The essential episodes of Batman
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Batman — each pick states its reason.
- 01
While the Riddler maneuvers Batman into being sued, the Dynamic Duo investigate the supervillain's concurrent scheme.
- 02
The Riddler schemes to have his henchwoman, disguised as Robin, to have her kill Batman in the Batcave.
- 03
The duo crashes the Joker's headquarters.
- 04
Catwoman makes her return known with a string of robberies. Hoping to lure her into a trap, Batman plants a news blurb giving the whereabouts of a rare canary, but Catwoman is tipped off and arrives prepared. Batman and Robin follow a lead to Catwoman's hideout, the Pink Sandbox, but soon discover that this villain has been waiting for them.
- 05
Catwoman disguises herself as a wealthy recluse - Minerva Matthews - to exchange a quarter million dollars for two Stradivarius violins. Once the instruments are safely in her hands, the villain reveals her true identity and demands the cash back. But Catwoman is surprised to learn that her business partner - Zubin Zucchini - is also not who he appears to be.
- 06
King Tut has relapsed into his kingly ways, this time showing a marked interest in scarab beetles and apothecary potions. Robin infiltrates their hideout to discover their true intentions, relaying what he hears to Batman, but their plan is put in jeopardy when Robin's presence is detected.
- 07
Using resurrected scarab beetles, King Tut concocts an ancient mind control potion, abu raubu simbu tu. Chief O'Hara is the first under his spell, followed shortly by Commissioner Gordon, and when Batman himself is tricked into taking the drug, Tut's plan to control all of Gotham City by tainting the water supply seems close to succeeding.
- 08
When Penguin runs for Mayor of Gotham city, Batman is persuaded to run against him.
- 09
The mayoral campaign seems to keep going the Penguin's way, but Batman is still confident despite the polls.
- 10
Penguin has opened a fancy restaurant called The Penguin's Nest. There every order has to be written down by the customers on a piece of paper. He then plans to get himself arrested and hand over the handwritten notes to a forger doing time by the name of Ballpoint Baxter. Suspecting a scheme, Batman urges the police not to send The Penguin back to his permanent cell. Unable to reach Ballpoint, The Penguin and his culinary cohorts escape from jail, taking Chief O'Hara along as a hostage.
- 11
Catwoman offers to free Batman if he joins her. He agrees but secretly takes a Universal Batantidote before Catwoman uses cataphrenic. Batman goes with the gang to visit Little Al at the Old Criminal's Home to buy the plans to the Mint, and manages to phone an anonymous tip to the cops leading to the capture of Robin and Pussycat. Catwoman then talks Batman into taking her to the Batcave.
- 12
The Joker escapes with a certificate from Wayne naming him as vice president of the bank. Commissioner Gordon asks Batman to nab Bruce Wayne for handing control of the bank over to the Joker.
- 13
Joker sweet-talks Baby Jane into forgiving him, as well as into giving him the entire Renaissance Collection from the Museum. He demands ten million dollars for the paintings, only to find that he's been duped by Batman and some clumsy paintings of Alfred's.
- 14
As sorceress Dr. Cassandra tries to steal the valuable Mope Diamond from Spiffany's Jewelry Salon, she blasts Batman, Robin, and Batgirl with her Alvino-ray gun. With a flash of psychedelic colors, the Terrific Trio are literally flattened paper-thin.
- 15
Minerva, Mayhem and Millionaires
Minerva, glamorous owner of a mineral spa, uses her Deepest Secret Extractor on a customer to learn the combination to the Wayne Foundation vault.
Shows like Batman
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Comedy·Action·AdventureThe essential episodes of Ride or Die2026·Prime VideoRide or Die follows best friends Debbie Claybourne and Judith Burton who thought they knew everything about each other, except Judith turns out to be an international assassin.
- 02Comedy·Action·AdventureThe essential episodes of Rush Hour2016–2016·CBSDetective Lee is a reserved, honorable master martial artist with lightning-fast moves who comes to L.A.
- 03Comedy·Action·Adventure·AnimeThe essential episodes of My Hero Academia2016–2026·MBS
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