With the new Batman trailer today, it hit me that Batman is easily the biggest cinematic role we have in American cinema, much like Bond in Britain. (Although technically US productions, but you get my point.)

No other two characters create the level of buzz not just with their movies, but even the role itself. Casting rumors, predictions, critical reception of each new actor, etc.

So my question is... who's the bigger icon?

Hah, love that.

In videogames, Bond wins. I know there's the Arkham series, but nothing beats Goldeneye.

There are also 25 Bond movies compared to 8 solo Batman movies.

But this is a great question. I personally gravitate towards Batman, but I was also born and grew up in the height of Batmania in the 90's. I do like how both franchises just keep going, no matter who the actor is or how the movies did before. There's a certain type of person that fans want for both roles. I get pumped about new Bond movies but don't necessarily make opening day like I do for Batman movies (or even ones like BvS or JL).

Also no one's ever said "send out the Bond signal".

I'll say this though, for gadgetry and vehicles, it's pretty even.

Today - Batman
All Time - Bond

As far as iconic characters, I would have to say Batman is more iconic than Bond

I was a comic book dork as a kid and never a big Bond fan, but I'd still tend towards thinking Bond is the bigger mainstream brand.

This is a good question. I think what comes to mind for me is the buzz regarding the next Bond / next Batman. People around the water cooler at work know Daniel Craig is done, they probably don't know Robert Pattinson is Batman. But that may be due to the average age at my work.

I guess we'll see next year! Is Batman just for the youngins? Is Bond just for the olds? 2022 will tell.

Spider-Man has made more money than Batman with fewer movies. Not saying he's a bigger icon, but he belongs in the conversation.

Icon considering just film, probably Bond. Including cartoons, comics, books, toys and other merchandise, it's Batman.

I mean... where does Dr. Jones fall in the discussion? If you want to perhaps list most iconic scenes of a movie, I don't think any of the Batman or Bond films have as many iconic cinema moments as the 3 Indiana Jones movies (yes. 3.)

DallasTeleAg said:

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I mean... where does Dr. Jones fall in the discussion? If you want to perhaps list most iconic scenes of a movie, I don't think any of the Batman or Bond films have as many iconic cinema moments as the 3 Indiana Jones movies (yes. 3.)

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Not enough movies and over 30 years since the last one people care about. If this question was asked in 2005, Indy would have an argument for #1.

The Batman will earn *at least* double what No Time To Die did opening weekend ($56M). A minimum $115M opening weekend, if not far, far more, is all but guaranteed. If an action-less, R-rated Joker origin movie can open to $96M, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage can open to $90M during the downward swing of a global pandemic, a brand new Batman movie starring Robert Pattinson will utterly dominate the box office.

I'm afraid Bond is definitely for the olds, at least for now, but that can potentially change with a younger/fresher take next go around (though I still don't believe he'll ever come close to catching Batman in terms of popularity/the cultural zeitgeist).

Its definitely a generational thing. Ask this question 30 years ago and most every guy says Bond. Now its the opposite

I would argue that adds to his iconic nature. If it was only about total number of movies, then Bond wins, hands down.

I feel like $150M+ is guaranteed.

You're probably right.

I don't know anything about kids today, but it seems like more people over 40-ish are going to get a Bond reference than a Batman reference, unless it's a reference to the 60's Batman show.

TCTTS said:

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The Batman will earn *at least* double what No Time To Die did opening weekend ($56M). A minimum $115M opening weekend, if not far, far more, is all but guaranteed. If an action-less, R-rated Joker origin movie can open to $96M, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage can open to $90M during the downward swing of a global pandemic, a brand new Batman movie starring Robert Pattinson will utterly dominate the box office.

I'm afraid Bond is definitely for the olds, at least for now, but that can potentially change with a younger/fresher take next go around (though I still don't believe he'll ever come close to catching Batman in terms of popularity/the cultural zeitgeist).

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If you think about it, Daniel Craig in Casion Royale WAS the Bond franchise grabbing the younger audience with a fresh take.
It was just about 14 years ago or so, and we're not 'young' anymore. They just need to nail their next casting.

TCTTS said:

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The Batman will earn *at least* double what No Time To Die did opening weekend ($56M). A minimum $115M opening weekend, if not far, far more, is all but guaranteed. If an action-less, R-rated Joker origin movie can open to $96M, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage can open to $90M during the downward swing of a global pandemic, a brand new Batman movie starring Robert Pattinson will utterly dominate the box office.

I'm afraid Bond is definitely for the olds, at least for now, but that can potentially change with a younger/fresher take next go around (though I still don't believe he'll ever come close to catching Batman in terms of popularity/the cultural zeitgeist).

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You don't think there is any burnout on Batman after all the Ben Affleck/Snyder movies?

Around mid-January or so all the holiday blockbusters will have come and gone, Oscar season will essentially be over, etc. Then we're going to have about six weeks of sh*tty winter movie releases, to the point where, by the time March 4th rolls around, people will be starving for another big blockbuster. The Batman will also have the entire NFL playoffs to advertise as the sole upcoming blockbuster attraction, will surely get a big Super Bowl spot come mid-February, and then, come early March, will be *the* pop culture event of the spring, with next to no competition. Heck, it might even do $200M opening weekend if word-of-mouth is good.

PatAg said:

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TCTTS said:

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The Batman will earn *at least* double what No Time To Die did opening weekend ($56M). A minimum $115M opening weekend, if not far, far more, is all but guaranteed. If an action-less, R-rated Joker origin movie can open to $96M, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage can open to $90M during the downward swing of a global pandemic, a brand new Batman movie starring Robert Pattinson will utterly dominate the box office.

I'm afraid Bond is definitely for the olds, at least for now, but that can potentially change with a younger/fresher take next go around (though I still don't believe he'll ever come close to catching Batman in terms of popularity/the cultural zeitgeist).

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If you think about it, Daniel Craig in Casion Royale WAS the Bond franchise grabbing the younger audience with a fresh take.
It was just about 14 years ago or so, and we're not 'young' anymore. They just need to nail their next casting.

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Yeah, good point.

PatAg said:

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TCTTS said:

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The Batman will earn *at least* double what No Time To Die did opening weekend ($56M). A minimum $115M opening weekend, if not far, far more, is all but guaranteed. If an action-less, R-rated Joker origin movie can open to $96M, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage can open to $90M during the downward swing of a global pandemic, a brand new Batman movie starring Robert Pattinson will utterly dominate the box office.

I'm afraid Bond is definitely for the olds, at least for now, but that can potentially change with a younger/fresher take next go around (though I still don't believe he'll ever come close to catching Batman in terms of popularity/the cultural zeitgeist).

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You don't think there is any burnout on Batman after all the Ben Affleck/Snyder movies?

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I don't think there will be. People like my parents avoided those movies at all costs because of how overly comic-booky they looked, felt like a ton of work to invest in considering the larger universe they were part of, etc. But I absolutely think that crowd will show up for a fresh, contained Batman take, the start of something new and more adult, etc.

Bruce Almighty said:

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Spider-Man has made more money than Batman with fewer movies. Not saying he's a bigger icon, but he belongs in the conversation.

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Was curious about this, so I charted it in excel.

I took just the mainline movies for each, so didn't count Joker, Into the Spiderverse, or any of the JL or Avengers.

Luckily it worked out to 7 movies for each.

Here's what I got...

BATMAN

Domestic:
Highest grossing film - TDK, $533 M
Lowest grossing film - Batman & Robin, $107 M
Average per film - $270 M
Total - $1.892 B

Worldwide:
Highest grossing film - TDKR, $1.082 B
Lowest grossing film - Batman & Robin, $238 M
Average per film - $527 M
Total - $3.692 B


SPIDER-MAN

Domestic:
Highest grossing film - Spider-Man, $403 M
Lowest grossing film - Amazing SM 2, $202 M
Average per film - $328 M
Total - $2.302 B

Worldwide:
Highest grossing film - Far From Home, $1.130 B
Lowest grossing film - Amazing SM 2, $709 M
Average per film - $853 M
Total - $5.974 B



Couple of interesting things stuck out to me.

1. Interesting that for all their success, there's only one billion dollar movie in each franchise. (TDKR and FFH)
2. Neither of those billion dollar movies was the highest grosser domestically. (TDK and SM)
3. Didn't realize how badly Batman & Robin did. ($107 M domestic, $238 M WW) This one brought the average way down for Batman.

Of course, it's worth mentioning that the top half of Batman movies came out in the 90's, so inflation plays a huge factor here. I'm betting that inflation adjusted numbers would show the two franchises to be pretty neck and neck, domestically.

But worldwide, Spider-Man is a very clear winner. A whole $2B+ over the Batman franchise. And $709 M as your floor is pretty impressive.

I do think both franchises have guaranteed $1B movies coming up in the next year.

I think the Bond movies have grossed something like $7BB, behind only Star Wars and Marvel in terms of series.

Batman is more iconic, though. Batman runs the gamut across age demographics, and across media. I'm not saying I wouldn't watch the absolute hell out of a 007 animated series or movie, I'm just saying that thing doesn't exist. That doesn't mean I can throw on a series with Bond womanizing and killing bad guys for my kiddo, though.

Batman debuted in 1939, Fleming wrote Casino Royale in 1953.
14 years separation from the premier was a shocker. I had in my head Batman was from the 20's & bond was from the 60's.

If we are talking current box office of course almost all comic book characters are bigger than Bond these days.

Icons will largely be dependent on your generation. I grew up watching all the old Connery bonds but as a millennial I still love Spider-Man/Batman more. A lot of older gen x and boomers I think would consider Bond to be more of an icon. I think younger people would actually lean towards Spider-Man over Batman.

For anyone who has nostalgia for that N64 Goldeneye game - do yourselves a favor and do not try playing it again. I have fond, fond memories playing that game with my friends. I tried it again 3-4 years ago and it doesn't hold up, at all.

I was born in 1980. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) are 2 of my favorite movies ever

I like James Bond just fine, but not nearly as much as the 2 movies mentioned previously.

BowSowy said:

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For anyone who has nostalgia for that N64 Goldeneye game - do yourselves a favor and do not try playing it again. I have fond, fond memories playing that game with my friends. I tried it again 3-4 years ago and it doesn't hold up, at all.

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I almost typed up this same response yesterday just about verbatim. DO NOT play it and just keep your great memories intact.