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Action animated film

Batman: Death in the Family (2020): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Batman: Death in the Family (2020) movie poster

Batman: Death in the Family is a 2020 action animated film directed by Brandon Vietti, starring Bruce Greenwood as Bruce Wayne / Batman (voice), Vincent Martella and Leonardo Nam. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes. Its Echo Score is 53/100.

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Batman: Death in the Family (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 36m (96 min)
Director
Brandon Vietti
Genres
Action , Animation
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Batman: Death in the Family About?

The premise of Batman: Death in the Family without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A dark adaptation of the acclaimed 1988 comic book storyline, this tale follows Robin, Jason Todd, as he searches for his birth mother. His investigation leads him directly into the path of the Joker, resulting in a devastating tragedy that shakes Batman to his core and threatens the safety of Gotham. The fate of the city hangs in the balance as Batman confronts the consequences of this harrowing event.

Batman: Death in the Family Themes & Keywords

· 19 tags
  • based on comic
  • based on comic book
  • superhero
  • death in title
  • batman character
  • violence
  • mature animation
  • for grown ups animation
  • superhero action
  • superhero fantasy
  • superhero sci fi
  • multiple endings
+7 more
  • red hood character
  • hush character
  • interactive movie
  • shared universe
  • dc shared universe
  • hand drawn animation
  • character name in title
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Cast & crew

Batman: Death in the Family Cast & Characters

Bruce Greenwood leads the cast as Bruce Wayne / Batman (voice), with Vincent Martella as Jason Todd / Robin / Red Hood / Red Robin (voice) and Leonardo Nam as Vincent Omata (voice). Directed by Brandon Vietti; 26 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Batman: Death in the Family

· 22 more
Show all 26 cast members
From the director

More from Brandon Vietti

More films directed by Brandon Vietti, best-rated first: Watchmen: Chapter II, Watchmen: Chapter I, LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League and Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery.

Full filmography
Ratings

Batman: Death in the Family Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 53/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in story & flow (45).

53 /100

Batman: Death in the Family Echo Score Breakdown

Batman: Death in the Family delivers a novel interactive premise but largely feels like a condensed rehash of Under the Red Hood. Reviewers commend the animation quality and occasional strong voice work, yet criticize the brief runtime, recycled footage, and uneven storytelling. The net effect is a mixed experience that offers modest replay appeal without standing as a compelling standalone film.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 55

    In terms of art and craft, the animation is praised for its visual polish and occasional striking action set‑pieces. However, critics note that much of the footage is repurposed, leading to a sense of half‑baked execution. Editing feels hurried, with rapid cuts that undermine cohesion. Overall, the visual presentation is competent but not outstanding.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    When evaluating character and emotion, voice performances such as Vincent Martella and John DiMaggio receive positive remarks. Yet the short format prevents deeper character development, leaving many viewers unable to fully engage with Jason Todd or supporting cast. The emotional resonance is therefore limited, resulting in an average assessment of the character work.

  • Story & Flow 45

    Story and flow suffer from the film's brevity and reliance on recycled narrative beats from the 2010 predecessor. While the interactive branches introduce some novelty, pacing feels rushed and originality is low. Reviewers describe the plot as solid in moments but overall underwhelming, leading to a lower score for narrative effectiveness.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    Sensory experience receives relatively favorable notes, with the animation style described as cool and the sound design competent. Though the soundtrack is not highlighted, the visual cohesion and occasional stunning scenes elevate the sensory impression. The reuse of existing footage does not heavily detract from this aspect, yielding a modestly positive rating.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Rewatch factor is mixed; the interactive choices provide some incentive to revisit, and a subset of fans report multiple viewings. Conversely, many find the limited new content and short duration reduce long‑term appeal. As a result, replay value is considered moderate, reflecting both the novelty and the constraints of the format.

Plot

Batman: Death in the Family Plot Summary

What happens in Batman: Death in the Family from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The story begins with a growing tension between the Dark Knight and his protégé. Believing that Jason Todd, played by Vincent Martella, is becoming far too aggressive and reckless in his approach to crime-fighting, Batman, voiced by Bruce Greenwood, makes the difficult decision to suspend him from his active duties as Robin. Feeling betrayed and consumed by anger, Jason forsakes his mentor and chooses to leave Gotham City behind.

Full summary

The whole story of Batman: Death in the Family, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Batman: Death in the Family Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Batman: Death in the Family.

Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Batman: Death in the Family?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Why does Batman suspend Jason Todd from his active duties as Robin?

Details

Batman: Death in the Family Also Known As

21 alternative titles, including “DC Showcase Shorts: Batman: Death in the Family” and “DC展台:蝙蝠侠:家庭之死”.

Also known as
  • DC Showcase Shorts: Batman: Death in the Family
  • DC展台:蝙蝠侠:家庭之死
  • DC Showcase: Batman: Death in the Family
  • DC Showcase - Batman: Death in the Family
  • DC Showcase Shorts - Batman: Death in the Family
  • Batman: Morte in Famiglia
  • Batman: Morte em Família
  • Бэтмен: Смерть в семье
  • 배트맨: 데스 인 더 패밀리
  • באטמן: מוות במשפחה
  • Batman : Un deuil dans la famille
  • 蝙蝠俠:家人之死
+9 more
  • Batman: Ailede Bir Ölüm
  • Batman: Dødsfald i familien
  • Бетмен: Смерть у сім'ї
  • แบทแมน ความตายของครอบครัว
  • Batman: Muerte en la familia
  • Người Dơi: Cái Chết Trong Gia Đình
  • バットマン:デス・イン・ザ・ファミリー
  • Batman: Śmierć w rodzinie
  • Батман: Смърт в семейството

Seen Batman: Death in the Family?

FAQ

Batman: Death in the Family FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Batman: Death in the Family, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Batman: Death in the Family?

Batman: Death in the Family runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).

When was Batman: Death in the Family released?

Batman: Death in the Family was released on October 13, 2020.

Who directed Batman: Death in the Family?

Batman: Death in the Family was directed by Brandon Vietti.

More films by Brandon Vietti

Who is in the cast of Batman: Death in the Family?

Batman: Death in the Family stars Bruce Greenwood as Bruce Wayne / Batman (voice), Vincent Martella as Jason Todd / Robin / Red Hood / Red Robin (voice) and Leonardo Nam as Vincent Omata (voice), among 26 credited actors.

Does Batman: Death in the Family have a post-credit scene?

No. Batman: Death in the Family has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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