Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall has officially debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a 90% critic score, marking the highest-rated DC film of 2026 so far. The R-rated animated movie, which arrived on digital platforms on August 25, 2026, has also earned a strong 94% audience score on the review aggregation site. The film stars Anson Mount as the voice of Batman and Michael Mando as the villain Bane. This is the first chapter of a planned three-part animated trilogy adapting the iconic Knightfall comic saga from the 1990s.
Critics Give Knightfall Part 1 Strong Reviews
The Rotten Tomatoes score for Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall currently stands at 90%, based on 10 submitted reviews at the time of writing. This places it well above DC Studios’ Supergirl, which holds a 53% score, making Knightfall Part 1 the top-rated DC release of the year. The score is still subject to change as more critic reviews continue to arrive.
Critics have praised the film for its faithful adaptation of the source material and its brutal action sequences. Jesse Schedeen of IGN gave the movie a 9/10, writing that it “succeeds in cutting through the fat and adapting the essential core of a classic Batman crossover.” Swara Salih of The Nerds of Color called it a masterpiece, stating that it is “the best animated Batman film since Mask of the Phantasm and one of the best Batman films period.”
“Batman: Knightfall – Part 1: Knightfall, on the whole, is a masterpiece. It is the best animated Batman film since Mask of the Phantasm and one of the best Batman films period, soaring above so many other to reach the cream of the crop.” — Swara Salih, The Nerds of Color
Not every review has been fully positive. Some critics noted that the film feels incomplete as a standalone story, since it is only the first part of a larger narrative. CBR’s review mentioned that the movie “feels like an incomplete story” and “doesn’t balance its three lead character arcs well,” while still praising its brutal action and faithful adaptation.
What the Audience Score Says
The Rotten Tomatoes audience score, also known as the Popcornmeter, sits at 94% for Batman: Knightfall Part 1. This is a strong result for an R-rated animated film, showing that the target audience is connecting with the movie. Some early reports even showed the audience score reaching 96% or 97% shortly after release, though it has settled slightly since then.
Audience members have highlighted the film’s violence and emotional weight as key strengths. Comments on the Rotten Tomatoes page have called it “brutal and emotionally grabbing” and “absolute, undisputed cinema.” The film’s R-rating has been singled out as a positive, allowing the adaptation to capture the true brutality of the Knightfall storyline without holding back.
Release Details and Where to Watch
Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall was released on digital platforms on August 25, 2026. Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions can purchase or rent the film through services including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango, and Google Play. A physical release on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD followed on September 8, 2026, available from major online and physical retailers worldwide.
The film runs for approximately 78 minutes and is rated R for strong bloody violence and some language. Special features on the digital and physical releases include a behind-the-scenes feature titled “Breaking the Bat: Adapting the Knightfall,” which explores the process of bringing the comic saga to animation, and another feature called “Batman Needs a Robin,” focusing on the role of Tim Drake in the story.
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Cast and Crew Behind the Animated Trilogy
Anson Mount leads the voice cast as Bruce Wayne / Batman. Mount previously voiced the character in the animated film Injustice. Michael Mando, known for his role as Scorpion in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, voices Bane. Pablo Schreiber voices Jean-Paul Valley / Azrael, a character who plays a major role in the Knightfall saga.
Other cast members include Jack Giffin as Tim Drake / Robin, Bruce Boxleitner as Commissioner Gordon, and David Dastmalchian as Edward Nygma / The Riddler. Jeff Wamester directed the film, with a screenplay by Jeremy Adams. Jim Krieg and Kimberly S. Moreau served as producers, while Sam Register and Michael Uslan are executive producers.
How Knightfall Part 1 Fits Into the DC Lineup
Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall is the first of three animated movies adapting the Knightfall comic book event that ran from 1993 to 1994. The original storyline introduced Bane and featured one of the most famous moments in Batman comics history, where Bane breaks Batman’s back. The trilogy will cover the three acts of the saga: Knightfall, Knightquest, and KnightsEnd.
Part 2 is expected to arrive later in 2026, while Part 3 is scheduled for release in 2027. The trilogy is part of DC Studios’ ongoing push into adult-oriented animated movies, following releases like the two-part Watchmen adaptation and Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires. The Knightfall story was previously loosely adapted in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises in 2012, but this animated trilogy marks the first direct adaptation of the full saga.
Also Read: James Gunn Shuts Down Reports of DCU’s ‘Batman: The Brave and the Bold’ Being Put on Hold
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