nelson and William Hoy pace the first two hours with real patience, letting clues sit, and then the last forty minutes turn into the film the first two had politely declined to be: a big set piece, a crowd, a rescue, a speech. The mystery leads somewhere smaller than its setup promised; the riddles were better than their answer. Peter Sarsgaard’s district attorney gets one strong, sweaty scene and is gone. Jayme Lawson’s Bella Reál, running for mayor, is on more posters than in scenes. By the third hour we were checking how long was left, and we resented it, because the first hour had earned better. Against Reeves’s own work this sits with his two *Planet of the Apes* films (2014 and 2017): sombre, handsome, serious about a silly premise and slow. Against earlier Batman films, it is the one most interested in the detective work, and the one that owes most to David Fincher; [*Zodiac*](https://film.one/film/zodiac) (2007) is all over the procedural half, and the Riddler’s home videos would not disgrace [*Se7en*](https://film.one/film/se7en) (1995). Christopher Nolan’s [*The Dark Knight*](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight) (2008) had a tighter plot and a better villain to argue with. This one has a better city. Worth your evening if you like detective stories and can sit through a long one. Watch it with the lights off and the volume up, and mind the certificate: it is a 15, the violence is mostly in the dark, and it is loud. Jacqueline Durran has made the cape look heavy and the suit look like something you could bleed in, and for two hours the film believes her. Then, like every Batman film before it, it remembers it has to blow something up. *Fi1m score 74, published 19 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics come away impressed. The reviews agree that Matt Reeves has made a detective story first and a superhero film second: a grim, noir-inflected procedural about corruption in Gotham, with Se7en and Zodiac named more than once as touchstones. Robert Pattinson’s Batman is the most consistently praised element, described as haunted, terse and sorrowful, and Paul Dano’s Riddler and Colin Farrell draw approving notices. The look of the city, the cinematography and the score are singled out repeatedly. The reservations are about length and the finish. Even admiring critics note that nearly three hours is a lot, and several find the final act falls back on the spectacle the rest of the film avoids. The spread is wide. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw finds the third act tiresome and the ending feeble; Sight and Sound’s Kim Newman thinks it plays like an extended introduction, and The New Yorker’s Richard Brody finds little beneath Pattinson’s performance. ### Reviews we read (21) - **Screen Daily** (90/100, inferred): An absorbing, visually arresting epic crime saga that justifies its nearly three-hour length with a moodier, more mythic portrait than Nolan's trilogy, strong performances and noirish detective elements. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-batman-review/5167862.article) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (90/100, inferred): The film is a grim but gripping brooding noir detective story that folds superhero elements into an intricately plotted tale of institutional corruption. It singles out Robert Pattinson's magnetic, intense performance as a sorrowful Batman for particular praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/batman-robert-pattinson-1235100390/) - **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (85/100, inferred): The critic finds this a brilliant, wacky yet woke Batman reboot that trusts audiences and delivers an epic for our times with superb performances, especially from Pattinson as a spoilt, emotionally damaged Bruce Wayne and Dano as the intense Riddler. She singles out the homage-filled set pieces and the way it recontextualizes the character amid Gotham's corruption. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-batman-movie-review-robert-pattinson-zoe-kravitz-paul-dano-b984673.html) - **Total Film**, Jordan Farley (85/100, inferred): The critic hails it as an outstanding return to form and a gripping, grimy detective story that delivers exactly the fresh start needed, centering a convincing Pattinson Batman in a realistic, noirish Gotham. She singles out the brutal fight scenes, atmospheric cinematography, and faithful detective focus for praise while noting the long runtime and busy final act as minor drawbacks. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-batman-review/) - **Variety**, Peter Debruge (85/100, inferred): Reeves delivers a grounded, brutal, nearly three-hour film noir that ranks among the best of the genre by dismantling superhero tropes while incorporating noir, horror and strong performances from Pattinson and others. [Read](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/the-batman-review-robert-pattinson-matt-reeves-1235188970/) - **Empire**, John Nugent (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it a gripping, beautifully shot neo-noir take that makes the character feel new through evolution, with an excellent Gotham, strong Pattinson performance, and chilling Dano as Riddler. She singles out the Fincher-esque detective plot and visual craft as standing out amid the runtime. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-batman/) - **The i Paper**, Christina Newland (75/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as sinister and disturbing, a noirish mystery with an impressive, terse Pattinson as Batman and strong supporting turns, plus thrilling action sequences. She singles out the compelling early mystery and atmosphere but notes it loses punch in the over-extended second half with padding and a tepid conclusion. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/the-batman-review-robert-pattinson-zoe-kravitz-1489293) - **The Times**, Tom Shone (★★★★☆): The review praises Robert Pattinson as a captivating grunge Batman in a darkly splendid, fully imaginative reworking of the Detective Comics era, lifted by muscular performances. It notes the film may not top The Dark Knight but delivers a leisurely, noir-infused take. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/robert-pattinson-batman-review-h9vk2sptk) - **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (70/100, inferred): The Batman is sad, scary, and even a little sexy, a dark procedural that sustains tension through its long runtime without becoming boring. It singles out the austere, immersive production design, cinematography, and long-take action sequences for praise. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-robert-pattinson-in-the-batman.html) - **Little White Lies**, Adam Woodward (4/3/3): Reeves recalibrates the character for a new audience in a noirish thriller that succeeds in spreading its wings in fun ways; it is too long but a neatly self-contained blockbuster with a strong Pattinson turn. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-batman) - **Radio Times**, Huw Fullerton (3/5): A gorgeous-looking film with striking style, photography and score that creates a strong myth around its lead but struggles as an overlong and underwhelming mystery that doesn't fully justify its length or ambitions. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/batman-review-robert-pattinson/) - **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the pervasive darkness and three-hour length a slog through familiar crime and corruption territory but notes glimmers of humanism and looks forward to the next chapter after a mixed experience. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/movies/the-batman-review.html) - **Sight and Sound**, Kim Newman (50/100, inferred): The film is a muted early-career superhero story with a narrow emotional register, impressive in its detective focus and Pattinson's haunted performance but feeling like an extended introduction rather than a fully realized tale. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/batman-muted-early-career-superhero-story-with-narrow-emotional-register) - **The New Yorker**, Richard Brody (50/100, inferred): The film is a baseline artistic achievement that is sit-through-able for much of its runtime with clever direction but ultimately lacks complex mental life or substance beyond Pattinson's performance. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/the-batman-reviewed-eh-its-fine) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (30/100, inferred): The critic finds Matt Reeves’ film spectacular and well-cast but notes that an intriguing saga of corruption devolves into a tiresome third act. A classy turn from Pattinson is highlighted amid complaints about the overlong runtime and feeble non-ending. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/feb/28/the-batman-review-robert-pattinson) - **Den of Geek**, David Crow (4.5/5): The critic calls it a magnificent achievement and true noir crime epic with a richly realized Gotham, broken Bruce Wayne, and standout performances from Pattinson and Kravitz. Some issues are noted with a tacked-on final act of spectacle and certain characters getting lost. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-batman-review/) - **/Film**, Chris Evangelista (9/10): The critic calls it a tremendous, sprawling epic that mixes mystery, noir, horror and romance, and wonders if it may be the best Batman movie yet. They single out its innovative feel despite clear influences like Se7en and Zodiac. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/780391/the-batman-review-the-dark-knight-returns-in-what-may-be-the-best-bat-movie-yet/) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (85/100, inferred): The film is a dark, gripping detective mystery that treats Batman like a classic noir sleuth. Reeves crafts an atmospheric, compelling three-hour ride with strong performances and standout action sequences. [Read](https://deadline.com/video/the-batman-review-robert-pattinson-andy-serkis-paul-dano-colin-farrell-zoe-kravitz/) - **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (B+): The critic calls it the best Batman film since The Dark Knight for its focus on Gotham's corruption and shadows as a living, breathing city, with strong performances from the entire cast (especially Pattinson, Kravitz, and Farrell), gorgeous cinematography, and a powerful score. They note it occasionally falls back on expected superhero tropes in the third act. [Read](https://collider.com/the-batman-review-best-since-dark-knight/) - **The Ringer**, Miles Surrey (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film for finally realizing Batman on screen as the world's greatest detective in a hard-boiled procedural mystery with Fincher-esque elements, making it feel fresh and immersive despite its length and PG-13 constraints. They highlight the obsessive detective work, grungy atmosphere, and faithfulness to the character's core as its biggest strengths. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2022/03/04/movies/the-batman-movie-review-detective-matt-reeves-robert-pattinson) - **The Wrap**, Todd Gilchrist (80/100, inferred): Pattinson brings complex humanity to an even darker Knight in Reeves' somber, Seven-inspired take. The lengthy film delivers philosophical nuance and impressive action while risking a self-contained story over franchise setup. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-batman-review-robert-pattinson-zoe-kravitz/) ## Details - **Director:** Matt Reeves - **Director:** Matt Reeves - **Writer:** Peter Craig, Matt Reeves - **Cinematography:** Greig Fraser - **Editor:** William Hoy, Tyler Nelson - **Music:** Michael Giacchino - **Production design:** James Chinlund - **Costume design:** Jacqueline Durran - **Producer:** Dylan Clark, Matt Reeves - **Cast:** Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / The Batman; Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle; Jeffrey Wright as Lt. James Gordon; Colin Farrell as Oz / The Penguin; Paul Dano as The Riddler; John Turturro as Carmine Falcone; Andy Serkis as Alfred; Peter Sarsgaard as District Attorney Gil Colson - **Runtime:** 2h 57m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 4 March 2022 - **Genres:** Crime, Mystery, Thriller - **Budget:** $185 million - **Box office:** $773 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc7_mH2PWHs ## Where to watch in the US - HBO Max: streaming, uhd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd, leaving 2026-10-18 - Hulu: add-on, hd - Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $5.99, uhd - Apple TV: rent $5.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd - Apple TV: buy $14.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-19.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Zodiac* (2007), Fi1m 91: The film this one keeps looking at: filing cabinets, rain, and a killer who writes in. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/zodiac.md) - *Chinatown* (1974), Fi1m 93: The corruption runs all the way to the water supply here too, and nobody wears a cape. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/chinatown.md) - *Memories of Murder* (2003), Fi1m 91: Bong Joon-ho’s rural detectives get the mud, the frustration and the dead ends right. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/memories-of-murder.md) - *Batman: Mask of the Phantasm* (1993), Fi1m 82: An animated Batman, sad and detecting, done in a fraction of the time. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/batman-mask-of-the-phantasm.md) - *The Long Good Friday* (1980), Fi1m 88: Bob Hoskins’s London gangster learns his city is rotten in under two hours. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-long-good-friday.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-batman