The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan from a screenplay co-written with his brother Jonathan. It is the sequel to "Batman Begins" (2005) and the second installment in The Dark Knight Trilogy. The plot follows the vigilante Batman, police lieutenant James Gordon, and district attorney Harvey Dent, who form an alliance to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City.
Since its release, The Dark Knight has been assessed as one of the greatest superhero films, one of the best movies of the 2000s, and one of the best films ever made. It is considered the "blueprint" for many modern superhero films, particularly for its rejection of a typical comic-book movie style in favor of a crime film that features comic-book characters.
The film has been analyzed as an analog for the war on terror, the militaristic campaign the U.S. launched following the September 11 attacks. The Joker's character has been interpreted as a symbol of chaos and anarchy, while Batman represents order and justice.
Finally, The Dark Knight is a critically acclaimed film that has had a significant impact on the superhero genre. It features a talented cast, and complex characters, and explores themes that go beyond the typical superhero movie.
Cast
- Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman
- Heath Ledger as the Joker
- Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent / Two-Face
- Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth
- Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes
- Gary Oldman as James Gordon
- Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox
- Eric Roberts as Salvatore Maroni
- Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow
- Anthony Michael Hall as Mike Engel
- Nestor Carbonell as Anthony Garcia
- Ron Dean as Detective Michael Wuertz
- Chin Han as Lau
- William Fichtner as Bank Manager
- Keith Szarabajka as Detective Stephens
Other actors who appeared in the film include Melinda McGraw, Nathan Gamble, and Hannah Gunn as Gordon's family members, and Cillian Murphy as Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow, who reprises his role from "Batman Begins." The film also features a cameo appearance from United States Senator and lifelong Batman fan Patrick Leahy.
Since the film's release, the cast members have gone on to work on various other projects. Gary Oldman won his first Oscar after playing James Gordon in "The Dark Knight" trilogy. Maggie Gyllenhaal has since directed her first movie, "The Lost Daughter," which received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 94th Oscars. Cillian Murphy currently stars in Christopher Nolan's latest movie, "Oppenheimer." Michael Caine is set to star in an upcoming drama this fall called "The Great Escaper."
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan
Box Office Gross: $1,007,257,536
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 2008
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 15, 2023
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 14, 2010