For many DCU fans, Christian Bale cemented his legendary Batman status in the unforgettable The Dark Knight trilogy. However, iconoclasts have since emerged and beg to differ.
It all started when a fan took to the r/DC_Cinematic subreddit with an audacious hot take suggesting that despite a dismal performance, the British actor came off well because other aspects of the films were outstanding.
As it turns out, another Redditor agreed that Bale was a less-than-stellar Batman but praised his portrayal of Bruce Wayne.
In the eyes of some fans, Robert Pattinson has handily claimed Bale’s crown as the best Batman of all time.
Not everyone agreed with OP’s assertion that Bale’s performance was not all that.
Others were amused at the suggestion that Bale’s Batman was subpar.
Another Redditor entered the chat to argue that Ben Affleck’s iteration of Batman was superior to Christian Bale’s.
These fighting words caused DCU fans to come out of the woodwork swinging. However, once again, Pattinson’s performance towered above the rest.
Nevertheless, the Christian Bale pile-on continued, with another Reddior ranking him as the worst Batman in the film franchise.
Another fan expressed fondness for Bale’s The Dark Knight, but they weren’t particularly generous with their assessment of his performance.
The narrative is missing the fact of Christian Bale’s trailblazing approach to the role of Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego Batman. He worked closely with Christopher Nolan and rose to the challenge of bringing realism to the part. Pattinson followed in Bale’s footsteps, successfully occupying the space his predecessor created. In the eyes of many, Pattinson elevated the role. But Christian Bale will forever be the actor whose skill and finesse made studios willing to bet on a realistic Batman.