Battaglia appeared in a number of historical and peplum films, such as The Mighty Crusaders (1958, Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia), Hannibal (1959, Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, Edgar G. Ulmer), Caesar the Conqueror (1962, Tanio Boccia), and A Queen for Caesar (1962, Piero Pierotti).

He also played in Esther and the King (1960), From a Roman Balcony (1960, by Mauro Bolognini) and in the biblical epic Sodom and Gomorrah (1962, by Robert Aldrich).

Some of these included Old Shatterhand (1963), The Pyramid of the Sun God (1965), Legacy of the Incas (1965), Winnetou and Old Firehand (1966), Black Jack (1968), The Valley of Death (1968), Duck, You Sucker!

His other films included 'Tis Pity She's a Whore (1971), Treasure Island (1972, as Captain Smollett), the Agatha Christie adaptation Ten Little Indians (1974), the Sergio Leone co-produced western A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe (1975), and Vincente Minnelli's A Matter of Time (1976).

Battaglia also appeared in Deported Women of the SS Special Section (1976), Sister Emanuelle (1977), Il prefetto di ferro (1977), Return of the 38 Gang (1977), Zappatore (1980) and Don Bosco (1988).