Over his 75 years as one of the most popular superheroes in the world, Batman is rarely known for making mistakes. The world's greatest detective is an expert tactician whose contingencies have contingencies, but more often than not, the Batman makes his fair share of mistakes.
Whether it be how to handle a situation involving members of his team, who to trust, or when to share information, Batman has his fair share of failures at his feet. Many of the caped crusader's mistakes occur in live-action films; each film has scenarios where The Dark Knight isn't always at the top of his game. Here are some of the worst mistakes Batman has made in live-action movies.
8 Batman Is Tricked By Poison Ivy (Batman And Robin)
Batman and Robin hit theaters with George Clooney dawning the cape and Chris O'Donnell reprising his role as the boy wonder, Robin. The film featured a winding plot revolving around two members of Batman's rogue gallery, Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze.
Poison Ivy’s first appearance in the movie sparked a spat between the dynamic duo caused by her mind-altering pheromones, which forced Batman and Robin to fight over her. Surely the world's greatest detective should have realized something was off when he flashed the Batman's credit card.
7 Batman Is Captured By Two-face (Batman Forever)
Batman Forever featured Val Kilmer as the Batman this time around, replacing Michael Keaton; this would also be the first time Robin had ever appeared in a live-action film played by Chris O'Donnell.
The two big bads, the Riddler (played by Jim Carrey) and Two-face (Played by Tommy Lee Jones) are behind a large-scale game of wreaking havoc all across Gotham. On one of the first encounters with Two-face, Batman chases the two-toned villain right into a trap, becoming locked inside a bank vault that Two-Face begins to fill with acid.
6 Batman Reveals His Secret Identity To The Riddler (Batman Forever)
Another snafu for The Dark Knight in Batman Forever involves the Riddler. Edward Nigma develops a new type of technology that can beam information into a person's brain; he begins to market it as new age T.V. but what he doesn't reveal is that it can also take information out of the brain.
A sinister plan to steal credit card numbers and bank codes becomes even more diabolical when Bruce Wayne tries the device, leaking his alter ego as Batman to the Riddler and his business partner, Two-Face.
5 Batman is Caught Off Guard By Ra’s Al Ghul (Batman Begins)
In Batman Begins, Christian Bale’s Batman is trained by the elite assassin Ra’s Al Ghul to be the next leader of the League of Shadows. When their objectives no longer align, a split forms between the teacher and student, which leaves the former on his deathbed.
Bruce finally heads home to begin his personal war on the crime in Gotham City, discovering a plot to blanket the entire city with harmful chemicals. It's after realizing this plot that Ra’s al Ghul makes his reappearance, shocking Bruce as if he’d seen a ghost.
4 Batman Chooses Rachel over Harvey (The Dark Knight)
In the Batman Begins sequel, The Dark Knight, Christian Bale reprises his role as the world's greatest detective alongside Heath Ledger’s Joker. The performances given by both actors have been argued the best portrayals of both characters in a live-action film between the bitter enemies. In the film, the Joker is seen to always be one step ahead, even after being caught by Batman and the GCPD.
While being interrogated by Batman, the Joker reveals his plan, that he’s kidnaped Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawes, going even further to give the Dark Knight a choice between saving one of them. Batman races off to save Rachel, leaving Harvey Dent to the GCPD; the only problem is the Joker switched up the addresses realizing that if Batman had made the Heroic choice instead of the personal one, he would have saved the woman he loves.
3 Batman Fights Superman (BvS)
Batman Vs. Superman is the first meeting between the comic giants of the same name; it is also the first joining of D.C. Comics' “Trinity” of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman. In the film, Batman, played by Ben Affleck, must duke it out with the world's greatest hero, Superman, played by Henry Cavil.
This is another step toward Batman’s downfall in the film, having been pushed further and further to the edge dealing with the death of his protege and outside manipulation. Blinded by rage and spiraling further into despair, Batman takes the fight to Superman utilizing a high-tech armor and Kryptonite.
2 Batman Is Tricked By Lex Luthor (BvS)
Batman and Superman are pitted against each other in Batman Vs. Superman with a steady contrast drawn between the characters from the film's beginning. With the world still cooling off on the heels of the invasion by general Zod, both Superman and Batman are feeling the pressure of not doing enough on their shoulders.
Outside their world, Lex Luthor concocts a plot to kill Superman by goading and manipulating the Batman into taking on the man of steel. Lex Luthor pulls the strings, and the Batman doesn't even second guess his decisions that lead him to almost fall into the abyss.
1 Batman Trusts Catwoman (The Dark Knight Rises)
In the final installment of the Nolan trilogy, Christian Bale's Batman faces off with his greatest advisory, Bane, played by Tom Hardy. Bane is an unstoppable force in the film, too strong and dedicated to be stopped by normal means.
Batman, who has been retired and gone into hiding since the events of The Dark Knight, returns to the fight after Bane makes his appearance. Also, in the film, Catwoman makes herself a menace on all fronts played by Anne Hathaway. Catwoman tugs on the caped crusaders' heartstrings and bats her eyelashes, leading him straight to Bane.