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IMDbPro

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1

  • Video
  • 20122012
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
59K
YOUR RATING
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?
Play trailer1:31
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Animation
  • Action
  • Crime
Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fig... Read allBatman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
59K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jay Oliva
  • Writers
    • Bob Kane(character created by: Batman)
    • Frank Miller(comic book)
    • Klaus Janson(comic book)
  • Stars
    • Peter Weller(voice)
    • Ariel Winter(voice)
    • David Selby(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jay Oliva
  • Writers
    • Bob Kane(character created by: Batman)
    • Frank Miller(comic book)
    • Klaus Janson(comic book)
  • Stars
    • Peter Weller(voice)
    • Ariel Winter(voice)
    • David Selby(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 112User reviews
    • 67Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations

    Videos3

    U.S. Version
    Trailer 1:31
    U.S. Version
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1
    Trailer 1:02
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1
    How 'The Batman' Could Connect to 'Joker'
    Clip 3:36
    How 'The Batman' Could Connect to 'Joker'

    Photos168

    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
    Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Weller
    Peter Weller
    • Batman
    • (voice)
    • …
    Ariel Winter
    Ariel Winter
    • Robin
    • (voice)
    • …
    David Selby
    David Selby
    • Commissioner Gordon
    • (voice)
    Wade Williams
    Wade Williams
    • Harvey Dent
    • (voice)
    Carlos Alazraqui
    Carlos Alazraqui
    • Hernando
    • (voice)
    Dee Bradley Baker
    Dee Bradley Baker
    • Don
    • (voice)
    Paget Brewster
    Paget Brewster
    • Lana Lang
    • (voice)
    Maria Canals-Barrera
    Maria Canals-Barrera
    • Ellen Yindel
    • (voice)
    • (as Maria Canals)
    Cathy Cavadini
    Cathy Cavadini
    • Joanie
    • (voice)
    • (as Catherine Cavadini)
    Townsend Coleman
    Townsend Coleman
    • Morrie
    • (voice)
    Grey Griffin
    Grey Griffin
    • Anchor Carla
    • (voice)
    • (as Grey DeLisle)
    Richard Doyle
    Richard Doyle
    • The Mayor
    • (voice)
    Greg Eagles
    Greg Eagles
    • Mackie
    • (voice)
    Michael Emerson
    Michael Emerson
    • Joker
    • (voice)
    Michael Jackson
    Michael Jackson
    • Alfred Pennyworth
    • (voice)
    Danny Jacobs
    Danny Jacobs
    • Merkel
    • (voice)
    Maurice LaMarche
    Maurice LaMarche
    • Dr. Herbert Willing
    • (voice)
    • …
    Yuri Lowenthal
    Yuri Lowenthal
    • Son of Batman
    • (voice)
    • …
    • Director
      • Jay Oliva
    • Writers
      • Bob Kane(character created by: Batman)
      • Frank Miller(comic book)
      • Klaus Janson(comic book)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The red phone that the Commissioner uses to contact Batman has the same design and beeping tone that the one from the 1960s TV series had.
    • Quotes

      Mutant Leader: [picks up Batman out of mud] You finished, old man.

      Batman: [headbutts Mutant Leader in broken nose] You don't get it, son. This isn't a mud hole. It's an operating table. And I'm the surgeon.

    • Alternate versions
      A version was released on October 8, 2013 entitled 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Deluxe Edition'. This version combines both parts into a single 148 minute movie. however it cuts out the newscast part from the opening scene of Part 2.
    • Connections
      Edited into Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2013)

    User reviews112

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    "Chicken legs, lickin' legs. Slice and dice!"
    First part of the animated adaptation of Frank Miller's classic comic book miniseries, The Dark Knight Returns. The comic was highly influential on the direction of superhero comics over the last 30 years. It tells the story of how Bruce Wayne returning to being Batman after a ten year absence and how the world has changed without him. This first part deals with Batman return to battle a gang known as the Mutants that is terrorizing Gotham, as well as the release of Harvey Dent (aka Two Face) from Arkham Asylum.

    For the most part, it's faithful to the comic so no complaints there. The animation is decent but I can't help being disappointed it isn't more stylized. There was an episode of the 1990s Batman cartoon that featured different stories told by kids about Batman. One of them was an homage to The Dark Knight Returns. The animation in that tried, despite its television limitations, to match the style of the Frank Miller/Klaus Janson artwork from the comic. I think this would have been better served had it also tried to match that art. Instead it's fine for what it is but it isn't particularly impressive or stylish. Christopher Drake's music is very nice and at times evokes a John Carpenter vibe that I liked. The voice work is solid but I miss Kevin Conroy's Batman.

    It's hard to capture what made the comic work, particularly because so much of what worked was due to the time in which it came out. Translating it faithfully word for word or picture for picture doesn't necessarily mean you can make it click the same way it did in another medium made at another time. The sad reality is this story has been copied and ripped off in various mediums since its release. Batman as a character is now firmly established in the public consciousness as the grim & gritty Dark Knight, whereas at the time the source story was first released it was cutting edge stuff. So the impact is lessened is what I'm saying. That's not the fault of the people who worked hard on this; it's just that too much time has passed and this just can't have the same impact it would have had it been made 25 or 30 years ago. It's still a fun watch, particularly for comic fans, but it will likely leave some viewers wondering what the fuss is all about. Best seen as a whole with part 2.
    helpful•7
    1
    • utgard14
    • Sep 3, 2016

    FAQ6

    • Why has "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" been made in two parts?
    • How faithful an adaptation is this movie to the graphic novel?
    • What happened to Robin and who was Jason?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 25, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kỵ Sĩ Bóng Đêm Trở Lại (Phần 1)
    • Production companies
      • Warner Premiere
      • DC Entertainment
      • Warner Bros. Animation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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