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Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy ... see more see more... , Tom Wilkinson , Rutger Hauer , Ken Watanabe , Mark Boone Jr. , Linus Roache , Morgan Freeman , Gus Lewis , Michael Caine , Sara Stewart , Larry Holden , Richard Brake , Mark Boone Junior

The origins of the Caped Crusader of Gotham City are finally brought to the big screen in this new adaptation of the perennially popular comic-book series. The young Bruce Wayne (Gus Lewis) leads a pr... read more read more...ivileged life as the son of wealthy, philanthropist parents, both of whom stress their commitment to improving the lives of the citizens of crime-ridden Gotham City. After his mother and father are murdered by a mugger, however, Wayne grows into an impudent young man (Christian Bale), full of rage and bent on retribution until encouraged by his childhood sweetheart, Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), to search for answers beyond his own personal vendettas. Wayne eventually finds discipline in the Far East under the tutelage of Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), a member of the mysterious League of Shadows who guides him in the study of martial arts -- and the ways in which an ordinary man can hone his senses to an almost superhuman acuity. After seven years away from Gotham, Wayne returns, determined to bring peace and safety back to the city. With the help of his faithful manservant, Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine), and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), a scientist at his late father's corporation, Wayne develops a secret identity as Batman, a masked fighter for justice. But when a shady psychiatrist (Cillian Murphy) joins forces with the criminal underworld, Wayne realizes that putting an end to their nefarious plans will be very difficult indeed. Batman Begins also features Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon and Tom Wilkinson as the crime boss Carmine Falcone. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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90% liked it

969,838 ratings

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85% liked it

265 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 20 min.

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Release Date: June 15, 2005

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DVD Release Date: October 18, 2005

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Stats: 82,062 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (82,062)

  • fb1442511448
    May 6, 2013
    fb1442511448
    The first chapter in the proposed "Dark Knight Trilogy" is dark, compelling, and articulate. Christopher Nolan's marvelous input to the origins of the Caped Crusader gives a good start to the trilogy. With a strong cast (Bale, Caine, Neesen, Freeman, Holmes & Oldman) along with a... read moren ominous plot, Batman Begins enthralls its audiences worldwide. 4.5/5
  • fb1378820053
    April 15, 2013
    fb1378820053
    A
  • garyX
    December 28, 2012
    garyX
    Christopher Nolan had already proved he could do characters and dialogue and in this latest reinvention of the classic comic book character, he proves emphatically that he can do action too. Taking cues from Tim Burton's previous attempt to bring the character back to its dark ro... read moreots, Nolan's vision is so gritty and believable it makes Burton's film seem as comparatively camp as the Adam West TV series that preceded it. This origin story has no radioactive spiders or associated sillines; just an intelligent examination of a man's guilt and desire for revenge and the psychology of fear. This combined with unlimited resources that wealth can provide, Batman is born utilising some brilliant production design that not only looks fantastic, but also looks plausible. Bale was the perfect choice for the role, bringing a single-minded intensity to the character and is just as convincing in his pimpernel-esque role as billionaire playboy. The supporting cast of genuine actors including Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman add a lot of dramatic weight and the script is cleverly fleshed out. Possibly the only flaws are the fact that although Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy are both great it lacks a focal villain (something obviously rectified quite spectacularly by Heath Ledger in the sequel) and Katie Holmes is a bit of a dead zone but these gripes are insignificant compared to Nolan's achievement in bringing Batman to believable life. For me, this is easily one of the best superhero movie ever made and it stands up handsomely to repeated viewings. A future classic.
  • jlewis07
    December 10, 2012
    jlewis07
    Batman Begins re-established the Batman franchise as something that can deliver the blockbuster goods while also delivering a grounded and human story that connects with everyone. This is not a gothic Burton freakshow, nor is it the soulless special effects drivel that Schumacher... read more made. Nolan understands the importance of a good origin story and delivers. This is not wall to wall action, but it holds your attention from the get go and the pacing is just right. Christian Bale is the Batman the series has always needed. He is by far the best actor to ever play the role and will be hard to top if WB ever decides to continue on after Nolan's saga. Everything Nolan set up in terms of the origin story with the League of Shadows and Ra's Al Ghul (played by a fantastic Liam Neeson) has not been attempted before and it was the perfect way to start his vision of the character. Add in Morgan Freeman as Lucious Fox, Michael Caine as Alfred, and Gary Oldman as Gordon and you have the pieces in place for something special. Katie Holmes is the weak link, but she isn't awful. Overall, Batman Begins is probably the most traditional made of Nolan's series before he forever changed the landscape of superhero films with The Dark Knight, but it is still fantastic.
  • aquateen2
    August 27, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    Christopher Nolan proved with Batman Begins for the first time that he understood the symbolism, the importance, and the feelings of the Batman in his profound reboot of the franchise. His direction and ... read morescript is that of an intelligent fan of cinema who think the audience is as smart as he is. But if one thing's for sure, I cannot resist smiling at the sight of Gary Oldman attempting to drive the Batmobile. Christian Bale's charisma, charm and voice brings The Dark Knight to life and in a magnetic screen presence makes the character study work well. It's an extremely dark comic book adaptation and better than any other Batman film made previously. It's original, exciting, and filled with thrilling action sequences. Essentialy, it's an entertaining and deeply mature art house film about ideas, with a budget. It's incredible how a big super hero blockbuster film made for 200 million is as artistic as Batman Begins. There is no denying that it surprised everyone, whether they liked the film or they didn't. It's a masterpiece.
  • samoriley
    August 7, 2012
    samoriley
    A great opening chapter to a sucessful trilogy. Featuring a superb cast, a strong script and plenty of action. Faith towards the comics is strong and can be easily seen through the dark atmosphere, along with the performances of Christian Bale,Cillian Murphy and Liam Neeson.
  • fb100000883534329
    August 6, 2012
    fb100000883534329
    I know following up Batman & Robin isn't the hardest feat in the world, but this film did so much more then that. This is the true story of a phoenix. Batman went from being a complete joke to being one of the greatest film trilogies in recent history. This being the first and... read more some would say the best of the trilogy. Casting perfect, direction amazing, and the music made it an instant classic. Christopher Nolan was always a great director but this was the first sign of what was to come from the one we all have grown to know as Nolan.
  • fb1664868775
    July 30, 2012
    fb1664868775
    Hands down the best "reboot" movie of all time, this one has it all. Nolan takes great care in setting up the backstory of the Caped Crusader in the first half of the film. The second half kicks into overdrive and ends with a fantastic finish.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    July 27, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Christopher Nolan's sweeping first chapter in the rebooted Batman is a much needed breath of fresh air in the super hero genre. Batman & Robin was a travesty of cinema; Joel Schumacher butchered something that Tim Burton worked hard at making. Batman forever was an average flick,... read more but its follow-up tried to outdo everything, with much bigger effects, over the top villains and ridiculous costumes. The film was like a nightmare, it was like the equivalent of attending a Justin Bieber concert or getting your teeth pulled out. Schumacher made the worst superhero film ever made with Batman & Robin, his total disregard of the material and wanting to make everything flashy was a slap in the face to the fans. I've been a diehard Batman fan since childhood, and loved the Tim Burton films. But the series sunk to whole new low with Batman & Robin. However Warner Brothers delivered hired Nolan to helm Batman Begins, and the rest is as they say history. Christopher Nolan crafts a unique new take on the Batman tale. His understanding of what makes a good action film by giving us some real villains that can exist, unlike the stupid villains Schumacher gave us with Batman & Robin, these villains were real, and they were believable. Nolan has made a fantastic picture with this first entry of a stunning trilogy of films. This film brought back my fate in the franchise, and re-established Batman as a superhero to take seriously and not make fun of. The aspect that stands out the most about the film is Bruce Wayne's conflict, and what he tries to do to clean the streets and eventually become the Batman. Really, this is an astounding film, one that erases all the mistakes that Schumacher has made with his second Batman feature. This is a real treat to watch and is the definitive Batman film. This film was only matched by its sequels, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. This is a brilliant film that brought back faith in the character, and as a diehard fan of Batman, I was simply blown away. Christian Bale has made the character his own, and he is the best Batman since Michael Keaton. Batman Begins is the beginning of the darkest saga in the character's history. Brilliantly effective and with memorable action this film is a fine return to glory for the legendary Dark Knight.
  • fb100000293612769
    July 26, 2012
    fb100000293612769
    Epic, dark, and intense, the film is a fantastic start to the Dark Knight trilogy. Though it lacks the power the following film runs on, Batman Begins has its own iconic feel to it and is a thrill to watch.

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Critic Reviews

Christy Lemire
April 14, 2013
Christy Lemire, Associated Press

Nolan takes an admirable stab at developing a character-driven drama, only to give in to generic action-movie conventions with a blinding, deafening, explosion-laden finale that could have capped off ... Full Review

Joe Morgenstern
April 14, 2013
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

Batman Begins summons up moments of great eloquence and power. If only its cast of characters was as fully inhabited as its turbulent city. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

It's not just the birth of Batman we're seeing in this triumphant interpretation, it's also the dawning of Gotham City's age of greed. Full Review

Desson Thomson
February 3, 2007
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Here's how any great franchise should start: with care, precision and delicately wrought atmosphere. Full Review

Ken Tucker
May 12, 2006
Ken Tucker, New York Magazine

A nonstarter. Full Review

Joe Williams
July 7, 2005
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Without the biff! bang! pow! of pop signifiers, this intelligent, well-made film is too heavy to transport us anywhere but down the dark hole of its good intentions. Full Review

J. R. Jones
June 17, 2005
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

For all the hype about exploring Batman's damaged psyche, Nolan and Goyer haven't added much beyond a corny opening in which he falls down a well and is attacked by bats. Full Review

Terry Lawson
June 17, 2005
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

If you love Batman, then Batman Begins will the best Batman movie ever made. On the other hand, if you love Batman movies, Batman Begins may leave you wondering where the Joker went. Full Review

Rex Reed
June 16, 2005
Rex Reed, New York Observer

Batman Begins is for morons. Full Review

Ben Walters
June 16, 2005
Ben Walters, Time Out

The muscular grit of the action sequences is leavened with nicely judged sarky banter. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Rachel Dawes: It's not who we are but what we do that defines us.
    • Batman/Bruce Wayne: It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
    • Henri Ducard: You finally learned to do what is necessary.
    • Batman/Bruce Wayne: I won't kill you, but I don't have to save you
    • Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow: There's nothing to fear, but fear itself!
    • Jim Gordon: I never said thank you.
    • Batman/Bruce Wayne: And you'll never have to.
    • Henri Ducard: Don't be afraid, Bruce. Come on. Come on. You are just an ordinary man in a cape. That's why you couldn't fight injustice, that's why you can't stop this train
    • Batman/Bruce Wayne: Who said anything about stopping it?
    • Henri Ducard: You never learned to mind your surroundings! Have you finally learned to do what is necessary?
    • Batman/Bruce Wayne: I won't kill you but I don't have to save you.
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Batman Begins : Watch Free on TV

Batman Begins Trivia

  • Who played in Newsies, The Prestige, Batman Begins, Reign of Fire, and Equilibrium?  Answer »
  • In which Batman movie does Gary Oldman star?  Answer »
  • From what BATMAN film are this soundtracks from? VESPERTILLIO, EPTESICUS, MYOTIS, BARBASTELLA, ARTIBEUS,TADARIDA, MACROTUS,ANTROZOUS,NVCTERIS,MOLOSSUS, CORYNORHINUS,and LASIURUS.  Answer »
  • What actor placed himself on a crash diet that saw his weight dropping by a startling sixty pounds for the machinist in a matter of months, then gained exactly one hundred pounds in six months converting most of it into muscle for Batman Begins?  Answer »
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