10 Best Batman Quotes from the Movies: Picked For True Fans

Batman movies are filled with fantastic quotes, snappy comebacks, and one-liners that have become cults in cinema history.

Below are the best Batman movie quotes and phrases from The Dark Knight himself, from his enemies, and his few but trusted friends.

In short, they are the best Batman quotes from the movies of all time!

1. “I’m Batman!”

“I’m Batman” is usually preceded by a “Who are you?” or “What the hell are you?” from a scared bad guy who’s about to get his a** whooped.

The quote (you could almost call it a motto) “I’m Batman” first appears in the Tim Burton movie Batman (1989), starring an excellent cast with Michael Keaton as Batman, Jack Nicholson as the Joker, and Kim Basinger as the Catwoman.

In The Flash (2023), Michael Keaton reprises the role of Batman and repeats this exact line. This time, however, to the astonishment of Barry Allen, aka The Flash (Ezra Miller).

It also appears in Batman Begins (2005), starring Christian Bale as Batman.

2. “I am Vengeance”

Of course, Batman is not only Batman. He is also vengeance served.

This quote is from The Batman (2022) and appears just at the movie’s beginning.

The quote helps establish Batman (Robert Pattison) as the savior of the night of Gotham City, a city that is “eating itself” because of all the crime and corruption that’s going on.

I loved this quote and the new take on the masked vigilante in The Batman, which plays more like a neo-noir detective novel than a comic book adaptation.

Also, check out this article with more of Joker’s best quotes from The Dark Knight.

3. “They think I’m hiding in the shadows. But I am the shadows.”

This line if from the opening monologue of The Batman (2022).

Batman movies are known for their cool opening sequences, and I think The Batman delivers.

It’s excellent screenwriting at play, and after the first 10 minutes, there’s no doubt about how much Batman is feared among the criminals in Gotham City.

Robert Pattinson does a fantastic job with the opening monologue.

Say what you want about Pattinson’s role in the Twilight series. I think he did an excellent job as Batman, and this is easily one of the most iconic Batman quotes ever!

4. “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.”

“It’s not who you are underneath, it’s what you do, which defines you,” is said by Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) in Batman Begins (2005) as a comment to Bruce Wayne’s apparent flamboyant and superficial lifestyle.

Later, Bruce reveals himself as Batman to Rachel when he paraphrases the line “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do, that defines me.”

5. “Criminals are like weeds, Alfred. Pull one up, another grows in its place.”

This quote is from Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Bruce Wayne visits his family’s decayed mansion together and is met by Alfred (Jeremy Irons).

Bruce is determined to pick a fight with Superman (Henry Cavill) and doesn’t think the last 20 years of him battling lowlife criminals in Gotham City counts for anything.

Taking on Superman and revenging the death of thousands during the battle between the Man of Steel and General Zod is another deal, though.

In this moment, Bruce decides that killing Superman shall be his legacy.

6. “As a man, I am flesh and blood, I can be ignored, I can be destroyed. But as a symbol… as a symbol I can be incorruptible. I can be everlasting.”

This quote is said by Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) in Batman Begins (2005).

After being gone for 7 years and being trained by Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) from the League of Shadows, Bruce Wayne decides to take on the criminal underworld in Gotham City as a symbol. It’s a turning point for the movie and a rebirth for Bruce.

7. “The Bat-Signal is not a beeper.”

In this scene from Batman Forever (1995), Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman) uses the Bat-Signal to get close to Batman (Val Kilmer) to seduce him.

The whole dialogue is pretty funny, and it has a couple of other great and famous lines to it:

BATMAN: Commissioner Gordon?
DR. MERIDIAN: He’s at home… I sent the signal.
BATMAN: What’s wrong?
DR. MERIDIAN: Last night at the bank, I noticed something about Two-Face–his coin… it’s his Achilles’ heel. It can be exploited.
BATMAN: I know! You called me here for this? The Bat-Signal is not a beeper!
DR. MERIDIAN: Well, I wish I could say that my interest in you is… purely professional.
BATMAN: You’re trying to get under my cape, Doctor?
DR. MERIDIAN: A girl can’t live by psychosis alone.
BATMAN: It’s the car, right? Chicks love the car.

It’s a great and witty dialogue… plus, you get the bonus of Bat rubber nipples!

8. “The World Only Makes Sense if You Force It to.“

Here’s one from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).

Batman (Ben Affleck) is super-pissed with Superman (Henry Cavill) because of his battle with Zod (in Man of Steel from 2013) – which left Metropolis in ruins – and weakened him enough using Kryptonite gas to get the upper hand.

While he beats the living crap out of Superman, he goes into a monologue – villain-style – about meaning. Here’s the monologue in full:

I bet your parent taught you, that you need something; that you’re here for a reason. My parents taught me a different lesson – dying in the gutter for no reason at all. They taught me, the world only makes sense if you force it to.

Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

I don’t know why Affleck caught so much hard critique for his role as Batman. I still think he was rather bada**!

9. “I’m Not Wearing Hockey Pads!“

At the beginning of The Dark Knight (2008), we get a cameo from Cillian Murphy as he reprises his role as Scarecrow from Batman Begins (2005).

In the scene, vigilante Batman impersonators (with guns) disrupt a drug transaction involving the Scarecrow and the Chechen drug lord.

As the supervillain and the mobster are about to eliminate the costumed imitators, the real Batman arrives to save the day. And a fun exchange between the real Batman and a frustrated impersonator pursues:

Batman: Don’t let me find you out here again!

Impersonator: We’re trying to help you.

Batman: I don’t need help!

Murphy: Not my diagnosis!

Impersonator: What gives you the right? What’s the difference between you and me!?

Batman: I’m not wearing hockey pads!

It’s an awesome burn from the real Batman and a reminder for all the vigilante wannabees in Gotham not to play with matches!

10. “Our scars can destroy us, even after the physical wounds have healed. But if we survive them, they can transform us. They can give us the power to endure, and the strength to fight.”

The last quote is also from The Batman (2022). Here, Bruce Wayne reflects on his role as Batman and the necessity to pull yourself up, overcome your wounds, and keep fighting.

And, after all, isn’t that what Batman is all about?

Summary

Those are the top 10 Batman movie quotes.

Do you disagree?

Well, that’s just too bad because I’m right!

Who am I to judge, you say?

I’m Batman!

But feel free to leave a comment, anyway.