Pattinson's Batman is less imposing than many other versions of the character, very much by design. Matt Reeves presents The Dark Knight in the early stages of his career, struggling for purpose and full of self-doubt. His detective skills take precedent over his fighting abilities -- with the hunt for The Riddler foremost in his mind -- and while he's as strong a combatant as any Batman, the movie takes the character in a different direction.

That admirably stresses the film's thriller elements, and ratchets up the tension and suspense even though everyone knows Bruce Wayne will be okay. His stunts don't always go as planned -- witness the bumpy landing after his escape from police custody -- and while he takes a lot of damage, he owes a good deal of his stamina to his armor. The spirit is willing, and indeed, his relentlessness is part of what makes him such a terrific Batman. As far as physical prowess goes, however, he may need to wait for a sequel or two before climbing the ranks any higher.

It's been said that George Clooney is more or less a real-life version of Bruce Wayne, so it makes sense that his single appearance as Batman would emphasize his civilian side. The disaster of Batman & Robin almost makes the question of his strength irrelevant, though it's clear that his Caped Crusader has some power in his punch. The most obvious example is the way he takes on Mr. Freeze without skipping a beat, as well as his ability to beat up miscreants in general.

The real threat in Batman & Robin comes less from brawn than from something more subtle. Poison Ivy's pheromones turn Bruce and Dick against each other, almost accomplishing what her minion Bane cannot. It clouds the question of his physical strength even more, leaving Clooney's Batman somewhere in the middle of the pack on that front.

Joel Schumacher's two big-screen Batman movies will always be a source of controversy. They have been widely derided for their camp excess and bombast, though they have also earned their share of fans who argue that such qualities are the point.

While the movie's merits can be debated, his Batman is easily one of the most athletic of the lot, rushing into action and dispatching numerous faceless goons. The film climaxes with him saving Robin from The Riddler's death trap, supporting the dead weight of a full-grown crimefighter in the middle of a plummet to the ground. It's not his only feat of physical strength in the film, but it's the strongest example of what his Bruce Wayne is capable of.

Affleck's Batman is defined by his presence in a larger ensemble, first appearing alongside Kal-El and Diana in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. He's unquestionably one of the tougher Caped Crusaders around, considering that the entire film is predicated on a stand-up fight against Superman. Even with his armor and gadgets -- and Affleck's Batman is exceedingly gadget-heavy -- he can clearly take a pounding.

The toys cloud his physical strength a great deal, however, as does the simple fact that he's fighting alongside Atlanteans and Amazons in Justice League. It makes him look less strong than he might be. Affleck is also one of the oldest Bruce Waynes to appear onscreen, appearing after twenty years of vigilantism have taken their toll. When Batman's various gadgets and toys are factored in, he might easily top the list. On his own, however, and with his onscreen age factoring in, a few other Dark Knights still stand ahead of him.

Michael Keaton had considerably fewer competitors when he first debuted as The Caped Crusader in 1989's Batman. Adam West was the only other actor whom fans had any real memory of, and the vast majority of other Batman performances had yet to be given. He's also the first live-action Batman to specifically make use of body armor, sculpted to match a hero's physique and contrasting sharply with West's classic tights. That downplays his combat prowess considerably, even though he ranks among the most imposing Bruce Waynes ever to set foot onscreen.

His body armor mitigates it somewhat, but he's perfectly willing to mix it up with the Joker and his henchmen as Bruce Wayne. His standing gets a further boost from his appearance in 2023's The Flash. Despite his advanced age and years spent in retirement, he still gives a fully powered version of Barry Allen all that he can handle, without armor and using only kitchen implements to boot. It's enough to put him in the upper echelons of live-action Batmans, at least as far as physical strength goes.

West has one feature that subsequent big-screen Batmen don't: he doesn't wear body armor. His costume is simply cloth or spandex, which means he feels every blow a baddie lands. Granted, guns and knives rarely come into play, but even so, no other Caped Crusader can take a punch and keep going the way West can. His gadgets rarely come into play either, used primarily to stop any villainous dirty tricks rather than resolve the fights for him. And for all of Batman's whimsical, campy nature, West's Caped Crusader really enjoys beating up miscreants, suggesting a toughness that transcends the show's satirical tone.

Add to that the sheer tonnage of onscreen fights he's engaged in -- at least one per episode for the entire three-season run -- and it speaks to an astonishing level of stamina. He's almost always outnumbered, and while he usually has Robin and/or Batgirl to help, the odds are invariably against him. No other live-action Batman can approach the number of miscreants he's beaten unconscious onscreen, and when combined with his comparative lack of external protection, it proves extremely difficult to top.