Michael Keaton’s career has been quite the roller coaster of successes and setbacks. After garnering early triumphs in family comedies such as Beetlejuice and Mr. Mom, Keaton’s takeoff to the moon was in the Batman franchise directed by Tim Burton. His calm confidence and wry line delivery made all his characters unique, especially compared to other stars of the 1990s. At the turn of the century, Keaton’s career started to dwindle as he took on unnotable roles and box office blunders.
The last decade has been nothing but a positive for Keaton. Appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a return to older franchises he was a part of, and several superb performances in Academy Award-worthy films have made Keaton a draw once again. These are the best Michael Keaton movies every fan needs to see at least once.
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Batman (1989)
126m
Genre
Fantasy, Action, Crime
Stars
Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger
Directed by
Tim Burton
Watch on max
Tim Burton’s first Batman movie needed talented actors to elevate the superhero medium into something greater than the “Saturday morning cartoon” fare that it had been known for. In it, Jack Nicholson’s Joker gets a lot of the credit for this movie’s legacy, but Keaton made Batman great and provided a steady presence. The franchise has recycled many actors since then, but fans revere Keaton’s portrayal, and it was shown once again when he made a cameo in The Flash as the Caped Crusader.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
130m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Rylance
Directed by
Aaron Sorkin
Watch on Netflix
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is based on the real riots that took place in 1968 surrounding the Democratic National Convention. Wartime tensions were high with the conflict in Vietnam, and Americans were unhappy with the allocation of resources overseas. The film transports viewers back to the late 1960s when social and political issues plagued the period, many of which are still relevant as Americans fight for what they believe is right in the 2020s. Keaton plays Ramsey Clark in the film, while other big names include Jeremy Strong and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Beetlejuice (1988)
92m
Genre
Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder
Directed by
Tim Burton
Watch on max
Perfect for Halloween season, Beetlejuice is the classic horror comedy in which Keaton plays a ghost who tries to take back a house for a dead couple. Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara fill out the ensemble well. The chaotic, offbeat dark humor instilled in the story by Tim Burton made Beetlejuice a 1980s classic. The sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, was released over 35 years later in the fall of 2024, with Keaton, Ryder, and O’Hara returning for more spooky laughs.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
133m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama
Stars
Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr.
Directed by
Jon Watts
Watch on Disney+
Spider-Man: Homecoming put Keaton on the other side of justice from his Batman days. He terrorizes Peter Parker and his friends as Vulture in the first film of Marvel’s rebooted Spider-Man franchise in the late 2010s. Keaton is one of the rare actors to play both the superhero and villain equally well in his acting career. Spider-Man: Homecoming reaffirmed the web-slinger as Marvel’s preeminent protagonist (along with Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man).
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
120m
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Stars
Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis
Directed by
Alejandro González Iñárritu
Watch on Hulu
Birdman features arguably the most critically acclaimed performance of Keaton’s career. The plot eerily resembles Keaton’s quest for redemption as he plays an actor who used to be a big superhero star and now wants to evolve past those roots into something greater. Edward Norton is a scene stealer as Keaton’s co-star, and the movie was a darling at the Academy Awards. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu plays with a lot of creative liberties behind the camera to give this movie an artistic flair unlike anything else.
Spotlight (2015)
129m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
Directed by
Tom McCarthy
Watch on Amazon
Spotlight serves a duel purpose. It allows people to see how unjust and despicable the trend of abuse is within the Catholic Church and demonstrates the courage of a set of journalists who know they need to shine a light on the truth. Keaton and Mark Ruffalo star alongside Rachel McAdams and Liev Schreiber. The movie went on to win Best Picture.
The Founder (2016)
115m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch
Directed by
John Lee Hancock
Watch on Amazon
The Founder is a biopic that follows the folks who made McDonald’s what it is today, but the title is slightly misleading. Keaton plays Ray Kroc, a businessman who bought the burger joint from the original founders and used his marketing creativity to transform the small shop into what it is known as today worldwide. Anybody who enjoys learning about American history or the most important businesses in the country will find something fascinating in this film.
Jackie Brown (1997)
154m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro
Directed by
Quentin Tarantino
Watch on Amazon
Not one of Quentin Tarantino’s most famous films but certainly still an exciting one, Jackie Brown is the saga of a woman on the run as she possesses money that others want and need. Strong female leads and supporting work from Keaton and Samuel L. Jackson are a trademark of Tarantino’s best movies, and they remain the same here.
Mr. Mom (1983)
91m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Michael Keaton, Teri Garr, Frederick Koehler
Directed by
Stan Dragoti
Watch on Amazon
Mr. Mom is dated in its stereotypes concerning gender roles and parenting, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be funny. The movie doesn’t mean any harm but rather portrays the hilarity of a father (played by Keaton) who has no experience running a household and must adapt when his wife goes to work and becomes the breadwinner. This was one of Keaton’s first star roles, which showed his ability in the comedy genre, and it’s a fun little flick to watch four decades later.
