15 Seemingly terrible movie castings that worked out great (With Pictures)

4. Michael Keaton as Batman

This is pretty much the go-to answer for “bad castings that worked out great” for many. If the Internet community had existed in 1988 the way it does now, message boards and sites would be lit up over the announcement of “Mr. Mom” cast as the Dark Knight.

Many instantly jumped to the idea the Tim Burton movie would be more campy than the 1960s TV series: Michael Keaton would turn Batman into a joke and the franchise would die instantly. Warner Bros. responded with an early trailer and the instant Keaton rasped “I’m Batman” at a terrified crook, the doubts died.

Even today, Keaton’s role as the moody Batman, balancing a troubled Bruce Wayne with the intensity of the Caped Crusader, is a go-to for great comic book performances, a Batman all others are judged by and how thinking outside the box in casting can score.