ok so remember when I said I was cautiously hyped about the new Batman movie after those first 10 minutes dropped? yeah, I can officially drop the "cautiously" part. the reviews are in and critics are straight up losing it over this one.

The movie has landed with reviewers and the word "masterpiece" is getting thrown around, which for an animated Batman film is kind of wild. Like, animated DC usually gets a polite "solid" or a "good time for fans" and everyone moves on. This one is getting actual raves. Superhero Hype has the full roundup of what critics are saying and it's genuinely impressive stuff.

and I know what some of you are thinking. "it's animated, Jess, calm down." no. you calm down. animation has been where DC does its best work for years now. some of the darkest, weirdest Batman stories ever told have been in the animated lane because you can do stuff in animation that would cost a billion dollars in live action, and you can actually go there creatively without a studio exec fainting.

This is also the movie that got the R rating, which we covered when the trailer dropped back in July. So between the rating and the review scores, it's pretty clear they weren't playing it safe with this one. That usually pays off. When DC lets these films be actual films instead of products, it shows.

What's clicking with critics, from what I'm reading, is that it actually has a point of view. like a real story with stakes, not "Batman punches things for 90 minutes," and apparently some genuinely striking craft in the animation itself. People keep mentioning specific sequences. I won't spoil any of it here because I hate that, but the buzz is not vague "this is fine" buzz. It's specific, and specific buzz is the real kind.

I still haven't seen the full movie, and you all know I don't hype something I haven't actually sat with. Grandma raised me on honesty, not vibes. But the difference between cautious hype and regular hype is information, and the information is now very loud.

so here's the plan. I'm seeing it as soon as I physically can, and then you're getting my full thoughts, no filter. If it's a masterpiece I'll say that. If critics got swept up in the moment and it's actually just pretty good, I'll say that too. either way, an animated Batman movie walking out of reviews with "masterpiece" attached to its name in 2026 is not something I expected and I'm so here for it.

Go read the critics' takes, then come argue with me about it after you've watched it. I'll be waiting.