BATMAN: Looking Back At Ben Affleck's Best Moments As The Dark Knight 10 Years After He Was First Cast

On August 22, 2013, Ben Affleck was cast as the DC Extended Universe's Batman. It's been a rocky ride for the actor since then but there were some unforgettable moments during his stint as the Dark Knight!

By JoshWilding - Aug 23, 2023 12:08 PM EST

Filed Under: Batman vs. Superman

Yesterday marked 10 years since Ben Affleck was cast in the then-untitled Man of Steel sequel, later dubbed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The actor would go on to appear in Suicide Squad and two versions of Justice League, with all but the Snyder Cut being critically panned movies that fell short of meeting box office expectations. As a result, it was no great surprise when Affleck chose to walk away from the DC Extended Universe and Warner Bros.

We never got to see his version of The Batman, but there was some renewed hope when the actor shot cameos for The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Alas, with a reboot looming, DC Studios is now looking for a new Dark Knight to join Robert Pattinson's Elseworlds hero.

While Affleck's time as Batman was definitely rocky for him as an actor, there's no denying that he got a lot of great moments in the DCEU. To see a selection of our favourites a decade on from when he was first cast, you just need to hit the "Next" button below.

8. Running Into Danger

When we first met Ben Affleck's Batman, it was as Bruce Wayne. In a superb sequence showing us Superman's battle with General Zod from a very different perspective, Bruce raced through the streets of Metropolis in order to get to his employees in Wayne Enterprises.

It ultimately proves to be for nought when the building collapses and he's left fishing bodies from the rubble.

This did a great job of introducing us to the DCEU's Batman and at least offered some insight into why the Caped Crusader would later feel that the best way to deal with Superman would be to permanently put him down.

7. Beating Superman

Say what you will about Batman v Superman, but watching Bruce utilise any number of gadgets in order to give him an advantage over the Man of Steel was definitely satisfying.

Watching him kick Clark Kent's ass was also a treat for any fan of Gotham City's protector.

Whether it was him smashing a sink over Superman's head or swinging him around that abandoned warehouse like the Krytonian was nothing, Batman proved here that despite being just a man, he really is one of the world's best fighters...and even more formidable than Supes when they're put on a level playing field.

6. Warehouse Battle

Snyder's decision to have Batman kill remains divisive, though he's not the first big screen Caped Crusader to do so. Still, we can't deny how insanely badass it was seeing the Dark Knight totally decimate these guys in a fight scene that felt like it was torn straight out of the pages of the comics.

Batman is always supposed to be the biggest badass in the room and that was most definitely on show here.

No matter how Affleck is remembered as the character moving forward, it's only right for this to be remembered as one of the best Batman fight scenes to ever grace the big screen.

5. Inspiring The Flash

The less said about Affleck's goofy turn as Batman in The Flash, the better. However, this Justice League scene emphasises what a great hero the character can be when he's given the chance to show different sides of himself.

When Barry Allen is left overwhelmed by the responsibility suddenly on his shoulders, Batman takes him to one side and explains why saving just one person can make all the difference, inspiring the Scarlet Speedster to be the hero the Dark Knight knows he can be.

It's a great mentor/mentee moment and one that teased real potential for their unlikely, and now short-lived, friendship.

4. Lex Luthor Confrontation

A lengthier version of this scene was part of the extended cut of Batman v Superman but regardless of which one you watched first, there's no getting around the fact this frightening version of the Dark Knight was a joy to watch on screen.

After Lex Luthor orchestrated the death of Superman, Batman got his revenge on the villain by telling him that he would be sent to Arkham Asylum.

However, in doing so, the audience got a better understanding of how the Caped Crusader strikes fear into Gotham City's criminals. With even Lex quaking in his boots, this was a major humiliation for the villain and a showcase for Affleck's Batman.

3. Snyder Cut Return

This isn't a specific moment as such but more a reference to the fact Affleck returned to a role he'd walked away from simply to help Snyder fulfil his vision.

Zack Snyder's Justice League was released in 2021 and featured new Batman scenes both in the Knightmare future (we'll get to that) and in an epilogue that saw Bruce meet Martian Manhunter. It was cool, but even cooler was the actor's decision to reprise the role in this way.

It seemingly energised Afflect, hence why he signed up for The Flash, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and potentially more. Unfortunately, the DC Studios reboot means his time as Batman has once again ended.

2. Knightmare Batman

batman-knightmare-justice-league-zack-snyder-1255435-copy

Taking aside how confusing and out of place this all felt, the Knightmare sequences were undeniably ambitious, intriguing, and a great way to place Batman in unique surroundings.

While we've since learned of plans to explore this post-apocalyptic future in Snyder's scrapped Justice League sequels, witnessing the hero battle these Parademons in a post-apocalyptic future was badass and a blast from start to finish.

As noted, the Snyder Cut elaborated on this world and finally gave us a scene featuring Affleck's Batman and Jared Leto's Joker (which was, admittedly, pretty weird).

1. THE Suit

Snyder was heavily inspired by the work of Frank Miller when it came to bringing Batman to the big screen and getting to see the armoured suit from The Dark Knight Returns in live-action was a definite highlight.

It's also probably not something we'll see again for a very long time (especially given how different Matt Reeves' approach to Bruce Wayne has been thus far).

The filmmaker did an incredible job of bringing the suit to life and watching Affleck kick Superman's butt while wearing it was unbelievably cool. DC Studios' The Brave and the Bold will struggle to ever top this comic-accurate design, that's for sure!

JUSTICE LEAGUE Director Zack Snyder Reveals Why He Set Out To Avoid Pure Propaganda Of Superman And Batman

Recommended For You:

BATMAN V SUPERMAN Director Zack Snyder Reveals Crazy Reason MPA Originally Gave The Movie An R-Rating

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

82 Comments

1 2 3

FireandBlood - 8/23/2023, 12:09 PM

What a shit Batman

AmazingFILMporg - 8/23/2023, 12:52 PM

@PlusUltra -

Remember the whole *RIP Marvel* after the comic on trailer?😂

I member😅

FireandBlood - 8/23/2023, 1:04 PM

@AmazingFILMporg -

Fogs - 8/23/2023, 1:16 PM

@PlusUltra - Nah.

Snyder made many many manymanymany mistakes. But Batfleck wasn't one of those.

The man was a great bruce and bats. Wish he had good material to work with.

RogerWilco - 8/23/2023, 1:32 PM

@PlusUltra -

TheHumanSpider2 - 8/23/2023, 2:00 PM

@PlusUltra - Get the hell outta here

TheLobster - 8/23/2023, 6:12 PM

@PlusUltra - lol FOH he was great

philinterrupted - 8/23/2023, 6:15 PM

@AmazingFILMporg -

EgoEgor - 8/23/2023, 12:16 PM

#1 is him branding criminals so they'd get killed in prison.

I think he was definitely his best in the Flash film. Snyder gets the aesthetics of the character but not the morality unfortunately.

kylo0607 - 8/23/2023, 1:03 PM

@EgoEgor - How does Snyder get the aesthetics of the character with THIS?

Fat Fleck.

Snyder's Batman looked like he ate 5 foot long subway melts a day, for 6 months.

Fogs - 8/23/2023, 1:13 PM

@kylo0607 - Which is a shame cause in production photos he had way less padding. It was great.

RogerWilco - 8/23/2023, 1:45 PM

@kylo0607 - the real reason affleck left.....

The1st - 8/23/2023, 2:00 PM

@kylo0607 - That was drunk Fleck

FireandBlood - 8/23/2023, 2:35 PM

@kylo0607 -

TheLobster - 8/23/2023, 6:14 PM

@EgoEgor - he wasn’t branding them to get them killed. He was branding them and Lex was pulling strings to get those criminals killed so the narrative became that Batman was sentencing those criminals to death in order to provoke Superman to do something.

TheLobster - 8/23/2023, 6:15 PM

@kylo0607 - he doesn’t look fat and I’m sure he’s way more ripped than you lol

He looks like a brawler which is very much an incarnation of Batman in the comics. If you want skinny Batman then don’t worry you already got it - every. Single. Time. Lmao

EgoEgor - 8/24/2023, 3:22 AM

@TheLobster - That makes even less sense.

The way the wrote Lex has got to me one of the most cartoonish villain plans ever. Really, really forced.

TheLobster - 8/24/2023, 12:54 PM

@EgoEgor - how does that make less sense? Lex was trying to make Batman look like a madman executioner to Superman. He wanted both sides to look at the other with contempt.

Also; if you think that’s one of the most cartoonish villain plans then you must not watch a lot of comic book movies lol

EgoEgor - 8/24/2023, 2:02 PM

@TheLobster - dude. It's cartoonist.
1. Lex overeagerly introduces Bruce and Clark at a party, for absolutely no reason(should've been a red flag for a smart person like Bruce).
2. He sends letters to Bruce about a guy that was paralyzed by the Zod and superman fight, blows up the guy in court with Superman and sends a last letter to push Bruce over the edge into hating Superman.
3. Lex has Bat branded criminals killed in prison in the hopes that Clark will investigate Batman and see him as a killer, instead of Clark doing his job and writing a sports column like Perry tells him to.
4. He holds Marta Kent hostage to force Superman to fight Batman, who now hates Superman( at least Lex hopes), and hopes they don't talk at all but punch earth into oblivion.
5. After discovering kryptonite, he uses Zods finger prints and his own blood to create Doomsday so that he'd kill Superman if Batman doesn't.

And that's just from all I can remember, Lex was cartoonish as [frick].

PC04 - 8/23/2023, 12:17 PM

The Warehouse fight scene is THE BEST Batman has ever been on screen. So well done.

BillyBatson1000 - 8/23/2023, 12:27 PM

@PC04 - HAVE to agree. Fast, fluid, visceral. Made it look like someone could REALLY kick ass in a Batsuit - for the first time.

PC04 - 8/23/2023, 12:46 PM

@BillyBatson1000 - How do you feel about Pattinson? I did enjoy The Batman and how it leaned into the NOIR aesthetic and a Batman who uses his detective skills.

Fogs - 8/23/2023, 1:14 PM

@PC04 - Agreed.

Easily the best Batman action scene.

The1st - 8/23/2023, 2:00 PM

@PC04 - Yeah, so Arkhamesque

BillyBatson1000 - 8/23/2023, 2:27 PM

@PC04 - I think he's a much rounder actor than he's generally credited, taking smaller indie roles alongside bigger pay-deals. He looked focused and imposing in (his era's version of) the suit. The combat scenes were handled well; close range (Filipino) martial arts. I hope we see more of that in the sequel and more Bruce Wayne/Alfred, Bruce Wayne/Gordon relationship expansion. I don't think he's the type of actor who will 'hang around' if Warner Bros fails to get its act together - not even for more money/production control. Thing is, right now, I don't trust Warner Bros to do anything.

BillyBatson1000 - 8/23/2023, 2:29 PM

@PC04 - Also: to see Batman actually using his detective skills was a joy.

TheLobster - 8/23/2023, 6:15 PM

@PC04 - 1000000% agree

Doomsday8888 - 8/23/2023, 12:18 PM

Man they should've followed the Flashpoint comicbook storyline more closely for the Flash movie, could've had great moments with Jeffrey Dean Morgan as BaThomas but no...they had to use a gimmick so they pulled BatKeaton and then even Clooney.

Then again...instead of having a solo Bataffleck movie they went for discount Nolan-man, truly...WB deserves everthing that's coming at them.

P.S. Watched the 2 Ahsoka episodes, really enjoyed it, maybe there's hope for SW after all...

Th3Batman - 8/23/2023, 12:44 PM

@Doomsday8888 - "Instead of having a solo Bataffleck movie they went for discount Nolan-man."

Affleck was the one who walked away from the project, not WB. They made a lot of mistakes in the past, but that movie not moving forward wasn't their decision, it was Affleck's.

GhostDog - 8/23/2023, 12:19 PM

An awful take on Batman. The fact that not only does he kill a lot of people, but he never faces justice for it. He just starts going again like nothing happened. The guy is committing premeditated murder by proxy in the opening scene and gunning down goons all over the place. He kills so many people. And when he “regains his hope,” he doesn’t ever even dwell on the fact that he committed the very crimes he rose to stop and isn’t seeing justice for it.

Affleck went along with Snyder's vision but I always wonder what he would've done untethered to that. The suit was amazing though, I'll give Zack and his crew that.

The1st - 8/23/2023, 2:03 PM

@GhostDog - True, GCPD should very much have been going after him. If the league was a deterrent then we're getting into all kinds of Cadmus level JL/JLU stuff.

GhostDog - 8/23/2023, 2:06 PM

@The1st - Eiling would've been on Batman's ass

dracula - 8/23/2023, 12:21 PM

You know I love Batman. He has been my favorite superhero for as long as I can possibly remember

But the idea that he can beat Superman in a straight up fight is bullshit

He was weakened in Dark Knight Returns

In most comic fights, Superman is usually being controlled by a villain

Cant think of a time he has faced a full powered and in his right mind Superman

What makes the BVS fight even worst is that he just uses brute force.

When he fights superman under any circumstances he fights smarter not harder.

Doomsday8888 - 8/23/2023, 12:23 PM

@dracula
Of course Batman can't beat Superman, but that makes for a boring ass story, so that's why you see the lil guy defeating God but otherwise, Batman doesn't stand a f*cking chance.

P.S. Superman was weakened by Kryptonite in BvS as well, i dunno how you missed that, lel.

Toonstrack - 8/23/2023, 12:56 PM

@Doomsday8888 - i mean the setup and execution just sucked throughout. People would forgive the fight more if everything else and it wss better.

AmySabadini - 8/23/2023, 12:22 PM

Ben Affleck was a great Batman and an even better Bruce Wayne. We were lucky to have him and we'll be very lucky if anyone bests his portrayal in the future.

Forthas - 8/23/2023, 12:23 PM

One of the first and worst mistakes DC films made and have never recovered from it!

Forthas - 8/23/2023, 12:28 PM

I understand why Batman v Superman did not make a billion dollars. After the magnificence that was Christian Bale's Batman, the studio chose to replace him with a “Punisher wannabe” who could barely fit in his suit and for some reason had super human strength. Everything Batman is NOT!

ModHaterSLADE - 8/23/2023, 12:31 PM

Actually liked his take on older Batman.

bobevanz - 8/23/2023, 12:41 PM

Blue Beetle was right, this Batman was absolutely a fascist lol. Too much of a good thing does exist