Reviews Praise Bruce Timm’s DC Return in CAPED CRUSADER; Rotten Tomatoes Score

The reviews for Batman: Caped Crusader are in, and it seems to be a promising follow-up for fans of Batman: The Animated Series. Though opinions vary, there’s a general sentiment that this new series has managed to recapture some of the magic of its predecessor, even if it doesn’t entirely match up to it.

The original animated series continues to be highly regarded, so comparisons are inevitable. With Bruce Timm and Matt Reeves at the helm, this 1940s-set crime saga on Prime Video does appear to come close to those high standards, albeit with some shortcomings.

Empire’s 4-star review describes Batman: Caped Crusader as, “a return to the very foundations of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s character-defining Batman: The Animated Series — a show that feels like a renewal rather than a retread.” Similarly, Total Film also awards it 4 stars, saying, “Caped Crusader is 2024’s answer to Batman: The Animated Series, delivering 10 episodes filled with moody, mature villains opposite Hamish Linklater’s Batman in a strong reinvention of a beloved series.”

IGN is a bit more reserved in its praise, giving the series a 7/10 and noting, “Batman: Caped Crusader isn’t Batman: The Animated Series, but it does apply its spirit to a captivating detective story.”

io9 comments, “Intentionally or not, Batman: Caped Crusader leans much of its weight on nostalgic affection for Animated Series, from its creative forces to its visual style and Linklater’s performance. But it grows into its own distinct thing over time, and while not an instant classic, you can see it being something impressive in its own right with more seasons.”

On the other hand, Slash Film praises the show as a “creative new take on Batman that reminds us why we are fundamentally drawn to hero characters in the first place.” However, Radio Times is a bit more critical, ending up with a 3/5 review and stating, “Batman: Caped Crusader is a stylish but surprisingly simple series, feeling all too familiar in how it plays out.”

The Wrap takes issue with the animation quality, stating, “The animation frequently looks choppy and, in some scenes, downright minimal, with characters sometimes frozen in place as their mouths exchange dialogue without the subtle facial shifts, body language and line work that made ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ so special.”

Despite these varying opinions, the good news for fans is that, as of now, Batman: Caped Crusader holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. We’ll be keeping an eye on that score to see if it remains as more reviews come in.

Welcome to Gotham City, where the corrupt outnumber the good, criminals run rampant and law-abiding citizens live in a constant state of fear. Forged in the fire of tragedy, wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human—the BATMAN. His one-man crusade for justice attracts unexpected allies within the GCPD and City Hall, but his heroic actions spawn deadly, unforeseen ramifications.

Batman: Caped Crusader will make its debut on Prime Video on August 1.