Batman Begins (2005)

All Critics (265) | Top Critics (49) | Fresh (239) | Rotten (42) | DVD (57)

Nolan takes an admirable stab at developing a character-driven drama, only to give in to generic action-movie conventions with a blinding, deafening, explosion-laden finale that could have capped off any number of interchangeable Jerry Bruckheimer flicks.

April 14, 2013 Full Review

Christy Lemire

Associated Press

Top Critic

Batman Begins summons up moments of great eloquence and power. If only its cast of characters was as fully inhabited as its turbulent city.

April 14, 2013 Full Review

Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Top Critic

It's not just the birth of Batman we're seeing in this triumphant interpretation, it's also the dawning of Gotham City's age of greed.

September 7, 2011 Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Top Critic

Here's how any great franchise should start: with care, precision and delicately wrought atmosphere.

February 3, 2007 Full Review

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Top Critic

A nonstarter.

May 12, 2006 Full Review | Comments (21)

Ken Tucker

New York Magazine

Top Critic

For all the hype about exploring Batman's damaged psyche, Nolan and Goyer haven't added much beyond a corny opening in which he falls down a well and is attacked by bats.

June 17, 2005 Full Review | Comments (25)

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

If there is one Batman film anyone should see, this is it. It's a superhero film with a dark tone that's very well-written with nothing but incredible actors involved.

July 21, 2012 Full Review

Chris Sawin

Examiner.com

Every so often, it's time to re-boot Batman.

February 18, 2012 Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

It may be too scary intense for younger children, but for everyone else Batman Begins is just about the perfect summer movie.

January 7, 2011 Full Review

Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

A moody and visually stimulating superhero film, Batman Begins sees the Dark Knight finally giving the treatment and respect he deserves, in what can only be described as one of the greatest re-vamps given to an enduring character.

July 7, 2010 Full Review

Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

Drained of its color, the franchise rediscovered its valor, landing the caped crusader his finest motion picture effort to date. And the ending? Oh, that ending.

December 28, 2009 Full Review

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

So much is rich with ingenuity and daring that its constant missteps are exceptionally glaring.

September 26, 2009 Full Review

Gabe Leibowitz

Film and Felt

They finally got it right. Finally.

April 29, 2009 Full Review | Comment (1)

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

A blast of energy that reinvents the Dark Knight for a new generation of film-goers.

March 10, 2009 Full Review

Steve Biodrowski

Cinefantastique

An impressive cinematic renaissance for DC Comics' Dark Knight, and a blockbuster with more intelligence than most.

October 29, 2008 Full Review | Comment (1)

Daniel Etherington

Film4

Sweeping all questions aside, Batman Begins does rekindle the franchise: it will be commercially possible to remake Batman stories with this persona and this set of psychological principles underpinning a new series of films.

October 18, 2008 Full Review | Comment (1)

Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

There has never yet been a Batman story with quite this kind of psychological trauma. If Ingmar Bergman had ever directed a superhero movie, it would have looked quite a bit like this.

July 17, 2008 Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

Smart and entertaining, but also very violent.

July 10, 2008 Full Review

Cynthia Fuchs

Common Sense Media

...creative, energetic, imaginative, involving, and even a little inspiring. (Blu-ray Edition)

July 7, 2008 Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Its edgy tone and dark atmosphere coupled with its comic-book theatrics make it a winning combination for older children and adults alike.

July 7, 2008 Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

• 1. Henri Ducard: You finally learned to do what is necessary.
  2. Batman/Bruce Wayne: I won't kill you, but I don't have to save you
  – Submitted by Rodrigo B (59 days ago)
• 1. Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow: There's nothing to fear, but fear itself!
  – Submitted by Adam F (2 months ago)
• 1. Jim Gordon: I never said thank you.
  2. Batman/Bruce Wayne: And you'll never have to.
  – Submitted by Adam F (2 months ago)
• 1. Henri Ducard: Don't be afraid, Bruce. Come on. Come on. You are just an ordinary man in a cape. That's why you couldn't fight injustice, that's why you can't stop this train
  2. Batman/Bruce Wayne: Who said anything about stopping it?
  3. Henri Ducard: You never learned to mind your surroundings! Have you finally learned to do what is necessary?
  4. Batman/Bruce Wayne: I won't kill you but I don't have to save you.
  – Submitted by Raisul I (2 months ago)
• 1. Batman/Bruce Wayne: You were on the board?
  2. Lucius Fox: When your father ran things, yeah.
  3. Batman/Bruce Wayne: You knew my father?
  4. Lucius Fox: Oh, yeah. Helped him build his train. Ah, here we are. Kevlar utility harness. Gas-powered magnetic grapple gun. The three hundred and fifty pound test monofilament. Wonderful project, your dad's train. Routed it right into Wayne Tower along with the water and power utilities. Kind of made Wayne Tower the unofficial centre of Gotham City. Of course, Earle let it go to rot. Here we are. Nomex survival suit for advanced infantry. Kevlar biweave, reinforced joints.
  – Submitted by Raisul I (2 months ago)
• 1. Batman/Bruce Wayne: Bruce Wayne.
  2. Earle: What makes you think you can decide who's running Wayne Enterprises?
  3. Batman/Bruce Wayne: Well, the fact that I'm the owner.
  4. Earle: What are you talking about? The company went public a week ago.
  5. Batman/Bruce Wayne: And I bought most of the shares - through various charitable foundations, and trusts, and so forth. Look, it's all a bit technical, but the important thing is that my company's future is secure. Right, Mister Fox?
  6. Earle: Right you are, Mister Wayne.
  7. Lucius Fox: Didn't you get the memo?
  – Submitted by Raisul I (2 months ago)