The Dark Knight (2008)
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.
Details
Budget
$185,000,000
Rating
9/10 (33561 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Syncopy, DC
About The Dark Knight
Christopher Nolan's 2008 film "The Dark Knight" delves into themes of chaos and order within Gotham City. The narrative follows Batman as he escalates his efforts against crime, forming an alliance with Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent to dismantle criminal organizations. Their partnership encounters a significant challenge with the emergence of the Joker, a criminal mastermind who introduces a new level of disruption to the city.
The film explores the implications of vigilantism and the concept of an anti-hero within a neo-noir setting. Its plot focuses on the psychological impact of the Joker's actions on Gotham's citizens and its protectors. Key elements like secret identities, organized crime, and the struggle between good and evil are central to its dramatic and action-oriented sequences. The movie's engagement with its source material is evident through its portrayal of iconic comic book characters and their moral complexities.
"The Dark Knight" is categorized as a drama, action, crime, and thriller. It features keywords such as "sadism," "chaos," and "vigilante," which align with its overarching narrative about a city grappling with moral decay and the lengths its heroes will go to confront it.
Why you might be searching for The Dark Knight
People are searching for "The Dark Knight" to revisit its depiction of chaos and its impact on Gotham, often recalling specific, intense scenes like a character being dragged on the pavement or a criminal threatening to jump from a building to create a diversion. The film's critical reception and popular standing as a benchmark for superhero cinema also drive interest.
What reviewers are saying
One viewer considered it the best of the trilogy, praising the music and acknowledging both Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger's contributions.
Read the full reviewA reviewer felt this movie stands as the best comic-book adaptation, noting its ability to evoke human emotion and complex situations, comparable to the work of directors like Kubrick or Hitchcock.
Read the full reviewA commentator suggested it might be the top Batman film, highlighting Heath Ledger's portrayal of a psychopath and Christian Bale's depiction of Bruce Wayne as a human behind the mask.
Read the full reviewOne audience member described it as one of the best films ever, crediting Christopher Nolan with creating a believable Batman world and praising Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker for stealing the show.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream The Dark Knight on Netflix and HBO Max. It is also available to rent in UHD on Prime Video.
No, The Dark Knight is not based on a true story. It is a superhero film based on characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.
In the ending of The Dark Knight, Batman takes the blame for Harvey Dent's crimes to preserve Dent's image as a hero for Gotham City. Batman pushes Dent to his death to save Commissioner Gordon's son, and then persuades Gordon to conceal the truth, accepting the role of a criminal to maintain hope for the city. This act is seen as Batman's sacrifice, as he becomes a symbol of criminality to ensure Dent remains a symbol of good, despite Dent's corruption by the Joker.
The Dark Knight is widely considered worth watching, having received critical acclaim with a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 85 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim". Many publications have called it one of the best comic-book hero adaptations ever made, praising its complex moral tale and exploration of chaos, fear, and death. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.