The Dark Knight trilogy

Batman, a superhero created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger for comic books published by DC Comics, has appeared in nearly every form of media, including film since the 1940s. Columbia Pictures supervised the first film adaptations with Batman (1943) and Batman and Robin (1949), which deviated significantly from the source material. 20th Century Fox then released Batman (1966) as the theatrical spinoff to the American Broadcasting Company's (ABC) live-action TV program, also titled Batman (1966–1968), starring Adam West. After several years in limbo, Warner Bros. Pictures purchased the copyrights and developed a succession of Batman films in the late twentieth century, two directed by Tim Burton and another pair by Joel Schumacher. Michael Keaton portrays Batman in the Burton films, while Val Kilmer and George Clooney feature in said role in the Schumacher films.