A new Batman movie was released in 2026, which doesn’t get as much attention as major blockbuster films. For MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes, it is even one of the best appearances of the Dark Knight.
Recently, I was once again browsing the digital store of Amazon Prime Video to see which movies can be rented or purchased that are not currently available in any subscription. To my surprise, I came across Batman Knightfall – Part 1: Knightfall.
This is the first part of a trilogy that aims to adapt the entire Knightfall saga from the comics. In the film, many well-known villains escape from Arkham Asylum and plunge Gotham into chaos. Batman wants to stop them all and goes to his utmost limits. As it turns out, there is a plan behind it to finally take down Batman.
And just like the comic series, the film captivated me. It is one of the best Batman movies and shows why the Joker is not the best villain of the Dark Knight.
A Tangible Threat
The big star in Knightfall is definitely the villain Bane. Unlike in the comic, the implementation has left out Bane’s irrelevant sidekicks, which greatly benefits the villain. His menacing presence can be felt almost the entire time, even when he is often not seen.
You can feel how his machinations wear down Batman’s physical and mental endurance. This is particularly effective as they show the childhood of the villain. Contrasts are created with Batman’s story. This makes Bane’s somewhat intangible motivation more present without bluntly forcing a connection between the two. That’s why I even find Bane here better than his Nolan variant, and the film beautifully shows why Bane is a better villain than the Joker.
The Joker is pure chaos, but Bane resembles Batman in many ways. He is not just an almost unstoppable muscle giant, he is a brilliant tactician who can also outsmart Batman.
Beneficial for Bane’s appearance is also the art style of the film. It oozes 90s energy, which is particularly noticeable in his overly unrealistic muscles. But that’s exactly why the fights are so much fun and fit perfectly with the original comic story.
Without spoiling too much, I must praise especially the last 15 minutes. That was one of the best final sequences I have seen in a superhero movie. But not only Bane is an important figure in the film, but also the counterpart Batman is exciting in Batman Knightfall.
A Failing Batman
Batman is pushed to his limits in the film. Not only physically through the many fights but especially symbolically. He becomes more brutal, dangerous, and even meaner. Batman increasingly fails to be a symbol of hope. The film manages to show beautifully how Batman slowly breaks under his self-imposed role. After all, Bane himself questions whether Gotham even needs Batman.
This is particularly evident in his relationship with the film’s Robin, Tim Drake. Alongside Jason Todd and Dick Grayson, he doesn’t get much attention in pop culture, yet he has an interesting role. He is likely the smartest Robin who has to watch his mentor fail. A power vacuum arises that Tim wants to fill – he wants to help Batman.
Another character fits in well here, namely Jean Paul Valley. Without spoiling too much: He will play an interesting role in the rest of the trilogy, further exploring the core discussion of why Batman does not kill.
In general, I am always glad to see a Batman story with Robin, as he was completely missing in the last live-action films (and no, Dark Knight Rises doesn’t count).
Check out the DC Animated Movies!
Batman Knightfall is one of the best DC movies you can watch, and I can only recommend you watch the other films, like Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. While there are bad films as well, the animated movies adapt stories that we will probably never see on the big screen.
Unfortunately, the films are not available on the streaming service HBO Max, meaning you have to buy them digitally or physically. I at least hope that the animated series ends up on the streamer, as the other DC productions are also available there.
Where can I stream Batman Knightfall? You can currently rent or buy the first part of Batman Knightfall at various retailers, such as Prime Video or Apple TV. But be warned that the film is only available in English, optionally with German subtitles. If you need more animated recommendations, here is a list: The 10 best animated films of Batman to shorten your wait for the next theatrical release
Your opinion is important to us!
Do you like the article? Then let us know!