2024 saw the release of several major Batmanrelated properties, and while not all of them were successful, they revealed an exciting truth about the Batman sub-franchise going forward. While it's hard to imagine Batman as anything other than one of Warner Bros. and DC's most profitable IPs these days, that only recently became the case. 1989 Batman and 2008 The Dark Knight cemented Batman as one of the most popular and marketable characters in superhero fiction, but 2024 proved that the Batman myths have surprising potential outside of Batman film adaptations.
Of course, there have been a plethora of successful Batman adaptations outside the realm of live-action films. 1992 Batman: The Animated Series and the first four Arkham video games are considered one of the most successful superhero properties in the animation and video game mediums, respectively. More recently, however, they are Batman adaptations that do not focus on Batman himself, but rather on his supporting characters and villains, with 2019 Clown being one of the most notable examples.
2024 saw several releases that owe everything to Batman
It's a great time for Batman fans, even without the Dark Knight
In 2024, two of DC Comics' biggest film adaptations were based on the Batman myths, but weren't live-action Batman-centric films himself. In September, The penguin – which was derived from the 2022 Matt Reeves film Batman – was released, serving as an interquel between the first film and the next Batman – Part II. October saw the launch of Joker: Folie à Deuxthe 2019 sequel Clown. Both properties, notably, do not include any appearances from Batman himself. There was also a new addition to Tim Burton's Batman timeline, thanks to Batman: Resurrectionlaunch.
Batman Fandom is much richer for not limiting releases
Multiple timelines and diverse projects are not a bad thing
Notably, Joker: Folie à Deux and The penguin it did not receive the same reception among critics and viewers. While The penguin was acclaimed for its characterization of the titular villain and its realistic portrayal of Gotham City's underworld, Folie à Deux It was divisive to the point that it was considered by many to be a critical failure. However, both properties proved that the Batman franchise can go far beyond live action Batman film adaptations.
2024 also saw the continued expansion of a Tim Burton Batman timeline, with Batman '89: Echoes continuation of the comic series and the release of John Jackson Miller Batman: Resurrectionwhich bridges the gap between the 1989 film and Batman Returns. The first season of Batman: Caped Crusader it also premiered in 2024 and received largely positive reception. With these launches – and the announcement of a Clayface film set in the new DC Universe – 2024 showed how creatively malleable the Batman myth really is.
Upcoming DC film releases