Batman’s latest animated film has opened to rave reviews from critics. The much-awaited DC story is already soaring on Rotten Tomatoes just a day after its release.
Batman: Knightfall – Part 1: Knightfall premiered at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 23, before its digital release on August 25.
Shortly after its digital release, Part 1: Knightfall has received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The movie currently holds a whopping 95% on Rotten Tomatoes‘ Popcornmeter. While the Tomatometer score has yet to arrive, some critics have already given their verdict.
Jesse Schedeen from IGN says, “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.”
Swara Ahmed of The Nerds of Color called Batman: Knightfall – Part 1 a “masterpiece,” adding, “It 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.”
Additionally, Dread Central’s Daniel Kurland said, “Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall is exciting, unnerving, and throws Gotham into disarray like few stories successfully accomplish. It’s destined to be one of the all-time great Batman animated movies.”
What is Batman: Knightfall – Part 1 about?
Batman: Knightfall – Part 1 is the first instalment of the planned Batman: Knightfall trilogy. It is based on the Dark Knight’s “Knightfall” arc in DC Comics. The three movies will be part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series.
Part 1: Knightfall follows Batman as he struggles to contain the chaos that Bane wreaked in Arkham Asylum by freeing all the inmates. With Gotham’s most dangerous criminals out in the streets again, the caped crusader pushes himself to the absolute limit to stop them all.
The movie’s voice cast includes Anson Mount, Michael Mando, Pablo Schreiber, Jack Griffo, Bruce Boxleitner, David Dastmalchian, and more.
