Movies Like
Movies Like The Batman: Dark Superhero Films
By Jordan A. · · 5 min read
If you loved The Batman and its noir-soaked take on Gotham, you're probably craving that same blend of psychological depth and gritty crime atmosphere. The 2022 film stripped away the superhero spectacle and doubled down on detective work, moral ambiguity, and a protagonist questioning everything. There's something magnetic about dark superhero films that actually explore what drives these characters to obsession. Here are the films that capture that same brooding intensity and noir aesthetic.
These recommendations lean into the detective noir vibe, the gothic atmosphere, and the exploration of trauma that Robert Pattinson's Batman brought to life. Each film shares that commitment to visual storytelling and the slow burn of revelation.
Dark Superhero and Villain Films
Joker (2019) is the obvious comparison, but for good reason. It's a character study disguised as a superhero origin story, following Arthur Fleck's descent into chaos with the kind of psychological intensity you'd find in a great crime drama. Todd Phillips basically made a Scorsese film in a Batman universe, and the result is unforgettable and deeply unsettling.
Watchmen (2009) deconstructs the superhero mythology in ways that feel weirdly relevant years later. The film asks uncomfortable questions about what it means to be a hero, with multiple perspectives on morality and justice. It's visually stunning and philosophically dense, with that same "heroes aren't simple" energy as The Batman.
V for Vendetta follows a masked vigilante taking down a dystopian government through strategic violence and psychological manipulation. Like The Batman, it's obsessed with the psychology of its masked protagonist and asks whether the methods justify the ends. The intricate planning and slow-burn tension hit similar notes.
Detective Noir and Crime Thrillers
Se7en (1995) is the gold standard for gritty detective noir. Two detectives hunt a serial killer through a rain-soaked, morally compromised city while wrestling with their own corruption. The film's visual language is bleak and precise, and the psychological cat-and-mouse game between hunter and hunted will haunt you.
Zodiac (2007) is David Fincher's patient dissection of obsession masquerading as a crime thriller. It's less about solving the crime and more about watching a detective disappear into the investigation, losing grip on his life in the process. That mirrors Batman's own descent into obsession perfectly.
L.A. Confidential (1997) is a masterclass in noir storytelling set in 1950s Los Angeles. Corrupt cops, psychological games, and a protagonist slowly learning the truth around him. It's got that same moral ambiguity and visual style that makes The Batman so compelling.
Chinatown (1974) is the template for everything that came after. Jack Nicholson's detective uncovers a conspiracy that reaches into the city's power structures while slowly understanding his own naivety. The fatalism and corruption are suffocating, and the visual language influenced every noir film since.
Psychological Thrillers with Obsessive Protagonists
Memento (2000) follows a man with short-term memory loss hunting his wife's killer in reverse chronological order. Like The Batman, it's structured around investigation and revelation, forcing the protagonist and audience to constantly reassess what we think we know. The paranoia and moral uncertainty are relentless.
Silence of the Lambs (1991) is psychological thriller perfection. An FBI trainee works with an imprisoned serial killer to catch another killer. The mind games, the atmosphere of dread, and the power dynamics between characters create something genuinely unsettling and brilliant.
Prisoners (2013) is a brutal exploration of what happens when a parent's desperation pushes him toward violence. Denis Villeneuve creates an atmosphere of moral collapse where nearly every character is compromised in some way. The cinematography is cold and industrial, mirroring The Batman's visual bleakness.
Incendies (2010) slowly reveals layers of family secrets and war crimes through a sister's investigation into her family's past. It builds toward a revelation that recontextualizes everything you've watched, with that same sense of uncovering hidden darkness that The Batman excels at.
Gothic and Atmospheric Crime
The Long Goodbye (1973) is Robert Altman's revisionist take on noir. It's slower and more character-focused than the genre typically allows, with a detective drifting through Los Angeles in a kind of moral haze. The aesthetic is distinctly 70s, but the theme of an idealistic protagonist in a corrupt world feels timeless.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) is a crime noir that wears its intelligence lightly. It's got the dark humor and moral murkiness of a great detective story, but keeps you emotionally engaged through character work and clever dialogue. The Los Angeles setting and exploration of how movies and reality collide adds another layer.
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) interweaves the lives of a motorcycle stunt driver, the cop who chases him, and their sons years later. It's structured like a symphony of moral descent, with each character pulled deeper into compromising situations. The blue-grey color palette and exploration of fatherhood and legacy feel distinctly somber.
Gotham-Adjacent Worldbuilding
Blade Runner (1982) creates an entire dystopian city that feels lived-in and morally corrupt. Like Gotham, it's a character in itself. The film explores what it means to be human through a noir detective story set in a visually stunning, rain-soaked metropolis that's slowly rotting from the inside.
The Killing (2007) is a Scandinavian noir about a detective obsessed with solving a murder across an entire season. It's methodical and atmospheric, with the protagonist slowly becoming consumed by the investigation. The cold, grey landscape mirrors the emotional tone perfectly.
If you're looking for more dark, psychologically complex films that explore morality through detective stories and atmospheric worldbuilding, check out our full collection of dark superhero and crime recommendations.
The Batman proved that superhero films could be sophisticated psychological dramas. These recommendations double down on that sophistication, trading cape-and-cowl spectacle for character depth and visual mastery. If you want to stay in that headspace of moral ambiguity and gothic intrigue, you've got plenty to explore.
Topics covered: superhero, dark, noir, psychological, crime, thriller
About the author
Jordan A., Founder, BingeNext
Jordan A. is the founder of BingeNext and writes every guide on this site. He built the recommendation engine after one too many nights lost to the streaming menu, and he still tests every pick the hard way: by watching it.