Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark, animated flock of Bat-stories has bloody violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Batman: Gotham Knight
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 23 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is excessively violent and bloody, making it unsuitable for young viewers, with recommendations suggesting an age limit of 13 or older due to graphic scenes and strong language. Despite its dark themes, some fans appreciate the unique animation style and action, but overall, many agree it doesn't fit the typical family-friendly superhero mold.
- violence
- graphic content
- age recommendation
- animation style
- strong language
- unsuitable for young kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT is like an animated-movie equivalent of a comic book (hey, Batman in a comic book -- imagine that), with six separate directors/artist teams (with lots of CGI) handling different segments, as loosely linked storylines covering Batman's adventures in Gotham City. Most telling (and effective) is the opener, in which a bunch of skateboarding kids see Batman's running battle with a bad guy. Each has a different POV of the caped crime-fighter. One beheld him as a mighty robot, another as a supernatural shadow-being, and so on, until the real Batman shows up -- a vulnerable, flesh-and-blood man whose life is saved by one of the kids. Ensuing stories relate Bruce Wayne testing new gadgets, plunging into the freakish world of Arkham Asylum villains to save a kidnapped bishop, and going to India to learn the inner-strength secrets of the fakirs. In the finale he faces a hired sniper targeting Commissioner Gordon.
Is It Any Good?
The effect is not unlike The Animatrix -- uneven, disjointed, sometimes baffling, with some mesmerizing visuals, and not for all tastes. Batmaniacs have proven very accepting of bold, revisionist takes on their hero, and the cartoon Batman here was obviously meant to be taken seriously. The striking, protean animation is strongly influenced overall by Japanese anime, though it's a bit strange when Bruce Wayne looks like a tousle-haired Tokyo teen, ready for a round of Yu-Gi-OH! cards, more so than combating scoundrels like Scarecrow and Killer Croc (no Joker, no Riddler, no Penguin, not even a Robin or Batgirl to bring this one into more juvenile territory).
The flashback to India is the most emotionally satisfying episode, while the finale of Batman: Gotham Knight tries to tie various strands together. Naturally the shorthand-narrative format limits most of the material to action and terse dialog, only paying lip-service to, say, Batman's attitude toward guns (his parents were shot to death) instead of going into depth. The appeal is for those with a strong background in Batman-ology, rather than newcomers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the unconventional style and approach of Batman: Gotham Knight. What do kids think of this more "mature" Batman, in both late 20th-century comics and movies, vs. the earlier, more lighthearted Bat-antics, most infamously represented on 1960s TV.
Is an animated Batman more effective than an actor in a live-action epic?
Do you like Batman a psychologically tortured character or a straight-up high-tech crimebuster? You can discuss Batman as the dark counterpart to Superman and what makes him special among superheroes.
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 8, 2008
- On DVD or streaming : July 8, 2008
- Cast : Kevin Conroy , Pariminder Nagra , Rob Paulsen
- Directors : Brian Azzarello , David S. Goyer
- Studio : Warner Home Video
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Superheroes
- Run time : 76 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : stylized violence, including some bloody images.
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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