How to Watch (and Read) Tim Burton's Batman Universe In Chronological Order

Tim Burton's influence on the Batman franchise endures, even though his direct involvement ended over three decades ago. Michael Keaton's return as Bruce Wayne in 2023's The Flash briefly bridged his version of Batman into the DCEU, but the Burton-verse continues to expand through new comics and novels, including the recently announced Batman: Revolution. Understanding the complete Burton-verse can be surprisingly complex, but we're here to guide you through it.

You can also check out our full guide to watching all the Batman movies in order.

How Many Burton-Verse Batman Stories Are There?

Including the upcoming Batman: Revolution, the Burton-verse currently comprises seven projects: three films, two novels, and two comics. This includes 1989's Batman, 1992's Batman Returns, and 2023's The Flash, along with the novels Batman: Resurrection and Batman: Revolution, and the comics Batman ‘89 and Batman ‘89: Echoes. Note that 1995's Batman Forever and 1997's Batman & Robin are no longer considered part of this continuity; we'll explain why later.

Where to Buy Tim Burton's Batman

While streaming options exist for the films and digital access for the comics, physical copies remain a popular choice. Here are some options for purchasing the Burton-verse movies and books:

Batman Favorites Collection [4K UHD + Blu-Ray]

Includes Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin. $64.99 at Amazon.

Batman ‘89

$15.27 at Amazon.

Batman ‘89: Echoes

$22.49 at Amazon.

Batman: Resurrection

Preorder for October 15. $27.49 at Amazon.

Batman: Revolution (Hardcover)

Out October 28. $27.00 at Amazon.

Every Tim Burton Batman Movie and Book in Chronological Order

(Each blurb provides a plot overview and mentions key characters.)

1. Batman (1989)

Michael Keaton's early years as Batman against Jack Nicholson's Joker.

2. Batman: Resurrection (2024)

Batman confronts Clayface after the Joker's death, bridging the gap to Batman Returns.

3. Batman: Revolution (2025)

Introduces the Burton-verse Riddler, Norman Pinkus.

4. Batman Returns (1992)

Batman faces Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) and the Penguin (Danny DeVito).

5. Batman ‘89 (2021)

A sequel to Batman Returns, featuring Two-Face and a version of Robin.

Click here to learn more about how Batman ‘89 adds to the Burton-Verse.

6. Batman ‘89: Echoes (2024)

A follow-up to Batman ‘89, featuring Scarecrow and Harley Quinn.

7. The Flash (2023)

Keaton's older Bruce Wayne returns for one last mission.

8. Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One (2019)

Robert Wuhl's brief cameo as Alexander Knox.

How Do Batman Forever and Batman & Robin Fit In?

While initially considered sequels, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin are now viewed as separate from the Burton-verse. Batman ‘89 serves as the canonical sequel to Batman Returns.

The Canceled Batgirl Movie

(This section contains spoilers for The Flash.)

Keaton's Batman was initially intended for a larger DCEU role, including the canceled Batgirl movie. This project, which was far into post-production, featured Keaton as a mentor to Barbara Gordon and was ultimately scrapped.