DC Studios’ New Batman Movie Reviews Are Way Better Than Supergirl

DC Studios may have found a much-needed bright spot after a rough summer. Early reactions to its next Batman movie have landed strongly, with Annecy Festival audiences and several critics praising its villain, action, and tighter storytelling ahead of its digital release.

Batman: Knightfall – Part One gets first reviews ahead of Rotten Tomatoes score

The animated feature premiered at France’s Annecy Festival, where Variety reported that the crowd responded with “thunderous applause.” The reaction arrived after Supergirl struggled commercially and received a mixed critical response. That film currently sits at 52% from critics and 73% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, while Knightfall has yet to receive an official Rotten Tomatoes score.

The action seems to impress many. The Wrap praised director Jeff Wamester for handling the battles with clear choreography and strong spatial awareness, while Nexus Point News described the movie’s combat as “brutal, visceral, fast-paced and gruesome.”

Michael Mando appears to have emerged as one of the movie’s biggest weapons. He voices Bane, the hulking villain at the heart of the story, and Nexus Point News said he “completely steals the show.” IGN went even further, describing Mando’s version as the “most faithful take” on Bane. Unlike the PG-13-rated Supergirl, the new Batman adaptation carries an R rating.

At just 80 minutes, Knightfall – Part One doesn’t waste much time getting to the good stuff. IGN handed the animated movie a 9/10, praising how it “trims” the sprawling comic storyline and keeps the spotlight firmly on Batman, Bane, and the heroes closest to him. Variety also gave Tim Drake’s Robin plenty of love, calling him a standout, while Azrael gets a particularly brutal moment that is tough to forget.

Away from the rave reviews, DiscussingFilm wasn’t quite sold on the movie, calling it “a bit of a mixed bag” and taking issue with its slow-burning opening, which it felt took too long to get things rolling.

Even so, the early word is looking much stronger than Supergirl, giving Knightfall – Part One plenty of momentum heading into its August 25 digital release.