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=== Critical response ===
[[File:Michael Giacchino Sep 2017.jpg|thumb|upright =.8|alt=A picture of Michael Giacchino smiling towards the camera|Composer [[Michael Giacchino]] received praise and multiple accolades for his work on the film's score.]] ▼{{Very long section|date=July 2024}}
On the [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Batman'' holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads, "A grim, gritty, and gripping super-noir, ''The Batman'' ranks among the Dark Knight's bleakest – and most thrillingly ambitious – live-action outings".<ref name="RottenTomatoes">{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}} |type=m |title=The Batman |access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> {{MC film|72|68|ref=yes|access-date=March 14, 2022}} Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the filmit an average grade of "A−" on an A + to F scale, while those polled at [[PostTrak]] gave it an 87% positive score ( with an averageand 4.5 out of 5 stars), with 71% saying they would definitely recommend it.<ref name="Opening1" /> ▼▲[[File:Michael Giacchino Sep 2017.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A picture of Michael Giacchino smiling towards the camera|Composer [[Michael Giacchino]] received praise and multiple accolades for his work on the film's score.]]
▲On the [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Batman'' holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads, "A grim, gritty, and gripping super-noir, ''The Batman'' ranks among the Dark Knight's bleakest – and most thrillingly ambitious – live-action outings".<ref name="RottenTomatoes">{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}} |type=m |title=The Batman |access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> {{MC film|72|68|ref=yes|access-date=March 14, 2022}} Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled at [[PostTrak]] gave it an 87% positive score (with an average 4.5 out of 5 stars), with 71% saying they would definitely recommend it.<ref name="Opening1" />
''[[IGN]]'' contributor Alex Stedman gave ait 10 out of 10 rating, praising many elements of the film: he enjoyed its accuracy to the comics, writing that it mixed elements from many storylines, and lauded the performances, noting the vulnerability displayed inby Pattinson and Kravitz's performances and their chemistry. He further cited Kravitz's performance as being the best in the film for providing further depth to her character.<ref name="IGNReview" /> Moreover, he appreciated the action – feeling it to be impactful – and production values, particularly Fraser'sthe cinematography and Giacchino's score. Adam Nayman of ''[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]'' gave the film a mostly positive review, comparing the opening scene to the films ''[[Dirty Harry]]'' (1971) and ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'' (1991). He enjoyed the film's technical production and Reeves's visual language, feeling it evoked horror and paranoia and emulated [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s filmmaking style, which he believed Nolan's Batman films lacked. Nayman thought the narrative established tension and was "going for something sprawling", but disliked the final act and felt the climax was underwhelming, opining Riddler and his "army of similarly aggrieved, [[incel]]-style acolytes" was derivative of ''[[Joker (2019 film)|Joker]]'' (2019). Both Stedman and Nayman agreed that Pattinson's performance captured Bruce Wayne's damaged psychology and felt he did not need to distinguish his performance between Wayne and Batman, unlike previous iterations. However, Nayman contended Batman's personality made the ending "disingenuous" as the film "drenches itself in unpleasantness" and then "recast the title character as a kind of humanitarian activist".<ref name="IGNReview" /><ref name="Ringer-Review" /> Writing for ''[[The National (TV program)|The National]]'', Jason Mottram called the film "one of the darkest and most compelling comic-book movies of the modern era" while praising the performances, action sequences and story. Though he enjoyed Pattinson's and Kravitz's performances, he felt Reeves's interpretation of Penguin was the best, and that the script had explored the comic book interpretation of Batman as the "World's Greatest Detective".<ref name="TheNational" />
''[[Digital Spy]]'' reviewer Ian Sandwell also commended the performances and the film's original depiction of Batman, highlighting the "film-noir vibes". Sandwell felt the narrative's focus on Batman, particularly as a detective, justified the runtime. Like Stedman, he also enjoyed the production values of Fraser's cinematography and editing during [[set piece]]s, while identifying Giacchino's score as unique. He ultimately stated that "''The Batman'' is an enthralling, chilling and fresh new take on the iconic DC hero that'll leave you desperate for another visit to this impeccably-crafted world".<ref name="DigitalSpy" /> Clarisse Loughrey from ''[[The Independent]]'' gaverated the film a rating of 4/5. Being more pragmatic, she felt it was a "very good Batman film" and enjoyed its faithfulness to Batman's core iconography. She also highlighted the visual aesthetic, opining it effectively combined the realism in Nolan's films and Gothic aesthetic of Burton's Batman films, while also commending Kravitz's performance. Concluding her review, sheShe felt the filmit explored the "individualist politics" of Batman and that Reeves's interpretation was more logical than Nolan's, though she felt the runtime was not necessary to "tell ... the relatively simple story of its hero's moral awakening".<ref name="TheIndependent" /> From ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', David Rooney wrote the film had "intelligent, emotionally nuanced storytelling", and described the story as "a brooding genre piece in which the superhero trappings ... are folded into the grimy noir textures of an intricately plotted detective story". He enjoyed its exploration of themes such as institutional corruption, and "intimate moments". Rooney did not complain about the runtime, as he found Fraser's cinematography, Chinlund's production design, and sound design key to establishing the film's "immersive effect" and its "own gritty, gothic identity". However, he had minor complaints about the tone, as he had wanted more levity.<ref name="THR-Review" /> Peter Debruge at ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' also enthusiastically praised the film, highlighting the film'sits grounded and noir elements, further enjoying "its willingness to dismantle and interrogate the very concept of superheroes". He interpreted it to be relevant to the contemporary political climate, as it evoked "challenges facing the modern world" in its social commentary, and being genuinely frightening at times, particularly with Riddler's schemes. Gaining 3 stars, it was a ''Variety'' Critic's Pick.<ref name="VarietyReview" /> Additionally, Alex Abad-Santos of ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]'' also gave a positive review, writing the filmit "realizes the character's greatness in a classic noir detective story" and agreed with Debruge in how it allowed the audience to critique the "heroism" of Batman. Also highlightingHighlighting the film's detective-oriented story, he felt the film's lower stakes allowed it to further explore Batman's character, enjoying that he could use his intellect more than previous iterations.<ref name="VoxReview" />
''[[The New Yorker]]''{{'s}} [[Richard Brody]] gave a more critical review, praising the first two hours and "intricacy of the movie's intertwined plots", but ultimately criticized the characters, as he felt that they were "reduced to a handful of traits and a backstory, defined solely by their function in the plot", which he felt had diminished the climax; his opinions of the climax were similar to that of Nayman's. He also liked the film's visual aesthetic and felt that the Batmobile car chase scene had culminated in the "money shot".<ref name="TNY-Review" /> Meanwhile, Ann Hornaday from ''[[The Washington Post]]'' rated the film 1.5 out of 4 stars, criticizing the film's dark visuals and lengthy runtime, calling it "yet another lugubrious, laboriously grim slog masquerading as a fun comic book movie". She thought the plot developments relied on too much dialogue rather than action, though she expressed some approval for Pattinson's performance, calling it evocative of [[Clint Eastwood]], [[Johnny Depp]]'s role of Edward Scissorhands in ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'' (1990), [[Kurt Cobain]], and [[Crispin Glover]], and felt its influences were eclectic, ranging from "sources as diverse as film noir, Scandinavian death metal and garden-variety serial-killer pulp".<ref name="WaPo-Review" /> [[Mick LaSalle]] of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' also gave a negative review, criticizing the political commentary and negatively comparing it to that of ''Joker''. He felt the film did not have a "single variation in mood and tone" and spent too much runtime to develop its ideas, concurred with Hornaday's opinions regardingon tone, and felt Reeves' attempts were to make it dystopian and to draw parallels to the real world, including American discontent. He thought Riddler's murders of corrupt politicians had subtracted the "moral struggle" element of the film, leaving only Batman's internal turmoil left as the primarily conflict, which he also heavily criticized as he felt Pattinson's performance was "just a big stiff". However, he enjoyed Dano and Kravitz's performances alongside Giacchino's score.<ref name="SFC-Review" /> Similarly, [[A. O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' also criticized the dark visuals and exposition, but praised the cast's performances and Giacchino's score, and ultimately concluded by stating "I can't say I had a good time, but I did end up somewhere I didn't expect to be: looking forward to the next chapter".<ref name="NYT-Review" /> Writing for ''[[Sight and Sound]]'', [[Kim Newman]] gave an unenthusiastic review, criticizing the film's length, and felt the secondary characters, such as Gordon, Catwoman, Alfred, and Penguin, were underdeveloped and "subordinate to the case", though he praised Pattinson's performance, the detective-oriented Batman, Giacchino's score, visuals, and action. His primary complaintscomplaint had been thatwas too much time had beenwas spent on establishing its characters rather than an "economy of storytelling", as he felt first entries in franchises conventionally should.<ref name="BFI-Review" />
=== Accolades ===
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