Blow out the candles, people, it’s Batman’s birthday! Actor Christian Bale continues to age like a fine – albeit handsomely scowling – wine, blessing audiences each year with yet another mind-blowing performance in films ranging from hard-hitting dramas to elevated action flicks.

Instead of baking the man a cake – he wouldn’t eat it anyway; the dude’s mad thin – we’ve decided to take a closer look at some of Bale’s best roles.

From his first breakout appearance in Spielberg’s early masterpiece, Empire of the Sun, to his three-film stint as the Caped Crusader, Bale has developed quite the filmography to dig through.

Click here to launch Celebuzz’ gallery of career highlights for Christian Bale

Which of Christian Bale’s characters are your favorites? Did we forget one that you especially love? Let us know in the comments section below.