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Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal ... see more see more... , Gary Oldman , Morgan Freeman , Monique Curnen , Ron Dean , Cillian Murphy , Chin Han , Nestor Carbonell , Eric Roberts , Ritchie Coster , Anthony Michael Hall , Colin McFarlane , Joshua Harto , Melinda McGraw , Nathan Gamble , Michael Vieau , Michael Stoyanov , Bill Smille , Michael Jai White , Matthew O'Neill , William Fichtner , Olumiji Olawumi , Greg Beam , Erik Hellman , Beatrice Rosen , Vincenzo Nicoli , Edison Chen , Nydia Rodriguez Terracina , Andy Luther , James Farruggio , Thomas McElroy , Will Zahrn , James Fierro , Sam Derence , Jennifer Knox , Patrick Clear , Sarah Jayne Dunn , Chucky Venn , Winston Ellis , David Dastmalchian , Sophia Hinshelwood , Keith Kupferer , Joseph Luis Caballero , Richard Dillane , Daryl Satcher , Crhis Perschler , Aidan Feore , Philip Bulcock , Paul Birchard , Walter Lewis , Vincent Riotta , Nancy Crane , K. Todd Freeman , Matt Shallenberger , Michael Andrew Gorman , Lanny Lutz , Peter DeFaria , Matt Rippy , Andrew Bicknell , Ariyon Bakare , Doug Ballard , Helene Wilson , Tommy Campbell , Craig Heaney , Lorna Gayle , Joshua Rollins , Dale RIvera , Matthew Leitch , Tommy 'Tiny' Lister , Thomas Gaitsch , William Armstrong , Adam Kalesperis , Tristan Tait , Bronson Webb , Gertrude Kyles , Jonathan Ryland , James Scales , Nigel Carrington , Ian Pirie , Lateef Lovejoy , Grahame Edwards , Roger Monk , Ronan Summers , Wai Wong , Michael Corey Foster , Hannah Gunn , Brandon Lambdin , Joseph Mazurk

Christopher Nolan steps back into the director's chair for this sequel to Batman Begins, which finds the titular superhero coming face to face with his greatest nemesis -- the dreaded Joker. Christian... read more read more... Bale returns to the role of Batman, Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over the role of Rachel Dawes (played by Katie Holmes in Batman Begins), and Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger dons the ghoulishly gleeful Joker makeup previously worn by Jack Nicholson and Cesar Romero. Just as it begins to appear as if Batman, Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman), and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) are making headway in their tireless battle against the criminal element, a maniacal, wisecracking fiend plunges the streets of Gotham City into complete chaos. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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96% liked it

1,167,871 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

288 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Release Date: July 18, 2008

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DVD Release Date: December 9, 2008

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Stats: 169,739 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (169,739)

  • jmanard52
    December 29, 2008
    jmanard52
    One of the best superhero movies ever. Christian Bale continues to shine in this role. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are superb.
  • nikhilnn95
    May 1, 2013
    nikhilnn95
    The movie is almost perfect. Outstandingly acted and perfectly directed by Chris Nolan. The movie's only fault lies in the fact that the character of Harvey Dent/Two Face isn't given enough time to develop his psychological state. Heath Ledger steals the show and stands out as th... read moree best actor in the bunch. The movie gets better and better every time I watch it.
  • fb1378820053
    April 16, 2013
    fb1378820053
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  • bathshebamonk
    March 4, 2013
    bathshebamonk
    I'm definitely on the wrong side of this one. I thought there was way too much back story and talkie talk about why Bruce Wade is depressed and limping. The dialogue was weak and predictable. I like bat man. I like comic book movies. I just thought the story here was not well... read more presented. Visually, it looked kind of cool.
  • garyX
    December 30, 2012
    garyX
    Being a bit of a latecomer when it comes to The Dark Knight, this film was always going to be about the hype. It's a tall order to live up to the expectation generated by the most anticipated film of the year directed by one of my favourite directors containing a performance laud... read moreed over by all and sundry. Basically, it had a HELL of a lot to live up to. Astonishingly, it did not disappoint. I loved Batman Begins, particularly its examination of the psychology of Bruce Wayne/Batman and the sequel can be seen as the continuation of a single story in a similar way to the first two Godfather films. This time it's The Joker's show all the way and Ledger tiptoes the line between playfulness and psychosis perfectly. His character is obviously designed to strike a cord with western audiences as a villain with no agenda, fear of death or capture, no objective other than chaos is clearly the ultimate "terrorist". I just wish there had been more dialogue between he and Bale, rather than The Joker making observations while Batman wordlessly pounded on him, but absolutely every other aspect of the film is pretty much flawless; the action, the effects, the performances, all spot on. The script is brilliantly written and I was glad to see it didn't follow the usual pattern of "we're all super-baddies so let's all join up to fight the hero", instead Two Face being a far more believable by-product of The Joker's manipulations. I still prefer the stylistic approach of Sin City, but it's still easily one of the best superhero films ever made.
  • fb1686480544
    December 26, 2012
    fb1686480544
    Thematically concise and effective, with a line up of truly outstanding performances (Gary Oldman and Heath Ledger in particular), genuinely breathtaking spectacle and direction by Chris Nolan and brooding, gorgeous cinematography from Wally Phfister.
  • jlewis07
    December 10, 2012
    jlewis07
    Now that Nolan had everything in place and the origin story was out of the way, he had pretty much free reign to do whatever he chose and was able to shape it himself. It is safe to say that The Dark Knight is the best superhero film ever made and it forever changed how we percei... read moreve not only the superhero film, but also blockbuster film making in general. It has already had an incredible influence on franchises as popular and established as James Bond (Skyfall, the highest grossing Bond film of all time and 3rd in ticket sales out of 23 films. Sam Mendes has confessed himself he was influenced by Christopher Nolan). Heath Ledger as the Joker set the bar for villains in general and will forever be remembered as the character, eclipsing Jack Nicholson's Joker that was supposed to be defining back in the 80's. The rush of watching the opening sequence for the first time is something I wish I could experience again. This is a film that even Batman and superhero non-fans can enjoy because it can also be put up there as a crime epic on the level of the past greats in that genre. This cannot be said about the other two in the series, as spectacular as they are. The Dark Knight is a dark and depressing story not for those who are feint in heart (and probably pushed the limit of the PG-13 rating as far as it could possibly go). Nolan's The Dark Knight is a crowning achievement and a landmark film.
  • jonnyjason
    September 3, 2012
    jonnyjason
    A dazzling achievement that set a new precedent in not only the comic-book genre, but in film-making itself.
  • aquateen2
    August 27, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    I was amazed at how moving and deeply art house Batman Begins was, I still think it is one of the most intelligent comic book movies ever made. But Christopher Nolan continues to surprise me with the sec... read moreond installment in his Batman saga, which is even more mind blowing in terms of everything that made the first film great, including a darker and more serious approach. There is just so much to take pleasure in, terrific performances, epic and well choreographed battles, amazing cinematography and one of the best ensemble castings ever. It's a true masterpiece. Absolutely flawless, the Heath Ledger performance as The Joker is scene stealing because it's just so inspired and complexily jaw dropping in which his psychopathic yet comical character engages you on a cerebral as well as emotional level. The epic set pieces are awe inspiringly mind blowing and yet at the same time, they have a purpose. For example, The Joker setting fire to the mountain of consummerist legal tender. Partly due to hugely peculiar and metaphorical scenes like this The Dark Knight stands out not only completely from comic book adaptations but blockbuster and art house genres in general. It has everything that the two rivalling audiences could possibly wish for. It's a film where both parties can collide and be entertained by it's deep substance and enormous spectacle. It is arguably the first big scale clash of the genres, but whichever side you think it shares heritage to, it makes no difference that it's a very emotional, intelligent, mysterious, unforgettable moviegoing experience. One of my favourite director's of all time, Christopher Nolan, would be a legendary figure of cinema if he improved upon it in any sense or every aspect with The Dark Knight Rises. I've now seen it, and I think he made a film as equally as perfect. He is one of the greatest film makers of all time, and The Dark Knight trilogy is the best movie trilogy ever made.
  • paulkoh110
    August 8, 2012
    paulkoh110
    Arguably Nolan's best film by his critics and his legion of followers, The Dark Knight sets the stage for the perfect villain played by the late Heath Ledger. The Batman suit is revamped and the story is tight so that any audience viewer (even those who aren't a fan of the franch... read moreise) can keep up with the story and not feel lost or deprived. Its not just a super hero movie, its a modern day epic.

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Critic Reviews

Tom Charity
April 10, 2013
Tom Charity, CNN.com

An exceptionally smart, brooding picture with some terrific performances. Full Review

Laremy Legel
July 6, 2010
Laremy Legel, Film.com

Christopher Nolan is much, much smarter than your average filmmaker. Full Review

Joe Williams
October 18, 2008
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The symbiosis of good and evil is the film's philosophical core, and images of duality and cloaked identity are strewn through it like shards from a fun house mirror. Full Review

Joe Morgenstern
July 18, 2008
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

Christopher Nolan's latest exploration of the Batman mythology steeps its muddled plot in so much murk that the Joker's maniacal nihilism comes to seem like a recurrent grace note. Full Review

Peter Rainer
July 18, 2008
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

The film is so relentlessly bleak that, paradoxically, its blackness is not given its full due. But this comic-book movie is more disturbing, and has more freakish power, than anything else I've seen ... Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
July 18, 2008
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Watching The Dark Knight is like gazing into a mirror on a waning moon night: chilling and mesmerizing. Full Review

Christopher Orr
July 17, 2008
Christopher Orr, The New Republic

Despite the tensions between its form and its function, The Dark Knight succeeds far more than it fails, and lingers provocatively in the mind. Full Review

Ruth Hessey
July 17, 2008
Ruth Hessey, Time Out Sydney

There is an exquisite order in the chaos, a fascist formality and video game surrealism that resists the forces of disintegration with a sort of superhuman determination. Full Review

Manohla Dargis
July 17, 2008
Manohla Dargis, New York Times

Pitched at the divide between art and industry, poetry and entertainment, The Dark Knight goes darker and deeper than any Hollywood movie of its comic-book kind.

Bob Mondello
July 17, 2008
Bob Mondello, NPR.org

An explosively provocative [film]. ... Exhilaratingly straightforward action sequences matched by moral complexity of a sort not usually associated with comic-book movie franchises. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Joker: Let's put a smile on that face!
    • Gambol: You think you can steal from us and just walk away?
    • Joker: Yeah.
    • Batman/Bruce Wayne: People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?
    • Alfred: Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They'll hate you for it, but that's the point of Batman, he can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make, the right choice.
    • Batman/Bruce Wayne: Well today I found out what Batman can't do. He can't endure this. Today you get to say "I told you so."
    • Alfred: Today, I don't want to.
    • Alfred: But I did bloody tell you.
    • Batman/Bruce Wayne: What about getting back into the plane?
    • Lucius Fox: I'd recommend a good travel agent.
    • Batman/Bruce Wayne: Without it landing.
    • Lucius Fox: Now that's more like it, Mr. Wayne.
    • Joker: It's simple. We, uh, kill the Batman.
    • Joker: Wanna know how I got these scars?
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The Dark Knight Trivia

  • from the movie "the dark knight" Aaron Eckhart is playing a part previously played by 'Billy Dee Williams' in Batman (1989) and Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever (1995). Eckhart and Jones appeared together in what other movie?  Answer »
  • Which one-shot comic book was given to Heath Ledger to help him prepare for his role as the Joker in the new Batman film "The Dark Knight"?  Answer »
  • Heath Ledger plays what charecter in 2008's the dark knight?  Answer »
  • The director of Batman Begins & The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan did NOT direct which of the following?  Answer »
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