Ben Affleck (Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice)
After initial criticism for his casting in Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman, fans lightened up to the idea of a Batfleck. We can’t be totally sure why there was such a change in attitude, but perhaps it was his unpredictably dark performance in David Fincher’s mega-success Gone Girl that turned some heads. He also demonstrated his skills in the badass department with the action flick The Accountant, which was enjoyed by audiences but received mixed reviews.
Batman V Superman has been out for a while now and the general consensus is that it really wasn’t that good. However, the critics have been kind to the Batfleck, with many agreeing that Affleck’s rendition as the world’s greatest detective was one of the few things worthwhile about the project. The Good Will Hunting creator was able to successfully bring back the charm of the billionaire, while also making the character a seasoned, crime-fighting veteran. Donning the costume from The Dark Knight Returns, he even had some grey hairs.
Time will ultimately tell how Affleck ranks with the other actors on this list, but he’s already been assigned to numerous other DC Extended Universe projects, including Justice League and his own Batman film, so it seems like he’ll be the sole wearer of the live-action cowl and cape for quite some time.
