'The Dark Knight Rises': Batman at the movies - in pictures
Published Jul 12 2012, 13:20 BST | By Simon Reynolds
Christopher Nolan brings the curtain down on his Batman trilogy on July 20 with the release of The Dark Knight Rises.The vigilante faces off against Bane, a psychotic terrorist played by Tom Hardy, in the mother of all showdowns to save Gotham City. Proving his lasting appeal, Batman has led an ultra-camp '60s TV series and movie, gone Gothic with Tim Burton and even adopted nipple for two much-maligned Joel Schumacher films.
Nolan's Bruce Wayne, played expertly by Christian Bale, has brought the character back down to earth for a gritty, realistic take on the character.
Digital Spy celebrates Batman on the big screen with a look back at his nine cinematic outings below...
> 'Dark Knight Rises': 13-minute preview video
> 'The Dark Knight Rises' in pictures
Photo gallery - Batman at the movies:
Michael Keaton's Caped Crusader takes on Jack Nicholson's Joker for the 1989 Batman movie.
