The Batman movies have a reputation for producing some iconic scenes, but others were particularly painfully uncomfortable to watch. Batman has starred in dozens of movies across the DC Universe in both live-action and animation. While many of these have been celebrated and produced some of the most memorable scenes in cinematic history, some installments proffered baffling moments that many DC fans are desperate to forget about.

Batman is one of DC’s biggest heroes and has appeared prominently throughout the DCU timeline and is expected to play a big part in the DCU’s future. Batman’s animated movies have been equally celebrated as some of the finest comic book movies of all time. Regardless, both in live-action and animation, Batman movies have featured some cringe-worthy scenes that are painfully embarrassing in hindsight.

10. The Batman Credit Card Is Infamously Ridiculous

Batman & Robin (1997)

Perhaps the most infamously awkward Batman scene was from Batman & Robin when Batman flaunts his Batman credit card. Batman and Robin, under the allure of Poison Ivy’s toxins, engage in a preposterous bidding war to win her favor. As their absurd competition escalates, Batman proudly reveals a credit card in Batman’s name. This scene has become infamous for exemplifying Batman & Robin‘s excessively campy and jarring cartoonish tone.

Seeing the Dark Knight whip out a credit card and brandishing his emblem raises numerous eyebrow-raising questions about the logistics of its existence that take audiences out of the moment. It is hard not to wonder how Batman acquired such a card while still maintaining his secret identity. This scene encapsulates Batman & Robin’s tone throughout, contributing to the movie’s abysmal reputation and providing a moment that has become iconic for its sheer absurdity.

9. Riddler In The Batcave Was Too Cartoonish

Batman Forever (1995)

Jim Carey’s Riddler from Batman Forever is notorious for being overly animated and, at times, more akin to the Joker than the Riddler. This cartoonish Riddler reached its peak when he infiltrated the Batcave. Deploying duck bombs while pretending to be a baseball pitcher, the Riddler’s antics veer too far from his fundamental characterization as a cunning antagonist who sees himself as intellectually superior. Instead, he morphs into a caricature, more typical of Jim Carrey’s comedic antics than the calculated villain.

This Batman Forever scene provided some entertainment for younger viewers upon its release. However, in modern viewing, it is too incongruous and undermines the essence of the character too much. The Riddler’s transformation into a goofy, slapstick figure detracts from the scene, which should have been a dynamic and impressive display of Riddler and Two-Face’s combined potential.

8. Batman Claiming His Superpower Was Being Rich Undermined His Character

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

In Zack Snyder’s Justice League, an awkward scene depicted the Flash and Batman in a car, where Flash inquired what Batman’s superpowers are, to which he simply responded, “I’m rich.” While this line may have been humorous at the time, it fundamentally undermines Batman’s character. By reducing his essence to mere wealth, the scene overlooks the intricate blend of detective skills, moral fortitude, and relentless determination that truly define Batman.

Batman is known as the World’s Greatest Detective, yet this scene suggests his wealth is the reason for this. This oversimplification suggests that anyone with vast financial resources could assume the mantle of Batman, ignoring the years of training and personal sacrifice that distinguish Bruce Wayne as Gotham’s protector. While the line may have elicited a laugh initially, its implications diminish the depth and complexity of Batman’s character, highlighting a missed opportunity for Justice League to showcase the true essence of the Caped Crusader.

7. Two-Face Screaming “And Me!” Was Way Too Over The Top

Batman Forever (1995)

In Batman Forever, Two-Face’s outburst of “And me… and me!” during a pivotal confrontation feels painfully awkward in a modern context. The scene was seemingly intended to intensify tension as Batman confronted the Riddler and attempted to rescue Chase Meridian. However, Two-Face’s sudden interjection felt overly forced and clumsy, as if actor Tommy Lee Jones felt compelled to match Jim Carrey’s exaggerated performance.

This uncharacteristic departure from Two-Face’s traditionally grizzled and multifaceted persona damages the character’s complexity. Rather than portraying the internal conflict and duality that defines Two-Face, the scene descends into a ham-handed attempt at theatricality. While it may have been intended as a fun joke on his dual personas, it destroys any notion of suspense in the scene. It serves as a reminder of Batman Forever’s tendency to sacrifice depth for comedic spectacle, ultimately detracting from the portrayal of one of Batman’s most intriguing adversaries.

6. Bruce And Barbara Getting Intimate Was Just Creepy

The Killing Joke (2016)

The inclusion of a sexual encounter between Batman and Batgirl in The Killing Joke adaptation is deeply uncomfortable to watch. The moment unfolds as the two spar on a rooftop and fall to the ground, at which point they kiss. Their typically paternal relationship adds a disturbingly dark tone, suggesting Batman is taking advantage of the young Barbara Gordon. The image of Batgirl removing her top feels egregiously out of place and excessively mature for a Batman story, regardless of the intended audience’s age.

The controversial sex scene in The Killing Jokedamages the integrity of both characters and disrupts the established dynamics between them, tainting the emotional resonance of their partnership. Rather than enriching the narrative, it feels gratuitous and exploitative, overshadowing the profound themes of the original graphic novel. Such a departure from the source material proved controversial and is regarded as the movie’s primary failing.

5. The Icemen Singing Mr. White Christmas Made Mr. Freeze Too Silly

Batman & Robin (1997)

The scene in Batman & Robin where Mr. Freeze’s henchmen are forced to sing “I’m Mr. White Christmas” feels painfully childish and not in keeping with Mr. Freeze’s character. Instead of portraying Mr. Freeze as the tragic figure he is, struggling to save his cryogenically frozen wife, the film reduces him to a caricature. Batman & Robin does this repeatedly with awful icy puns doled out by Schwarzenegger’s Freeze, but this scene is especially egregious.

Mr. Freeze making his henchmen perform a goofy musical number strips away any semblance of menace or complexity the character has, transforming Freeze into a joke. It robs Mr. Freeze of the depth and pathos that make him such a compelling villain in other Batman projects. Instead, Batman & Robin opted for a cheap musical pun, ultimately diminishing the character’s impact.

4. Bruce Wayne’s Goodbye To Alfred Undermined His Vital Role

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

In The Dark Knight Rises, the final scene depicts a poignant moment where Alfred spots Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle in an Italian café. While this did fulfill a scenario Alfred previously suggested for their farewell, it doesn’t do justice to the vital role Alfred played for both Batman and Bruce Waye. Despite Alfred’s decades of care for Bruce, the hero fails to contact him after the climax, only offering a sly raise of the glass across a busy restaurant.

While the emotional The Dark Knight Rises scene signifies Bruce’s triumphant departure from his vigilante life and assures his safety to his longtime guardian, it feels very inadequate. Michael Caine’s heartfelt performance did add a lot of depth to the moment, but it raises some puzzling questions – like how Bruce knew precisely when Alfred would holiday in Italy and visit that particular café. This scene prompts more confusion than closure and dismisses Alfred’s essential role throughout the trilogy.

3. Keaton’s “Let’s Get Nuts” Line Is Baffling

Batman (1989

Michael Keaton’s unforgettable “Let’s get nuts” line from Batman remains a defining moment in Batman’s cinematic history. It features Bruce Wayne confronting the Joker at Vicki Vale’s apartment, armed with a metal tray and a fire poker. Batman spoke the infamous line, to which Joker chillingly responded: “Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?”

The scene begins exploring Tim Burton’s new origin stories for Batman and Joker. However, the delivery is very harsh compared to the rest of Keaton’s performance. Bruce’s typically composed demeanor shatters, revealing a vulnerability seldom seen. This abrupt shift hints at the underlying similarities between Batman and the Joker. Despite this, the moment feels somewhat out of place within the film’s darker tone and has become infamous for its absurd delivery and for being bizarrely over the top.

2. Robin’s Wax Lips Don’t Make Any Sense

Batman & Robin (1997)

In Batman & Robin, a peculiar scene emerges, even within Joel Schumacher’s campy vision. During a tense showdown with Poison Ivy, Robin dons rubber lips to thwart her lethal kiss. The anticlimactic moment is typical of the film’s tone, showcasing its departure from Batman’s darker cinematic roots. Much like Batman’s credit card, Robin’s wax lips reveal takes the audience out of the scene by raising perplexing questions.

It seems unlikely that rubber lips could counter Ivy’s deadly poisonous kiss, highlighting the lack of coherent logic throughout Batman & Robin. The scene’s bizarre nature further solidifies Batman & Robin’s reputation as a surreal and over-the-top spectacle devoid of nuanced characterization. Despite being designed primarily for a younger audience, the scene was still too cartoonish while also serving as a vague metaphor for safe sex – exemplifying Schumacher’s overly sexualized yet campy rendition of the DC heroes.

1. “I’m Batman… Nice Coat” Ruined A Potentially Iconic Batman Moment

Batman Begins (2005)

Christian Bale’s first-ever delivery of the classic “I’m Batman” line in Batman Begins should have been iconic. However, the next line, “nice coat,” completely ruined the whole scene. As Batman captures Carmine Falcone, Bale proffers a powerful, compelling rendition in his notoriously gruff voice. Looking up, Batman spies a homeless man, to whom he remarks “nice coat.”

Bale’s Batman voice in Batman Begins was certainly intimidating, which juxtaposed with “nice coat,” making the scene humorous instead of impressive. Bruce Wayne had previously gifted the man the coat years prior and was seemingly revealing his identity to the man as a throw-away joke. Regardless, this line weakens the scene just as Batman is launched skyward, Falcone in tow. What could have been a scene showcasing Batman’s terrifying potential was reduced to a silly callback. While still iconic, this scene is one of the most awkward Batman scenes that DC fans want to forget at least part of.