Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Batman!
Throughout all DC media, one thing has remained evidently clear - Batman can't get enough of his gadgets. Bruce Wayne doesn't possess any superpowers unlike most of his superhero counterparts, so instead, he uses a variety of unique tools alongside his strategic skills and abilities to fight crime and keep Gotham safe.
Although the recently-released Matt Reeves movie The Batman features just a few useful gadgets out of Batman's huge armory, they work well with the movie's gothic, grounded themes, and match Bruce's violent tendencies - helping him investigate and combat crime while staying hidden within the shadows. From a sharp Batarang made from the weapon that murdered his parents, to the adrenaline-inducing muscle car-inspired Batmobile, these gadgets reflect Bruce's dark personality throughout the movie.
Taser Gloves
Very early on in The Batman, whilst Bruce delivers a chilling monologue, the Bat-Signal is lit - and criminals start to run and panic. The movie seems to briefly focus on a group of thugs harassing a defenseless man, where Batman happens to be lurking in the shadows and attacks.
During the conflict, Batman unleashes an absolutely brutal beating upon the petty criminals - and proceeds to devastatingly electrocute somebody, knocking them out cold. Robert Pattinson has one of the best performances throughout The Batman, so it makes sense that this scene feels so real and so harsh - and the tasers help Batman fight crime, but in such a violent way that helps fans realize early on that this version of Batman is actually terrifying.
Wingsuit
During the scene where Batman escapes from Gotham PD after (consensually) knocking out Jim Gordan, Batman finds himself trapped on the roof - with a desperate need to escape. After a brief moment of hesitation, Bruce reveals his wingsuit and glides away.
The brief seconds before Bruce began to glide was one of The Batman's most shocking moments - where, although only for a minute, he felt scared. This was a big moment for the Caped Crusader, who had previously convinced the audience he was not afraid of anything anymore. The wingsuit was a fantastic way for Batman to escape from the Gotham Police and allowed for some awesome cinematography. The gadget helped (literally) ground Batman within Gotham's noir atmosphere, and was exciting to see.
Flares
After Gotham was flooded by the Riddler's evil schemes, hundreds of civilians were stranded and at risk of being electrocuted. Batman, in what almost became a sacrifice, saved their lives - and lit one of his flares to help guide them out of harm's way.
This is one of The Batman's most important moments, where the people of Gotham begin to trust Batman when he leads them to safety. The flare is not only incredibly useful in this situation, where the building has no lights and is quickly flooding, but it is also symbolic of hope. Batman lights the way and proves that there is a path to survival despite the Riddler's attacks, and that Gotham's people can trust in Batman to protect them.
The Bat-Computer
To become the world's greatest detective, Bruce needs the world's greatest equipment - and Batman's primary source of intelligence comes in the form of his Bat-Computer.
The Dark Knight acted intelligently throughout The Batman and fully utilized his Bat-Computer's investigative functions to help him uncover the Riddler's murders. Without this technology, Batman would have had an incredibly difficult time solving the movie's many mysteries, as it not only allows him to analyze evidence, but also to look back on video footage to properly examine certain individuals and locations that are of significance to him.
Batarang
One of Batman's most iconic weapons, the Batarang, makes its return in The Batman, in a surprisingly dark yet clever way. It's the emblem on Bruce's armor - and also formed from the gun that killed his parents.
This dark twist on the Batarang fits The Batman's gothic aura, serving as a constant reminder of Bruce's tragic past, reminding viewers who the Batman is, what he stands for, and why he's feared. Although hardly used throughout the film, the Batarang becomes very efficient and useful in certain situations, quickly and smoothly slashing debris and other items of inconvenience. This significant Batman tool proves to be an essential part of his range of gadgets and is great to see in such a uniquely twisted way.
Grapple Gun
Another iconic Batman gadget is the Grapple Gun, a tool Bruce can use to reach certain inaccessible areas, grab certain enemies and items, and make a quick getaway.
Although the Grapple Gun is used many times throughout The Batman, there is one scene where it literally saves Bruce's life - when he is escaping from the Gotham PD. During his escape, hundreds of police officers on dozens of stories are shooting at Batman, however, the durable capabilities and incredible range of his Grapple Gun lifts him right up to the roof, dodging an absolute onslaught of bullets. This is definitely one of Batman's most essential tools, and without it, he would've been locked behind bars.
Bulletproof Suit
Every noteworthy superhero across DC, Marvel, and beyond, has a distinctive and useful suit that helps them stand out from the crowd - and Batman is no exception. Batman's iconic outfit has seen some major changes over the years, and The Batman portrays a brand-new version that reflects the movie's dark, grounded tone.
Batman unsurprisingly has one of the best costumes in The Batman, as not only does its slick, low-profile design reflect Bruce Wayne's grim personality, but it also provides advantages to help him fight crime and return to the shadows with ease. Along with being packed with useful tools, covering his identity, and helping him hide, Batman's suit is also bulletproof, which saved his life multiple times throughout the three-hour-long movie. As the Batman, Bruce gets shot with an array of ammunition an ungodly amount of times, and even takes the full force of an explosion, truly making his suit a key role in his survival.
Adrenaline Shot
Just like the adrenaline shot taken by Wolverine in Logan, Bruce injects himself with the green liquid during the final battle to quickly regain strength when he's injured so he can help save Selina Kyle.
The shot worked rapidly, throwing Bruce into a fit of rage where he almost brutally murders one of the Riddler impersonators before being stopped. This booster was Batman's last resort and turned him back into a monster momentarily to save both himself and Selina. Furthermore, the shot's green liquid and effects happen to be very reminiscent of Bane's Venom, opening up the possibility that this version of Batman has fought Bane in the past and has been inspired by him.
Hidden Eye-Lens Camera
One of Bruce's sneakiest pieces of equipment shown off throughout The Batman is his secret Video Recording Eye Lens, a device that allows him to subtly collect evidence using video footage.
This gadget is truly innovative, and further proves why Batman is the world's greatest detective. Not only does the lens demonstrate the same level of technological genius as some of Batman's other impressive gadgets, but it perfectly fits with the movie's theme. The Batman is much soberer than most other superhero movies, and so the gadgets used by Bruce are subtle rather than over-the-top, meaning that even the futuristic tech used in the lens reflects the movie's gothic atmosphere.
The Batmobile
By far one of cinema's most famous vehicles, the iconic Batmobile has seen a new build with every iteration of Batman, creating some incredibly intense car chase scenes that have kept fans on the edges of their seats for decades.
In The Batman, the muscle-car inspired Batmobile was specifically designed to feel as though Bruce Wayne made the vehicle from scratch, reflecting the movie's noir vibe while also inducing blood-pumping excitement. The Batmobile helps Bruce get around easily and with style throughout the movie, and features heavily in one of the best action sequences DC movies have ever seen.