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Christopher Nolan’s best Batman villains, ranked by how iconic they are

By Sarah Perchikoff

Photo: Batman Begins.. Image Courtesy Warner Bros. / DC Universe
Photo: Batman Begins.. Image Courtesy Warner Bros. / DC Universe /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 10: Cillian Murphy attends the UK Premiere of “The Party” during the 61st BFI London Film Festival on October 10, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 10: Cillian Murphy attends the UK Premiere of “The Party” during the 61st BFI London Film Festival on October 10, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images) /

4. Scarecrow/Dr. Jonathan Crane

Ok, while some of you may not put Dr. Jonathan Crane this high on the list of Batman villains in Nolan films, there is no way I am putting THE Cillian Murphy any lower than this. His acting (and his blue eyes) deserve all the awards and honestly, you’re all lucky I didn’t put him higher.

But beyond that, Dr. Jonathan Crane AKA Scarecrow is a villain in his own right and is the only villain to appear in all three films. Although, that’s mostly because, like me, Christopher Nolan is a huge Cillian Murphy fan.

This version of the villain is a corrupt psychiatrist who works at the Arkham Asylum and who has secretly created a fear toxin that causes immediate and intense fear once it’s inhaled. That’s where the Scarecrow persona comes in. Once he releases the fear toxin, Dr. Crane puts on a burlap sack with a built-in gas mask so he doesn’t get a taste of his own medicine.

Crane has his biggest influence in Batman Begins when he teams up with Ra’s al Ghul to diffuse the fear toxin to all of Gotham City through the water supply. He also testifies in court to get the mob boss, Falcone, deemed legally insane so he doesn’t end up in prison. When Rachel Dawes, Batman’s childhood sweetheart, accuses Crane of being corrupt, Crane then starts planning her demise with the help of Falcone

But, as with any good villain, he doesn’t stick to one team if it doesn’t suit him, so when Falcone tries to blackmail him, he puts the fear toxin on Falcone which is how he gets his nickname Scarecrow. Falcone won’t stop repeating that one word.

And while Dr. Crane may not be the most physically imposing villain (he’s definitely no Bane), he does get the best of Batman on occasion. During their first meeting, he sprays Batman with his toxin and lights him on fire. It isn’t until later that Crane gets his just desserts.

He has smaller roles in the last two films as a criminal and as the head of Bane’s corrupt court but he only shows his true villain-y in the first film.

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