The new animated Batman breaks his back, and critics say it is the best since 1993
Critics are already branding Batman’s latest animated film a 'masterpiece', with its Rotten Tomatoes standing rocketing within a day of release.
If you thought the animated Batman films had peaked, think again. Batman: Knightfall – Part 1 has just come roaring out of the gates to a frankly ridiculous amount of praise — critics are having a field day with this one. The film debuted at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 23 June, and hit digital platforms officially on 25 August, so it’s very much hot off the press.
‘Batman: Knightfall – Part 1 is the best animated Batman film since Mask of the Phantasm and one of the best Batman films period, soaring above so many others to reach the cream of the crop.’
The above is Swara Ahmed of The Nerds of Color laying it on thick and, frankly, they’re not alone — pick a critic, they’ll probably tell you the same. The early audience ratings are through the roof. The Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter is already showing a whopping 95%. Granted, the official Tomatometer hasn’t landed just yet, but it’s fair to say the wind’s blowing firmly in a positive direction for DC’s latest animated outing.
Here’s Jesse Schedeen from IGN on the first instalment: ‘The first part of this animated trilogy succeeds in cutting through the fat and adapting the essential core of a classic Batman crossover. It paints a vivid psychological portrait of both Batman and his latest arch-nemesis. The film also looks great and boasts a talented voice cast that brings this venerable source material to life. This new DC animated trilogy is off to a great start.’
The Film – What’s the Deal?
So, what are we actually talking about here? Batman: Knightfall – Part 1 is the launchpad for a new trilogy, all tackling the iconic ‘Knightfall’ storyline from the comics — you know, that saga with Bane snapping Batman like a breadstick and all of Gotham going off the rails. The film is part of DC’s big universe of Animated Original Movies, so it’s got a certain pedigree behind it, if you care about such things.
Plot-wise, it leans straight into chaos. Bane frees every lunatic in Arkham Asylum (cheers, mate), and that means Batman’s up against absolutely every major criminal in Gotham, all on the loose at once. If ever there was a premise designed for high-octane animated carnage, this is it. Basically, if you want to watch Batman forced to the bitter edge, physically and mentally, you’ll get your fill.
Batman: Knightfall – Part 1 was revealed to audiences at Annecy in June and rolled out for digital release on 25 August 2026.
Who’s in This Thing?
- Anson Mount
- Michael Mando
- Pablo Schreiber
- Jack Griffo
- Bruce Boxleitner
- David Dastmalchian
No slouches, frankly — you get a line-up like that and suddenly the idea of an animated trilogy seems a bit more ‘event’ than ‘straight to Blu-ray’.
Roll in Dread Central’s Daniel Kurland, he calls the film “exciting, unnerving, and throws Gotham into disarray like few stories successfully accomplish,” and reckons it’s set to join the all-time greats. Could be a bit early to declare it top dog, but going by what we’ve seen so far, the buzz is deserved. If the next two films keep up this pace, it might actually give some of the live-action efforts a run for their money.