If Warner Bros, and DC have the ability to make an animated, Christmas-ready Batman movie for Amazon Prime that is as much fun as “Merry Little Batman,” why do their live-action superhero films stink so bad with a few exceptions? Directed by Mike Roth, a veteran of 169 episodes of Cartoon Network’s “Regular Show,” and scripted by Morgan Evans (“Teen Titans Go!”), Etan Cohen (“Men in Black 3”) and Jase Ricci (TV’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”) and featuring a first-rate voice cast, “Merry Little Batman” is the best superhero film of the season.

Starting out with the Kinks’ immortal “Father Christmas,” a song in which some English hooligans threaten to mug St. Nick, “Merry Little Batman” pits a retired and notably bearded Bruce Wayne aka Batman (Luke Wilson) against his 8-year-old son Damian (a talented Yonas Kibreab, TV’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi”). Alongside some crazed-looking cartoon bats, they live in the Wayne manor with the hard-pressed and grotesquely bent-with-age manservant Alfred Pennyworth (James Cromwell).

When Damian, who wears a cowl made out of a paper bag, was born, Batman worked hard to put all the super-villains behind bars or force them to retire. Crime is no more in Gotham, or so we are told. Still, Damian wants to work beside his dad, proving that he can be a superhero, too.

After enjoying a traditional Christmas breakfast of jellied veal, a delighted Damian is given a “trainer” utility belt complete with a foam “batarang.” However, the Justice League calls, whisking Batman away to Nova Scotia, where he crash lands. Meanwhile, in a decidedly “Home Alone” development, two thieves invade Wayne manor, intent on stealing all the Christmas presents under the tree. As it turns out, the thieves, a pair of amusingly incompetent Goths named Terry (Michael Fielding) and Francine (Natalie Palamides) are cohorts of the Joker himself (a completely mad and wildly entertaining David Hornsby, (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”). Paging Macaulay Culkin.

Also making their appearances in this delightfully inventive and madcap Batman escapade (a series is in development) are Mr. Freeze (Dolph Adomian), Poison Ivy (Therese McLaughlin), the Penguin (Brian George) and an incomprehensible Bane (Chris Sullivan). The conventional animation visuals were inspired by the work of the great English satirist Ronald Searle, the inventor of the St. Trinians School cartoon series. The action includes the home invasion, the wrecking of Gotham’s Macy’s-like Christmas parade, secret doors, bottomless pits, the Batmobile, the Bat-motorcycle, a talking Bat-costume designed for Damian, a Bat4lyf vanity plate, a rendition of “Mamacita, Donde Esta Santa Claus?” and the massive toy department of Gotham’s department store.

Gotham reporter Vicki Vale (Cynthia McWilliams) dubs parade-ruining Damian “a snack-sized Scrooge.” Damian is also referred to as a “miniature maestro of mayhem.” For the first time in years, Commissioner Gordon (Reid Scott) fires up the Bat-Signal. “Merry Little Batman” is so much better than Marvel’s “The Marvels” and Disney’s “Wish” that I wished it was playing in theaters. But gather up all the Batman wannabes in your family and have yourselves a great holiday time watching this, and then ask yourselves: Is Hornsby’s Joker better than Joaquin Phoenix’s? Maybe.

(“Merry Little Batman” contains superhero-style action and rude humor)

Not Rated. On Amazon Prime. Grade: A-