To anyone who has ever enjoyed any kind of Batman movie, it’s clear that Gotham City is a living, breathing entity, and arguably part of the long-lasting appeal of Batman, as much as the other characters in these stories. A dark, crime-ridden city, Gotham has been captured vividly by different artists over the years. Now that there have been multiple iterations of a cinematic Batman across 20 years (not to mention the animated movies), audiences have been treated to even more unique versions of Gotham City.
How do these creatives create the Gotham City aesthetic? It’s a blend of cinematography, sound design, and the characterization of Gotham’s residents. Each version has been wildly different while retaining the same core characteristics. Here’s every Batman movie’s version of Gotham, ranked.
6 Zack Snyder’s Gotham from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Across Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, very little of Zack Snyder’s Gotham is actually presented. In this case, the dark-blue cinematography of the former film acts as a stand-in for the more careful and measured explorations of Gotham that exist in the rest of these films. This Gotham aesthetic is expectedly vague, reflecting the willful decision of the creators to not set a lot of the action in Gotham itself. Snyder’s vision of the city is moody and ridden with crime, having very few unique characteristics. However, Snyder is known for his uniquely stylized films, and the shots that are set in Gotham evoke a radiant darkness that feels reminiscent of 20th century noir movies.
5 Christopher Nolan’s Gotham from The Dark Knight Trilogy
Christopher Nolan’s Gotham is Chicago. To be precise, The Dark Knight’s version of Gotham is Chicago. Not only were the first two Nolan Batman films shot in Chicago, The Dark Knight’s intentional styling of Gotham is meant to be as close to real life as possible. Wide, sweeping shots of this Gotham’s skyline situate the story — and, by extension, its tone and themes — in real-life America. Although it fits well with Nolan’s vision for a Batman story, it’s a shame that Gotham feels even less visually distinct than the previous film in the trilogy. Batman Begins had a number of notable visual wonders like The Narrows, a district of Gotham characterized by creeping shadows, orange halogen lights, and the constant presence of industrial smoke. Following such a spectacle, it was disappointing to see such a striking rendition of Gotham undone in favor of a slightly altered Chicago.
4 Todd Phillips' Gotham from Joker
Joker’s Gotham is an alternate reality vision of New York, where the film was shot. This Gotham capitalizes on the source material’s focus on urban decay, focusing on run-down and deteriorating interior spaces. Viewers get the sense that this city, with its failing social programs and increasing economic inequality, is a city in deep trouble. The color scheme, featuring a deep teal and orange color grade, gives the impression that the story is set vaguely sometime in the past. The most unique aspect of this Gotham is its inhabitants, nearly all of whom seem to be unceasingly cruel and apathetic to their fellow residents. Judging by the film’s final moments, Gotham’s populace has been completely left behind and alienated. Otherwise, Todd Phillips' version of Gotham has little to offer as far as a visually distinct aesthetic.
3 Chris McKay's Gotham from The Lego Batman Movie
The Lego Batman Movie’s Gotham is unique for the confluence of creative effects that created this animated city. Thanks to the film’s lighthearted tone, audiences get to see the city in a new light — literally. Gotham in the daylight is a completely different beast, and, thanks to the animators behind the film, is incredibly visually distinct. Unlike many of the live-action iterations of the city, this version isn’t beholden to a consistent city layout — as a result, this Gotham feels more like a fantasy world. Though it has little in common with its live-action counterparts, the film’s unique sense of humor and lighthearted tone allow this Gotham to feel like its own entity.
2 Matt Reeves’ Gotham from The Batman
Thanks to its nearly three-hour runtime, viewers get to see a lot of Matt Reeves’ Gotham in The Batman. Unlike Joker, Gotham’s visual presentation in this film is central to creating its unique identity. The Gotham in this world feels true to its comic book roots, thanks to the visual flair and focus on dark, unsettling hallways, looming architecture, and dim interior spaces. The film characterizes a different, more disdainful relationship between the caped crusader and his city. This Batman story is explicitly focused on the consequences of the character’s rage and quest for vengeance, themes that are heightened thanks to the film’s inspired visual contrast between black darkness and red-orange light. This Gotham feels alive and vibrant despite the heavy darkness in the film’s cinematography.
1 Tim Burton’s Gotham from Batman
The Gotham featured in 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman Returns is in a class of its own, a vision realized by director Tim Burton, whose aspirations were the direct opposite of Nolan’s Chicago facsimile. Characterized by impossibly tall art-deco buildings and the overwhelming advance of dispassionate industry, this Gotham is a true gothic dystopia. Architectural styles clash inside these scenes of streets arranged according to the tunes of chaos and discord — this is a city with little planning logic, and seems genuinely unfit for human habitation. Anton Furst, renowned production designer, designed this hellscape to appear as alienating and inhuman as possible. This version of Gotham has a kind of discordant harmony, fit for the heightened reality of a crazed masked vigilante fighting the forces of evil by night.