All 5 Catwoman Movies & Appearances in Order
Since her first appearance in Batman #1 in 1940, Catwoman has been a beloved and iconic character in the DC Comics universe. Her on-screen portrayals have ranged from campy to serious, but they have always captured the feline charm and seductive allure that make Catwoman so intriguing. In this article, we’ll take a chronological look at all the Catwoman appearances and movies and explore the different interpretations of this complex character over the years.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious about the various incarnations of Catwoman, we’ve got you covered. So let’s take a look at all Catwoman movies in order.
How many Catwoman movies are there?
In terms of stand-alone Catwoman movies, there’s only one. But she also appeared in four other movies featuring Batman, so five different movies featuring Catwoman exist when it comes to movie portrayals of the characters. There have been numerous cinematic versions of Catwoman over the decades ranging from brilliant performances to utterly ridiculous ones. Still, a certain charm was always present. This is, in part, why Catwoman is an inevitable supporting character in most Batman movies.
Catwoman movies in order (at a glance)
Catwoman first appeared in the 1966 Batman movie, played by Lee Meriwether. The last time we saw Catwoman on screen was in 2022, The Batman, played by Zoe Kravitz.
- Batman (1966)
- Batman Returns (1992)
- Catwoman (2004)
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- The Batman (2022)
Are Catwoman movies connected? Do you need to watch them in a specific order?
Not all Catwoman movies are connected. Most Batman appearances that she made, including her own stand-alone movie, are not set in the same continuity and therefore follow different storylines. Due to this, there’s no specific watch order that you need to follow.
What is the best way to watch Catwoman movies?
The best way to watch Catwoman movies is in release date order. Since most of Catwoman’s appearances were part of the larger Batman series, it’s recommended to follow that watch order. As we’ve already mentioned, the movies by themselves are set in different continuities and follow different versions of the character. It’s optimal to follow the release date order since, in this way, you can see the evolution of the on-screen Catwoman portrayals over the decades.
Catwoman movies in order – by release date
Batman (1966)
Our watch order starts with Batman, released in 1966. Lee Meriwether portrayed Catwoman here, and it was the first movie appearance for both Catwoman and Batman. The Batman movie released in 1966 was based on the popular TV series of the same name and starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin.
The film follows the dynamic duo as they battle the villainous quartet of Joker, Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman, who have joined forces to take over the world. The plot is filled with comical hijinks and over-the-top gadgets, including the famous “Bat Shark Repellent,” as Batman and Robin work to foil the villains’ schemes and save the day.
Batman Returns (1992)
The second Catwoman appearance belongs to the Burton era of Batman movies. The film follows Batman as he faces off against three villains: the Penguin, a deformed and grotesque man seeking revenge on the citizens of Gotham City; Catwoman, a meek secretary transformed into a skilled and seductive thief; and businessman Max Shreck, who has his own sinister plans for Gotham City. The second on-screen portrayal of Catwoman was by Michelle Pfeiffer.
Catwoman (2004)
The first and so-far only stand-alone Catwoman movie released in 2004 stars Halle Berry as Patience Phillips, a shy and unassuming artist who is murdered after discovering a dangerous secret about her cosmetics company employer. However, she is resurrected by an Egyptian cat goddess and transformed into Catwoman, a leather-clad vigilante with superhuman abilities and a thirst for revenge.
As Catwoman, Patience sets out to expose the corrupt practices of the cosmetics company and confronts its ruthless owner, played by Sharon Stone. The film takes a more action-packed and stylish approach to the Catwoman character, with elaborate fight scenes and sleek visuals, but received mixed reviews from critics and fans alike. Halle Berry earned herself a Razzie award for the worst lead actress in a movie. She showed up and accepted the award with grace.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The Dark Knight Rises is the third and final installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, released in 2012. The film takes place eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, with Batman (played by Christian Bale) having retired and Gotham City enjoying a period of relative peace. However, a new threat emerges in the form of the masked terrorist Bane (played by Tom Hardy), who seeks to destroy Gotham and bring Batman to his knees. As Bane wreaks havoc on the city, Batman must come out of retirement and confront his own physical and emotional limitations to save the people of Gotham. In the Dark Knight Rises, Catwoman was portrayed by Anne Hathaway, who extensively trained for the role.
The Batman (2022)
The Batman, released in 2022 and directed by Matt Reeves, is a dark and gritty reboot of the Batman film franchise. The film stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman, who is in his second year of fighting crime in Gotham City. As a series of brutal murders plague the city, Batman must confront a rogue’s gallery of villains, including the Riddler (played by Paul Dano), who has a personal vendetta against the wealthy elite of Gotham. Along the way, Batman allies with new Commissioner James Gordon (played by Jeffrey Wright) and Catwoman (played by Zoë Kravitz), a skilled thief with her own agenda.
Where to watch Catwoman movies?
You can watch the first movie featuring Catwoman, Batman, released in 1966 on Amazon Prime Video, while the rest of the movies are available on the streaming platform HBO Max.
Will there be more Catwoman movies?
As far as stand-alone Catwoman movies go, those seem unlikely at the moment, but Pattison’s Batman is set to appear in the newly revamped DC Elseworlds under the title “The Batman Part II,” which serves as a sequel for the 2022 movie and its possible that the movie will likewise feature Zoe Kravitz once again as Catwoman. The movie
Honorable Mentions
Catwoman had several other live-action portrayals in live-action series. Both Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt portrayed Catwoman in the Batman live-action series that ran from 1966 until 1968, with Earth Kitt being the first black Catwoman and pawing the way for other stars.
Ashley Scott played portrayed Catwoman in the 2022 Birds of Prey series, while Camren Bicondova played young Selina Kyle in the series Gotham.
