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The Dark Knight

  • 20082008
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 32m
IMDb RATING
9.0/10
2.6M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
91
18
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Cillian Murphy, and Chin Han in The Dark Knight (2008)
Trailer for Blu-ray/DVD release of most recent Batman installment
Play trailer0:33
31 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama

When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.

IMDb RATING
9.0/10
2.6M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
91
18
  • Director
    • Christopher Nolan
  • Writers
    • Jonathan Nolan(screenplay)
    • Christopher Nolan(screenplay)
    • David S. Goyer(story)
  • Stars
    • Christian Bale
    • Heath Ledger
    • Aaron Eckhart
Top credits
  • Director
    • Christopher Nolan
  • Writers
    • Jonathan Nolan(screenplay)
    • Christopher Nolan(screenplay)
    • David S. Goyer(story)
  • Stars
    • Christian Bale
    • Heath Ledger
    • Aaron Eckhart
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8.1KUser reviews
    • 435Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #3
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 159 wins & 163 nominations total

    Videos31

    DVD Trailer
    Trailer 0:33
    DVD Trailer
    A Guide to the Films of Christopher Nolan
    Clip 2:03
    A Guide to the Films of Christopher Nolan
    The Biggest Supervillain Movies and Who's Coming Next
    Clip 3:37
    The Biggest Supervillain Movies and Who's Coming Next
    Is the New 'Joker' Most Like Jared, Heath, or Jack?
    Clip 4:46
    Is the New 'Joker' Most Like Jared, Heath, or Jack?
    How 'The Batman' Could Connect to 'Joker'
    Clip 3:36
    How 'The Batman' Could Connect to 'Joker'
    Holy Martin Scorsese! 'Joker' Is New 'King of Comedy'
    Clip 4:00
    Holy Martin Scorsese! 'Joker' Is New 'King of Comedy'
    Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly Solve Movie Mysteries
    Clip 1:48
    Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly Solve Movie Mysteries
    What We Know About 'Joker' ... So Far
    Clip 2:39
    What We Know About 'Joker' ... So Far
    The Dark Knight
    Clip 0:56
    The Dark Knight
    The Dark Knight
    Clip 0:44
    The Dark Knight
    The Dark Knight
    Clip 0:51
    The Dark Knight
    The Dark Knight
    Clip 0:44
    The Dark Knight

    Photos657

    Gary Oldman in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, and Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Gary Oldman in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Christian Bale in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008)
    Heath Ledger and Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Dark Knight (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christian Bale
    Christian Bale
    • Bruce Wayneas Bruce Wayne
    Heath Ledger
    Heath Ledger
    • Jokeras Joker
    Aaron Eckhart
    Aaron Eckhart
    • Harvey Dentas Harvey Dent
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • Alfredas Alfred
    Maggie Gyllenhaal
    Maggie Gyllenhaal
    • Rachelas Rachel
    Gary Oldman
    Gary Oldman
    • Gordonas Gordon
    Morgan Freeman
    Morgan Freeman
    • Lucius Foxas Lucius Fox
    Monique Gabriela Curnen
    Monique Gabriela Curnen
    • Ramirezas Ramirez
    Ron Dean
    Ron Dean
    • Wuertzas Wuertz
    Cillian Murphy
    Cillian Murphy
    • Scarecrowas Scarecrow
    Chin Han
    Chin Han
    • Lauas Lau
    Nestor Carbonell
    Nestor Carbonell
    • Mayoras Mayor
    Eric Roberts
    Eric Roberts
    • Maronias Maroni
    Ritchie Coster
    Ritchie Coster
    • Chechenas Chechen
    Anthony Michael Hall
    Anthony Michael Hall
    • Engelas Engel
    Keith Szarabajka
    Keith Szarabajka
    • Stephensas Stephens
    Colin McFarlane
    Colin McFarlane
    • Loebas Loeb
    Joshua Harto
    Joshua Harto
    • Reeseas Reese
    • Director
      • Christopher Nolan
    • Writers
      • Jonathan Nolan(screenplay)
      • Christopher Nolan(screenplay) (story)
      • David S. Goyer(story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Set within a year after the events of Batman Begins (2005), Batman, Lieutenant James Gordon, and new District Attorney Harvey Dent successfully begin to round up the criminals that plague Gotham City, until a mysterious and sadistic criminal mastermind known only as "The Joker" appears in Gotham, creating a new wave of chaos. Batman's struggle against The Joker becomes deeply personal, forcing him to "confront everything he believes" and improve his technology to stop him. A love triangle develops between Bruce Wayne, Dent, and Rachel Dawes. —Leon Lombardi
    • dc comics
    • moral dilemma
    • psychopath
    • clown
    • superhero
    • 788 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Why So Serious?
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In Sir Michael Caine's opinion, Heath Ledger beat the odds and topped Jack Nicholson's Joker from Batman (1989): "Jack was like a clown figure, benign but wicked, maybe a killer old uncle. He could be funny and make you laugh. Heath's gone in a completely different direction to Jack, he's like a really scary psychopath. He's a lovely guy and his Joker is going to be a hell of a revelation in this picture." Caine bases this belief on a scene where The Joker pays a visit to Bruce Wayne's penthouse. He'd never met Ledger before, so when Ledger arrived and performed, he gave Caine such a fright, he forgot his lines.
    • Goofs
      It is said that all of the license plates seen on cars in the film are Illinois plates. In fact, they're not: they are actually plates for the fictional Gotham, although they resemble Illinois plates. The "Gotham" plates that were created by film makers were made to look like Illinois plates, just in case some slipped through in background shots during filming in Chicago.
    • Quotes

      The Chechen: [During a private sit down meeting with the gangsters] What do you propose?

      The Joker: It's simple. We, uh, kill the Batman.

      [mobsters laugh]

      Salvatore Maroni: If it's so simple, why haven't you done it already?

      The Joker: If you're good at something, never do it for free.

    • Crazy credits
      Large blue flames dissipate in the center to form the new Batman symbol. The film title does not appear until the the closing credits.
    • Alternate versions
      The Blu-ray version of the movie has several of the big action scenes and high altitude photography scenes in ordinary 16:9 (1.78:1) widescreen ratio while the rest of the movie preserves the "scope" format (2.39:1). This is because these scenes were filmed in IMAX, whose format is 1.43:1, thus attempting to recreate the effect witnessed in IMAX theaters, as well as preserving as much of these shots as possible.
    • Connections
      Edited into Buba Shel Medina: Episode #2.1 (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Balmoral
      Performed by The Pipes and Drums of the Chicago Police Department

    User reviews8.1K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Film surpasses the hype
    We've been subjected to enormous amounts of hype and marketing for the Dark Knight. We've seen Joker scavenger hunts and one of the largest viral campaigns in advertising history and it culminates with the actual release of the movie.

    Everything that's been said is pretty much spot on. This is the first time I can remember where a summer blockbuster film far surpasses the hype.

    For as much action as there is in this movie, it's the acting that makes it a great piece of work. Between all the punches, explosions and stunt-work is some great dialog work. All the actors have their moments.

    Bale's Batman is the definitive Batman because we see everything in this character finally on film. Martial arts skills, cunning, great tactical thinking, forensic application, technological genius to advance or improve Luscious Fox's inventions/technological breakthroughs, intimidating personality, and even a little swashbuckling.

    As for Heath, yes he gets credit for his performance as the Joker. But you have to also recognize Jonathan and Chris Nolan for the writing and treatment of the character. It's not just the fact that Ledger makes the Joker so menacing, but the Nolans have given the character this great manifesto that drives its actions. The Joker's stance on chaos, order, anarchy, the morality of the average modern human being make the character so interesting psychologically. The Nolans drafted a complex character and only a perfect performance could've pulled something like this off. That's how difficult of a role this was, and that's why Ledger's performance is so great.

    This isn't an action movie. It's a film that explores literary themes of the hero and villain, as well as order and anarchy. Yes, listen to the dialog because it's all in there.
    helpful•3.8K
    1K
    • straightblaster
    • Jul 9, 2008

    FAQ79

    • Who created the character of Batman? Bob Kane is listed in old (pre-2015) media including the comic books as creating Batman on his own but new media (made after 2015) shows him as co-creating the character with someone called Bill Finger, so what's all that about?
    • Which characters were adapted from the Batman comic books?
    • Is there any archive footage in the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 18, 2008 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • Batman Begins 2
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Legendary Entertainment
      • Syncopy
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $185,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $534,987,076
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $158,411,483
      • Jul 20, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,006,102,277
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 32 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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