DC Films: Evolution Of The Batsuit

For something that is so iconic, Batman’s batsuit has gone through quite a metamorphosis in its translation to film, and that’s not even counting the comic iterations.

With the debut of Zack Snyder’s newest version of the costume, we thought we’d take a look at how the character’s suit has changed over time, from his humble beginnings of the Batman serials of the 1940’s to the superhero throwdown that many never thought they’d see in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Batman Serials (1943 – 1949)

You have to start somewhere, and for Batman, his debut on cinema screens was in the Batman and Robin serial starring Robert Lowery.

The suit is made out of all fabric, so the iconic shots of Batman’s cape twisting in the wind cinematically aren’t possible here, and the mask always looks as if its about to fall over the rest of his face. Still, it’s impressive for the time, and even without all the flair of later incarnations, audiences knew immediately who it was.

Batman The Movie (1966)

The 1966 series inspired new legions of Batman fans, and for those who went to see the movie in theaters were greeted with a costume direct from the television show.

No significant improvements or changes were made, as it still sported the light gray and dark blue comic-like color scheme. Though really, the costume fit the show and film’s tone so perfectly, as it would be hard to envision Batman running through town with that giant bomb in the Nolan batsuit.

Batman (1989)

Tim Burton’s Gotham opus starred Michael Keaton as the dark knight, and the suit continues to be one of the most iconic.

The suit is jet black from head to toe, with the only source of color coming from Batman’s Bat symbol and utility belt. The process of creating the suit was quite complicated, as it involved creating 28 versions along with 25 capes and 6 cowls. It is also notorious for not being very flexible, so when Batman needs to turn and look in another direction, Keaton had to turn his whole body.

Batman Returns (1992)

When Keaton and Burton returned to the franchise, they implemented a few improvments to the batsuit design from the original film.

The costume was tweaked to give off a sleeker look overall, resembling something more akin to body armor than a bodysuit. The torso has square lines outlining the abs, and the chestplate is bulkier and more pronouned.

Batman Forever (1995)

Batman Forever begins the trend of multiple suits in an installment (along with the maligned bat nipples), but he begins in a suit that closer parallels the 1989 version than the one in Batman Returns. The belt is more gold than yellow, and the costume itself appears more like a body suit than armor.

The second suit is bulkier and features modern lines and trimmings, especially in the cowl. It has a lighter black hue and a larger bat symbol that is embedded into the suit itself.

Batman And Robin (1997)

What would end up being Joel Schumacher’s last film in the franchise, Batman and Robin again featured multiple batsuits, and the first one again featured a more bodysuit like look, with ab lines and of course the famous bat nipples. 

The symbol was actually all black here, but in the second suit, which featured a sort of “ice” like design, the symbol is bigger and is bright silver, with silver highlights all throughout the costume. Though really, not even the best costume in the world could’ve saved this film.

Batman Begins (2005)

Batman Begins was a rebirth for the franchise under new director Christopher Nolan and actor Christian Bale, and a film rebirth requires a new batsuit.

The team behind the film finally accomplished a fully turning cowl for Bale to wear, which allowed the actor to just turn his head in scenes as opposed to his entire body. The cape was also tweaked, and this time was made out of parachute nylon, which allowed the studio to recreate that cape flow so commonly seen in the comics.

Bale’s batsuit also has a wide bat symbol embedded into the suit, and a bulkier belt that mixes yellow and gold.

Batman The Dark Knight (2008)

Similar to what Bruce Wayne would do, Nolan and company refined the look of the suit for the sequel and is much more military-influenced than previous iterations.

The suit is also sleeker and less bulky, and features a symbol that is wider than the first, and is indented into the armor itself. The belt is also thinner than the original.

Batman Dark Knight Rises (2012)

For Nolan’s third entry in his Batman franchise, the suit didn’t change too much, with some subtle tweaks in the cowl and in the lines on the suit.

Otherwise, if it works why mess with it.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

When DC decided to rebuild their universe from scratch, a new approach for their Batman was necessary, as now actor Ben Affleck was inhabiting the role.

The result is a look reminiscent of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, with the costume appearing more like fabric but heavily armored. The color scheme is much grayer in tone, with a giant bat symbol in dark black in the center of his chest.

He’s also the most brutal version of the character since Batman first appeared on film.

Justice League (2017)

Director Zack Synder just gave fans a glimpse at Batman’s newest look, a costume that he will wear at some point during the upcoming Justice League.

It’s called his tactical batsuit, and it appears much more rugged in appearance than his other looks. As you can see in the photo, it has enhanced goggles, which will presumably be needed to drive a new vehicle somewhere down the line.

You can read more about the suit here.

Well, that’s our list, but make sure to let us know which look is your favorite in the comments!