Batman (1966)

Fans of the original "Batman" TV series will undoubtedly like Batman (1966), which includes most of the story’s core characters. Batman (by Adam West) and Robin (by Burt Ward) team up for the first time in a feature-length film, embarking on their quests to take down some of Gotham's most powerful villains. These baddies are the Penguin (Burgess Meredith), Catwoman (Lee Meriwether), and the Joker (Cesar Romero). The movie was released after the conclusion of the show’s first season. It served to promote the show while satiating fans' appetites during the hiatus.

While Batman (1966) is entertaining and filled with funny moments - like the notorious shark assault on Batman - it is mostly just rehashed material from the television program. There is no genuine narrative and no meaningful repercussions for the antagonists, who would return in season 2 and 3 of the TV series without facing any penalties for their actions in the film. Also, Meriwether, who replaced Julie Newmar, was the weakest Catwoman on-screen, which doesn't help improve things.

Release year: 1966

Stars: Adam West, Burt Ward

IMDB Score: 7.6/10