It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a large fortune and a strong jaw must Batman.
My Personal Ranking of the live action Batman incarnations based on their Jawlines.
No. 9
Lewis Wilson - Batman [Theatrical Serial] (1943)
Lewis Wilson was, of course the first on-screen portrayal of the Caped Crusader, so there's something that must be said for that, regardless of the fact that his story has little to do with the comics and his dialogue, being written in the middle of WWII was inevitably cringe regarding the Japanese villain of the story. War time propaganda notwithstanding, this serial did introduce many aspects of now standard Batman lore which were canonized in the comics following its release, such as the Batcave, and the characterization of Alfred we know and love.
But I'm not here to talk about any of that. I'm here to talk about Lewis Wilson's jaw. At the time his casting was praised for accuracy, even if his performance was found wanting. He looked like Bruce Wayne-- but for my money he just didn't have much going for him where it mattered. Since the jaw is the only exposed area of Batman's face, it counts for it to be distinctive and Wilson's just isn't.
No. 8
Robert Lowery - The New Adventures of Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder [Theatrical Serial] (1949)
Budget wise Robert Lowery got the short end of the stick when he literally took up the mantle from Lewis Wilson for the 1949 sequel serial, but he did benefit from a major reduction in the racial slurs in his script.
Jaw wise, Lowery isnt much of an improvement on Wilson. It was incredibly difficult for me to find a good picture but I'm willing to give lowery the edge.
No. 7
Christian Bale - Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
To be honest this is the only thing that's always majorly bothered me about Christian Bale's Batman. Perhaps the narrowness of his chin was why they felt the need to overcompensate so hard with the Batman Voice.
No. 6
Michael Keaton - Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992)
I love Michael Keaton. He's one of the broodier Bruce's, but he manages to carry that bit of whimsy that sets this Era apart. Crazy to think that these films were the first dark on-screen take on Batman when you compare it with the modern dark and gritty obsession.
Keaton's jaw isn't the strongest but like the movies and his performance you have to give credit where credit is due--it is distinctive.
No. 5
Ben Affleck - Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), The Justice League (2017)
I've never seen either of these films, so I can't pass judgment on Ben Affleck's turn in the role, but then I've always considered Justice League Batman sort of different to regular Gotham flavored Batman, so I don't hold him to the same standards. Except in one area.
Not gonna lie, that's a formidable chin. He's got the dimple and everything. The rest of the actual JAW leaves more to be desired though, but we're definitely getting there.
No. 4
George Clooney - Batman & Robin (1997)
I'm not a George Clooney fan in general. Quite apart from the hatefulness of this movie (and I DO hate it SO very much, for its wasted potential more than anything), I didn't really care for Clooney IN it. Perhaps it's because he's George Clooney (TM) but I find his range of performance very, very limited. Although he had some excellent scenes with Alfred, the writing everywhere else was not helping him, at all.
The one area where he can't be faulted, is of course the one I'm here to discuss. Now, No. 4 is pretty low, all things considered for a chin as renowned and impressive as Clooney's, but he is so low because that's not Bruce Wayne's jaw: it's George Clooney's.
No. 3
Val Kilmer - Batman Forever (1995)
Now here's where we get into some real quality. What? No my love for Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne didn't influence my ranking. Perish the thought. Though I will say he did end up landing higher on this list than I thought he would.
What I really like about Kilmer's jaw is the clean lines. No distinct dimple on the chin, but that's made up for by the straight cut of the jaw as a whole. It's a bit softer, (and so, so pretty), but very reminiscent of Adam West. Which makes sense, given the influence the 60's TV show had on Batman Forever.
No. 2
Adam West - Batman (1966-1968)
Speaking of straight cut jaws, get a look at that. Adam West's legacy looms heavily over every subsequent Batman, and I think that's with good reason. The mandible knows no distinctions in tone, it is a constant so no matter how far removed your Bruce Wayne is from the Camp and Circumstance of 1966, there's one standard by which all Batmen can be judged, and that my friends is the square cut gem pictured above.
No. 1
Robert Pattinson - The BATMAN (2022)
One that certainly measures up to that standard, in my opinion THE ONE that even surpasses it, is Robert Pattinson's recent outing in the famous cape and cowl. Everything here is running in Battinson's favor: his cowl is the only one designed to give full exposure from corner to corner and I would like to kiss the costume designer because there's so much to be displayed here. What angles! Really God gave us a gift when he was sketching out RPatts. We've got the prominent chin, with dimple but not one deep enough to distract from the sharp angles of that jawline. If I was Selina Kyle I'd be afraid of cutting my hand.
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