Merry Little Batman (2023) User Reviews

Christmas is here and So is Batman

[nitinkhatri · 7/10 · 12 December 2023]

Watch it for Batman & Luke Wilson with some great actors from other well known shows and movies. If you are a Batman fan like myself you will love this quirky yet enjoyable and never before presentation of The Dark Knight.

Mike Roth's Merry Little Batman is a great cartoon for families. The art style is funny and reminds us of cartoons from Cartoon Network in the 2010s, like Regular Show. Damian Wayne, Batman's son, is usually shown in one way, but this movie changes that. It's really funny, and the voices, especially Luke Wilson as Batman, are excellent. It's a perfect cartoon for the holidays, with a good mix of heart and humor thanks to the writers Morgan Evans and Jase Ricci from Teen Titans Go!.

Batman for CN

[yusufpiskin · 6/10 · 9 December 2023]

This is exactly what would happen if Batman were a Cartoon Network production rather than a DC production.

The fact that the project was handed over to Mike Roth really added a different style to the animation.

Mike Roth is a name who has previously written and drawn works such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Regular Show.

It was a logical decision to include experienced names such as James Cromwell and Luke Wilson in the dubbing cast.

They entrusted the character of Damien Wayne to Yonas Kibreab, who has experience beyond his years.

As a Batman collector myself, I am very satisfied. Of course, when it comes to Batman, everyone has very high expectations.

So much potential!

[ryandetty · 5/10 · 20 December 2023]

I really want to love this movie but I just found myself feeling 'meh' in the end. The concept is interesting because it tends to get tiresome seeing gritty and tough Batman. It's great that somebody wants to lighten things up and give a more carefree view of Batman without going zany and immature to the level of Teen Titans Go.

The performances are pretty solid. I was hesitant with Luke Wilson at first but he is probably the strongest role of the film. Turns out he is well suited for the 'Bat-Dad' role.

Lastly, the animation style. I really like it. It made me feel like getting out the brushes and painting a scene. I love that it isn't too complex but still engaging.

If you're a Batman fan then check it out. Just don't expect anything eye opening or revolutionary.

Exceeded my wildest expectations

[mi_minx · 9 December 2023]

It's actually good. I mean way better then I thought it was going to be If you're expecting the typical bat story you'll be disappointed It's not Adam West zap pow It's not Tim Burton, Frank Miller, or something a true fan would pick up off the rack on Monday It is the Kodachrome day dream you had after reading the latest issue when you were 8... with the Vandal and Kinks soundtrack you discovered later in life Worth a watch for life long fans.and those that like comics because no matter how old you are you're still a kid that believes that when you grow up you could be the greatest superhero.

"We set out to only steal Christmas but you... You destroyed it!"

[gettodamoofies · 7/10 · 24 December 2023]

FILM: 7/10.

Embarking on a watch of the 2023 film Merry Little Batman, I found myself pleasantly surprised by this rescued gem. Initially teetering on the brink of becoming another Warner Bros tax write-off, Amazon stepped in to salvage this animated adventure from cinematic obscurity.

Designed with a bullseye on the 30 to 40-something parents who cut their Bat-teeth on Batman: The Animated Series, Merry Little Batman delivers a Bat-themed holiday treat perfect for family viewing.

The animation style, a departure from my usual preferences, echoes the director Mike Roth's earlier work on SpongeBob SquarePants and The Regular Show. While not my cup of tea, it adds a quirky charm that younger audiences might appreciate.

What truly sets Merry Little Batman aglow is its relentless shower of references to Batman lore from comics, films, and TV shows. It's a joy for fans, creating a playful tapestry woven with nods to the Caped Crusader's expansive pop culture footprint.

At its core, the film cleverly repackages the Home Alone formula. However, instead of a regular family, we have Batman's son, Damian, defending Wayne Manor and Gotham against the formidable rogues' gallery. The familiar premise injects a fresh dose of fun into the holiday-themed narrative.

While the animation style might not align with my tastes, Merry Little Batman manages to carve out its own Bat-niche. It's a festive flick that successfully bridges the generational gap, offering a holiday escapade that's both nostalgic for Bat-fans and a new, animated delight for the younger audience. With a playful spirit and nods to Batman's rich legacy, it's a merry Bat-venture worth unwrapping.

FORMAT: Streaming

VIDEO: 9/10.

1080p streaming presentation, Detail level: Good, Colour reproduction: Excellent, Level accuracy: Excellent, Encode: Excellent, Master condition: Excellent

AUDIO: 9/10.

Dolby Digital 5.1 streaming audio, Dialogue reproduction: Excellent, Soundtrack & effects clarity: Excellent, Dynamics: Excellent, Surround sound presentation: Good, LFE content: Good

MOOFIEMETER: 7/10.

Neat Holiday Special Saved From Being Tax Write-Off

[jeremycrimsonfox · 7/10 · 15 December 2023]

Merry Little Batman is a Christmas special based around the Dark Knight that has quite a history. Originally planned for release on HBO Max (now known as Max), the special was shelved to be a tax write off, but thankfully, Amazon Prime Video, who acquired the upcoming Batman: The Caped Crusader animated series, would aquire this special, and this year, was released on Amazon Prime Video via Amazon MGM Studios.

In this charming special, young Damian Wayne (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) dreams of being a superhero like his father, Bruce, a.k.a. Batman (voiced by Luke Wilson), who thinks he is not ready, as well as there is no crime in Gotham since Bruce, as Batman, worked overtime to finally make Gotham crime-free when he learned he was going to be a dad. However, when Batman is stranded after going on a mission for the Justice League, and Alfred is out shopping, Damian has to step up when Wayne Manor gets broken into by a duo of burglars when they take advantage of his antics knocking out the electricity, and steal the utility belt his father got him, Damian goes after them to get it back, leading to him going up against his father's old enemies, including The Joker.

This special is very charming. Showing a new take on Batman (as this one has a beard and is happy), the special has a good story with a nice moral, and even a good voice cast to boot. This may not click with some Batman fans due to the fact it has a Batman who is happy (and sporting a beard), but to me, this is a neat Christmas special.

Batman and Damian saving Christmas

[MB-reviewer185 · 6/10 · 9 December 2023]

I was not sure if this movie was going to come out or not, but without knowing, it randomly comes out on the Amazon Prime streaming service; all I knew was that the movie was a mix of Batman from the DC universe and the movie Home Alone (1990). The movie Merry Little Batman (2023) has an interesting but nice-looking animation style, some funny moments, and a premise that felt stretched out; it follows the Home Alone (1990) premise in the first half of the movie, but then keeps going, and does something else that I was not expecting with a different premise that could have worked as the full movie and not just second to last half of the movie.

Luke Wilson as Bruce Wayne/Batman was not a choice I would have made to voice this character, but he still does a good enough job with him getting at least most of what is good about Batman, while also being funny occasionally. Bruce Wayne/Batman's son Damian Wayne voiced by Yonas Kibreab, who also gives a good enough performance, is trying to be like his father and be the next Batman, even though Bruce Wayne/Batman keeps saying he is not ready; Damian will stop Wayne Manor from being broken into, but for the whole movie he is going around Gotham City taking down well known villains and trying to get back his utility belt that his father got him.

The movie has well known villains such as The Joker, Mr. Freeze, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, and Bane who all have weird looking designs and weird sounding voices; The Joker is just trying to destroy Christmas and Damian along with Batman will stop him, there is not much to say other than that. The animation gave the characters weird designs, but also the backgrounds and look of everything had nice colors; also, the look of this made it look like a movie that would play on Cartoon Network. The movie does feel a bit stretched out, but I was entertained enough while watching it with its funny moments and references, along with its fun action.

Merry Little Batman (2023) is an entertaining, funny, enjoyable enough of a DC universe Christmas movie, it does also seem a bit too child friendly at times, so this movie will entertain little kids; if you are a DC fan you will either like it for it being an entertaining animated Batman movie, or you will not like it because of it being too child friendly. This movie is not something to rush onto Amazon Prime and watch; this is just a Batman Christmas movie made by DC, that should be enough to make this an enjoyable and entertaining time.

Jingle bells, Batman smells...

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 7/10 · 21 December 2023]

Initially shelved as part of a tax write-off by good ol' Warner Bros. (it's not the first time they've axed a fully finished product), 'Merry Little Batman (2023)' was thankfully picked up by MGM and popped onto Prime just in time for Yuletide. You'd think that the piece would be, I don't know, bad or something considering the studio felt it worthy of the bin in the same year they released 'The Flash (2023)', but I'm glad to say that it's actually rather delightful. It's a really nice surprise, a cute and comedic animated adventure that focuses on Damian Wayne and his efforts to prove to his dad that he's ready to be Batman. It's a low-stakes but engaging experience that's frequently funny and generally really entertaining. It feels sort of like an extended television episode, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It has its own distinct aesthetic and sense of humour, both of which are similar to irreverent cartoons such as Regular Show (2010 - 2017) and Adventure Time (2010 - 2018). It does have a few lulls in pacing, notably as it heads towards its final movement (thankfully, the last act picks back up), and it is relatively generic overall. However, it feels like a fully-realised creative vision and it isn't afraid to have some fun with its source material (there are plenty of tongue-in-cheek references to obscure, and not so obscure, Batman lore). The characters are well-realised and enjoyable, brought to life with confident voice work from some unexpected actors (who'd have thought Luke Wilson would be a genuinely good fit for the role?). Ultimately, this is a really fun and wholesome family-friendly adventure that's actually a really refreshing break from the homogeneous and typically bland atmosphere that hangs over most recent DC movies. This is honestly one of the studio's best modern efforts, as pleasantly entertaining as it is purposefully small. It's a good thing that MGM fished this out of DC's bin, but I don't think it's necessarily the best place to look for another surprise hit.

Tailor made for Bat-Dads who grew up in the 90s, future cult classic

[tommy-97761 · 10/10 · 11 December 2023]

I don't know what other people's expectations were for the current rating to be so low, but mine were met and exceeded, hence I have no remorse giving 10/10. When do I give 10/10? Is this an Oscar worthy artistic masterpiece? No, but that is not my own metric. I was thoroughly entertained and I can't think of anything that I'd change to make the movie better, neither did anything bug or annoy me.

The movie is fun, colorful good time for the Batman Fans, because there are a lot of easter eggs and references that non-fans would probably miss. An example is when Damian mentions Bat-Skates and Bruce calls the idea stupid, which ich a clear reference to Batman and Robin, where they do have Bat-Skates. The plot revolves about Damian, who tries to get his Bat-Belt back whilst the bad guys try to steal Christmas (much like the grinch). The movie is non-offensive aimed at the Dads, who grew up watching Batman in the 90s ...and their Kids. It so happens that I am exactly such Dad with small kids. I feel like this movie was tailored for me, and I very much appreciated it. For your casual viewer, I guess it is just a stupid animated batman movie, but to me it is exactly the right kind of stupid and I feel like this is a future cult favorite.

If you are like me, in your 30s, still wearing batman shirts and still feeling like a little kid if anyone gets you any batman merchandise or a stupid Bat-shampoo, then you'll love this movie. With all the stress and worries from my daily lives, this was an hour and half of escapism, that really helped clean the palate.

Charming but confused

[calahao · 7/10 · 9 December 2023]

Merry Little Batman is decidedly on the lighter side of Batman media, in stark and perhaps welcome contrast to other DC animated films. The character designs ar ehighly caricaturesque, ranging from Alfred looking like a The Thief and the Cobbler reject to Penguin only having three teeth to the one Ren and Stimpy-esque gross out close up.

Where the movie fails, in my opinion, is that it doesn't balance the childish moments with the more adult stuff. There are a few raunchy jokes sprinkled throught, and they feel pretty jarring when it's a typical "kid proves himself" narrative.

For a film set on Christimas the holiday itself almost feels like an afterthought, but I don't mind that much.

Overall, decent with a few problems.

Horrible animations

[misterbricks-21134 · 2/10 · 11 December 2023]

So, it's kinda like a Batman movie but actually it's not. And its kinda like a christmas movie, but its not. The animations are horrible. The storyline is thin, The characters we all know and love are butchered and look as if put through a wringer. It absolutely does not deserve the The DC seal of approval. Okay, the voice acting is not all that bad. And the is some humor in it but overall it's a sorry excuse for either a Batman or a Christmas movie.

If you are a Batfan steer clear from this one because this will only make you angry. There are a lot of great animated Batman movies.

They tried something new for this one and they clearly failed.

The Christmas Batman Move we Deserve

[mrdirectorman · 8/10 · 8 December 2023]

A very fun and well made movie! It's the right amount of comedy and heart and Batman action. An original story with fun references all the way through for hard-core Batman fans. But at the same time just enjoyable Christmas movie with warm fuzzy feeling for all! All the voice actors fit the their roles perfectly, and the interpretation of their characters is spot on for what it is, and yet true to the comic books. This is obviously made by people that are true fans of Batman and had a clear and deliberate story to tell and everything worked together, nothing was wasted and the pacing was fantastic, and you knew you were in good hands as you watch! Enjoy!

A Christmas movie for kids

[elhamfirmino · 6/10 · 21 December 2023]

I like the conecept of its animation it gave straight Timmy Turner vibes, but what didn't spark was that home alone feeling for me. For the first half of the movie I find the main character in Damian pretty annoying. I mean it could be cause I'm an adult, but kids familiar with light Batman memories could actually find it funny. It's an average Christmas animation. I think they could've done better given more time. The story was very flat and predictable. Nonetheless I have to give credits for paying tribute to the fantastic rogue gallery of villains. Even though I think they disrupted some characters original by making them goofy to an eight year old kid. If you don't take it serious enough and consider the fact they are all old and past their prime. All in all I see families with their kids watching it isn't it, but kids alone together sure why not.

Repetitive and Boring Home Alone Reskin

[Ltufano23 · 5/10 · 18 December 2023]

Merry Little Batman puts our hero in the backseat as Damian Wayne gets his chance to shine in this colorful holiday hero flick. Looking as if it were ripped from a Sunday morning newspaper comic, the animation throughout the film gives a childish whimsy and added it's own charm to Gotham. While it looks quite cute, the story feels repetitive and annoying as Damian embarks on his own Home Alone-esque adventure. The beginning of Damians solo adventure has the most fun, but once they leave the manor, it starts to drag in parts and become a bit boring. Most of the voice work is entertaining, but some of them did not fit the designs of the character, leaving some of them feeling a bit disconnected at times. Unfortunately, Merry Little Batman may fall into obscurity in the coming years, as a rewatch is not in my cards.

Got me in the holiday spirit!

[jacoblcoon · 6/10 · 17 December 2023]

Merry Little Batman was a great story of a young boy wanting to become his father. Although the art style isn't my favorite kind, I really enjoyed watching the young bat go through his merry ways fighting older villains while Batman was gone.

This film had a lot of awesome scenes like Damian turning into Kevin McCallister from Home Alone. As a Batman fan, I enjoyed seeing something different than Batman beating up a villain with Robin.

I loved the villains in the movie being old geezers especially The Penguin and a geriatric juiced up Bane.

I didn't care for the fact that Batman was extremely gullible and not in the movie much. Letting Mr. Freeze trick him so easily was poorly executed.

My Favorite Part: The Home Alone scene was amazing but the father and son talks were amazing and heartfelt.

I was expecting the worst

[Blazehgehg · 7/10 · 1 February 2024]

I'm not much of a Batman comics guy, so I never really encountered a whole lot of the "Batman Family" concept. Similarly, trailers made this look very saccharine and cutesy, which made me double skeptical.

But hey, you know what? This is actually pretty fun. It's not a revolution or anything, and Luke Wilson as Bruce Wayne channels too much of his brother's Lightning McQueen vibes, but this is a pleasant little movie about a kid learning to take responsibility and a father too afraid to admit their child is ready for that.

There's also a lot of love for the 90's Batman movies in this. A lot of it is a love letter to the Tim Burton Batmans, but there's plenty of winks towards the Joel Schumacher movies, too.

I liked it quite a bit.

For Bat-Geeks And their Kids

[anicho01-944-812539 · 9/10 · 10 December 2023]

Ever wondered what Batman might look like with therapy, reduced crime fighting and no longer desires to turn every single little boy under 12 into a crime fighting machine? Well, it's Luke Wilson in a beard.

This is a great holiday flick for comic geeks and their kids. It is Batman meets Home alone meets the Grinch who stole Christmas. There are so many nods to old school Batman while simultaneously mocking it. What Would Batman's chest look like without bat armor and bandages? And, yes, Dead parent jokes are definitely on the menu.

This script was written by clear long time fans of the Bat who perfectly captured Damien's try hard personality and so many winks to Gotham culture. There is one brilliant part where the flick flips to gothic black and white and then back again.

While this is definitely for kids, it is clearly written with their parental geeks in mind. Basically, it's a smart Christmas script with a nice life lesson with homages to other holiday flicks thrown in.

Also, the soundtrack slaps and pulls from multiple genres including Punk in the opening.

Good animation style but horrible message!

[benoyum111 · 1/10 · 16 December 2023]

So the message of the animation is that, 8 year old son of Batman was right and he was ready to fight crime with his father!!!

And how come he became ready in the eyes of his father, despite the fact that he is only 8 years old?

The answer is simple: He already learned how to fight like his father, and despite his age and his body size, he can fight hand in hand with not only one, but with the 4 best strongest enemies of Batman!!!

Really?!!! That little brat can punch Bane, kick Joker, Poison Ivy and the Penguin at the same time!!!

Yeah, right!

How about the ending would be like: the boy understands that he is still too young and although he learned some important lessons throughout the journey, he still needs to work for many years and got mature!!!

But NO! Instead he is fully ready to fight besides his father! He doesn't need any improvement. Very nice message for SPOILED new generation kids, or let's say, spoil the them more.

... I know this is an animation, therefore it is a fantasy. But any fantasy that is unrooted from the truth would be a nonsense.

Come on!!! That 8 year old kid had stopped the punch of Bane with his hands!!!

Little Batman not so Little

[Filmcrook · 8/10 · 12 December 2023]

Merry Little Batman is a perfect blend between kid and adult animated film. When it starts to pick up the pace, the movie becomes almost non-stop and a terrifically action-paced Christmas adventure. The animation style grows on you, and by the end of the movie, it is hard not to adore it because of its reminiscent older cartoons and influence from other Batman adaptations in the past. The last twenty minutes lose the energy a bit, but it's indeed a warm and cozy animation. For Batman fans like myself who understand the world and its characters, this was a joy to watch. Merry Little Christmas 🎄

Kids will discover who Santa is

[luisenriquelandgrave · 1/10 · 14 December 2023]

One of the songs from this movie made my 9 and 10 year old daughters find out who Santa is.

The song is titled: Father Christmas lyrics - by The Kinks. The song starts with the following lyrics:

When I was small I believed in Santa Claus Though I knew it was my dad And I would hang up my stocking at Christmas Open my presents and I'd be glad

Enough for kids to realize who Santa is.

This made my daughters to realize the truth about Santa and destroyed the illusion that me and my wife have been protecting for all these years. I do not consider this title appropriate for kids just because of this particular reason. I enjoyed the story, but the price was too high.

Great fun.

[andywheeler-11072 · 10/10 · 12 December 2023]

This was so much fun. Loved the animation style and the whole thing just made me smile. Damian was so funny and was a perfect character and they got the tone bang on for an 8 year old kid whose full of mischief and wanting to follow in his dad's footsteps.

The vocal talents shine and Yonas Kibreab as Damian Wayne was perfect.

Seeing his face having so much fun riding the bat bike was an absolute joy and both myself and my grandson really enjoyed it and laughed along together. This was a really cool little festive treat and I hope they bring out more or at least a follow up for next Christmas.

Very Beginning Could RUIN Christmas for Children

[Bruno1033 · 1/10 · 10 December 2023]

WARNING TO PARENTS - the very first line of the opening song could ruin a very major aspect of children. I can't believe they used this song in a kids' Christmas movie. Most kids would probably gloss right over it because it's so quick, but I have a daughter with a disability who watches everything with captions on - luckily I caught it before she watched this movie. I have "blocked" it (using the "hide video" feature) across all our Amazon accounts. I was really excited to watch this with my youngest son, as there are so few Batman shows/movies that are good for toddlers, but we have a range of ages in our house and are very protective of Christmas magic. Do better Warner Bros., and Amazon, take this off your service. No parent who wants their kid watching a Christmas movie wants their kids to hear that song.

Hilarious, adorable, mischievous and heart felt...

[bvgal-09799 · 10/10 · 9 December 2023]

Damian Wayne ( son of batman) proves he's the new little batman...only after making several mischievous mistakes the night before Christmas. Can he save Christmas or will Joker win again ?

The movie is adorable, hilarious, sweet with a villainous superhero - batman Christmas story. Who knew Luke Wilson would make a great batman voiceover as well ...the art is silly, cute, whimsical, and fun. Damian is hilarious as the new little batman and I thoroughly enjoyed this the day it was released. I laughed so much and was incredibly moved by it too . This spin off's batman is goofy, talkative, sensitive, and practical -- not brooding or quiet. But the main character is Damian, who wants be exactly like his crime fighting , superhero father. He's courageous, genuine, hilarious, mischievous and grandiose and has big big dreams --- and enacts this on Christmas night :)

I Love, love, love , loved it !!! 10 stars. My highest rating on IMDb. I hope there is a sequel where we can see what's to come with this father-son duo .

Boring for adults negative messaging for kids

[Angelino_Rosso · 3/10 · 10 January 2024]

Yes the animation work is detailed and old school but if this film targets kids it's pushing negative shelfish messaging and simplifies the feeling of Christmas to a bunch of toys and staff.

Like if we don't have staff there's no Christmas. Demoralising and plain. There's no character development, no moral lesson and no repercussions for being naughty by Batkid Damian.

Batkid makes a massive mess of the city and is saved by its dad, getting him out of trouble.

If it's targeting parents it's boring and lazy written. I'm not sure why it was written and directed like this, it makes no sense neither for kids nor for adults.

Great movie for the family

[anthonyahardy · 8/10 · 15 December 2023]

If you are looking for the perfect Christmas movie for the family that isn't the same four you watch every year, Merry Little Batman is the perfect Christmas movie. This animated Batman Christmas film combines aspects from all of your favorite Christmas movies into one film. The animation style of this film is unique with some great comedy for adults and children a like. This film has heart and that's what makes it a perfect new addition for your yearly Christmas watch list. The pacing in this film is great with its slow burn aspects and then picks up speed with its intense action scenes. Grab the family and enjoy this family friendly Christmas film.