Batman is far from the most flashy of superheroes. Unlike Green Lantern or the Flash who like to joke and have fun even when working, Batman takes everything seriously — perhaps even too seriously as his life attitude suggests. As a result, when he puts on his suit, he does so as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Though he may not suit up with the flair that some other heroes do, the Batman films' creators know very well that Bruce Wayne putting on a suit symbolizes his transformation into Gotham's protector. Thus, they've paid a lot of attention to this sequence over the years, as the following moments display.
6 Batman (1989): Revealing The Secret
In the now-famous Tim Burton movie, where Michael Keaton portrayed the caped crusader, Bruce Wayne putting on his Batman suit is a major moment. The soundtrack intensifies when the compartment where Bruce keeps his suit opens, and the iconic outfit is revealed to the world.
A series of detailed shots follow. Bruce puts on the utility belt, he shows his Batman symbol on his chest, and finally he lifts his head and proudly showcases himself as Batman. Keaton's blue eyes slowly come into focus as the soundtrack continues to highlight the scene.
5 Batman Returns (1992): Coming Home
The second Michael Keaton Batman film is similar to other sequels. It offers more villains, more action, and more Batman suits. The suit-up scene reveals that Bruce keeps multiple Batman suits in one location. The door to them opens while the soundtrack plays, and Bruce marches in with determination to pick one Batman suit from a whole series of identical suits. He also grabs his iconic mask and a pair of boots.
The next time the audience sees him, he's already dressed and ready to dive into the action. This scene is a clever nod to the fact that Bruce Wayne is a billionaire. As such, he can afford multiple versions of his suit.
4 Batman Forever (1995): Fast, Fast!
Batman Forever might not have been the best Batman movie, but it did have some strong moments. One of these was when Bruce Wayne, this time played by Val Kilmer, put on his suit. It's fast and efficient as well as effective. Bruce puts on his gloves, his iconic cape swishes, he clicks his belt shut. A detail of the bat symbol on his chest follows, just like in the 1989 film. Finally, he takes his equally iconic weapon, a Batarang.
Bruce picks up further pieces of equipment that he uses in his fight against crime. Once he does, he's ready for action. Interestingly, in contrast to the above-mentioned suit-up scenes, the camera doesn't show Bruce's face while he's putting on his suit. Instead, it focuses on the suit itself and Bruce's choice of weapons, emphasizing his status as a superhero.
3 Batman And Robin (1997): Twice More, With Feeling
Batman and Robin ended up being the film that killed Batman on the big screen for almost a decade. George Clooney, who portrayed the titular superhero, even apologized for making the film at one point. Nevertheless, it did also include a scene in which Batman suits up to fight crime. But this time, he's not alone, as Robin does the same.
They put on their gloves, show off the symbols on their chests, click the belts shut, put on their masks, pick their weapons, and are ready to go into action. What's more, a bonus, surprise scene follows with Batgirl doing the same. The scene's composition proves that Batman is no longer flying solo as he once did. It's unfortunate that the scene also puts a lot of emphasis on the heroes' other bodily attributes, such as their, ahem, rear ends.
2 Batman (1966): Merrily We Dress
The Batman movie from 1966 had an entirely different mood than the newer films do. Rather than dark and gritty, it was a cheerful and relaxed movie that felt familiar to those who grew up reading the older Batman comics. The scene starts in a typical humorous fashion when Robin and Batman promptly head off to the Batcave.
They slide down the poles that take them to the Batcave, and by the time they land on their feet again, Bruce and Dick are already dressed as their superhero alter-egos. They jump into the Batmobile and drive off to the rescue to fight their enemies. The scene is fast and funny, especially considering the voice-over that makes it look pleasantly over the top in classic, campy, old-fashioned superhero style.
1 Batman Begins (2005): Dark, And Urgent
The Christopher Nolan trilogy offered its own spin of the iconic superhero and his adventures. The films were fast-paced and dark, and Batman's suit-up scene fits this tone well. Batman knows he's needed in the city, so he wastes no time putting on his suit.
In a series of fast shots, the audience sees him put on his gloves, click his belt, and pick up the Batarang as well as other equipment. In the next moment, Batman is flying, moving forward fast through Gotham. That's how the viewers know that action and fighting are about to come. The drive of the film fits well the fact that it was made in the 21st century, amidst the rise of rapid action films that wasted no time when it came to storytelling.