The Best of Batman’s Butlers: Five On-Screen Alfreds Ranked
Alfred Pennyworth is one of the most iconic staples of the Batman mythos. And he’s seen many on-screen adaptations. Which is your favorite?
Often serving as the conscious of the caped crusader Batman, Alfred is as much an integral part of the Batman mythos as Bruce’s late parents. The perfect Alfred radiates the ultimate sassy-old-queen energy, but his influence over his young charge ranges from clever household manager to substitute father figure. Whichever Alfred you stan the most, it’s safe to say that without Alfred, there would be no Batman. So join me as I take a look at each live-action Pennyworth and reveal which Alfred is my favorite to grace the screen so far.
6. Jeremy Irons – Batman v Superman
Okay first off, being my least favorite Alfred is like being my least favorite Spice Girl. You may not be my Ginger, but you’re still my Posh, and that’s nothing to be mad at. Jeremy Irons’ Alfred has graduated from sassy and moved on to deadpan mockery – but he’s playing against the grumpiest Bruce Wayne, so it works.
Unfortunately, this Alfred didn’t get a lot of screen time in this 3-hour long Axe body spray commercial. And with the time he did have, he came off a bit too much like a brooding mother. Why is he so fixated on Bruce not getting married and having kids? This Alfred is clearly desperate for the little pitter-patter of Robins’ feet through the halls of Wayne manor. But in the Snyderverse, the Joker killed the first Robin Dick Greyson instead of the second Robin Jason Todd. Which makes it even more understandable that Bruce would be anti-sidekick. And without the patented Pennyworth emotional insight, this Alfred’s barbs don’t quite pack the oomph that some previous Pennyworths are so famous for.
5. Andy Serkis – The Batman
On the opposite end of the spectrum is the newest iteration of the world’s greatest house manager of all time. This Alfred Pennyworth is burdened by secrets and definitely trying to protect and stand-in for Thomas Wayne. While I think labeling Pattison as the “emo Batman” is a little reductive, there’s a definite “you’re not my real dad” conflict occurring between this Alfred and his Bruce. This makes sense, after all, because this is a period where Bruce is still figuring out who Batman is and what he means as a symbol to Gotham. And in parallel, Bruce is also figuring out what it means to have a father figure.
This Alfred is easily the most vulnerable of the Pennyworths, and it’s a stark contrast to the cynical Snyderverse Alfred who came before him. Serkis plays the character exquisitely, even if the film’s long runtime doesn’t quite give Bruce and Alfred enough time to develop a real rapport before piling the baggage onto their relationship. Of all the Alfreds on this list, this is the one I’d want to have his own origin film. Because The Batman tackled a lot of content gracefully during its 3-hour runtime – but sadly, Alfred’s character fell just short of being fully developed.
4. Michael Gough – Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin
Now this is an Alfred with some nuance. This Alfred can read you for filth and you won’t even realize it until he’s turned out the light and left the room. From the whimsical goth world of Burton’s Gotham to the equal parts horny-and-corny Batman of Joel Schumacher, Gough’s Alfred managed was a master of coolness without being fully detached. And with his small circular spectacles and refined demeanor, he played so nicely alongside the sophistication of a fully-realized Batman in his prime. I’m speaking, of course, about Michael Keaton and even a teensy bit of Val Kilmer. Not Clooney though, that Batman was a mess.
In Gough’s first two Batman movies, he fit right in. His surface-level professionalism showed him buttling with the snootiest of them. But it was his occasional cheeky comment that tipped Bruce Wayne from entitled vigilante to self-aware orphan with a hefty trust fund and a mission.
Gough’s Alfred was so prolific that he survived a tumultuous transition between directors. When the torch passed from Tim Burton to Joel Schumacher, Gough was able to step in and play the same Alfred with two different Batmen (and two Bat-kids). In fact, Gough’s Alfred was so on-point that his dry comedic subtlety provided an excellent foil for the over-the-top nature of the latter two Schumacher films.
3. Sean Pertwee – Gotham
Say what you will about the CW’s take on the DC universe, but the first couple of seasons of Gotham were soap-opera fire. And Alfred Pennyworth was a big part of that. Fans loved him – so much, in fact, that Pennyworth became its own spinoff. The idea of a post-military career Alfred influencing the career of a fledgling Bruce Wayne made sense. After all, Bruce was very young when his parents died, and there are still a lot of developmental landmarks to cross after the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne.
Look, if you were an orphan raised by a scrapping fighter with extensive training and a desire to right social wrongs, you’d probably be a masked vigilante, too. Especially if that man made it very clear that he loved you very much and would open a can of English whoop-ass on anyone who messed with you. This Alfred ranks so high on the list partly because he has the CWesque freedom to be hardened by extreme violence while also being aggressively affectionate for the family he faithfully serves. You know it’s CW because everyone is operating on all dramatic cylinders. And in a way, that means we’re getting a 100% high-octane Alfred.
2. Alan Napier – The 1960s Batman Series
Okay, I know this is the sharpest turn on this list yet. I just went from the almost-cliche hard-as-nails CW Alfred to the Alfred from the silliest on-screen Batman – but hear me out. This guy laid out the carpet, and his comedic timing was exceptional. Napier’s Alfred was refined, yet a humble butler, whose dry wit was masterfully performed against some real grade-A campiness. I would say that this Alfred walked so others could run, but honestly, this Alfred had a full-on strut. He certainly had his share of clever moments. Napier was very efficient when it came to running a chaotic household, and who can forget the sound of his voice as he answered the Batphone? He even filled in for Batman at one point. Here comes the Bat-gas!
1. Michael Caine in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy
Caine strikes the perfect balance between a hard and seasoned houseman and “that old queen that works for the Waynes”. Could he be ex-military? Maybe. Does he have a fatherly affection for Bruce that often conflicts with his professional duty as the Wayne family servant? Definitely.
This is an Alfred who’s working with a young Batman. And as Bruce comes up against a variety of moral grey areas, Alfred’s advice is caring, even if sometimes misguided. Caine’s Alfred is very observant, and he leans more toward the advice-giving than the roasting – but whooo-wee does he have some zingers. He’s definitely my #1 Alfred, even though Nolan’s trilogy isn’t my #1 Batman. He’s so on-the-nose that I consider him a stalwart father figure while still being sassy. Caine gets my vote.
Honorable Mention: Efrem Zimbalist Jr. from Batman the Animated Series
Let’s be honest, this Alfred will always be the G.O.A.T. Efram’s version of the animated Alfred took Gough’s subtle ribbings and turned the volume up to 11. I mean, Bruce Wayne probably paid this butler a generous annual bonus on a per-joke basis. The animated series is still regarded as the most harmonic on-screen portrayal of the Batman/Bruce Wayne dynamic, and I honestly think that’s due in large part to Alfred. After all, imagine how much better the world would be if every go-zillionare had a household servant who makes it his personal job to keep them as humble as possible?
Do you need more convincing that Alfred is the ultimate Batman MVP? Everywhere Batman goes, so follows his faithful butler.
