The Dark Knight

Name: The Dark Knight
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: July 18, 2008
Duration: 152 min
Rating: 84
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger

2008

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 6147 Ratings

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9.0

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9.0	User Score Universal acclaim based on 6147 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: July 18, 2008 | PG-13

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger

Summary: Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminalBatman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker. (Warner Bros.)… Expand

Director: Christopher Nolan

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 152 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Joe Neumaier

Twisted, tortured, terrifying - and terrific. Read full review

100

Kirk Honeycutt

Bale again brilliantly personifies all the deep traumas and misgivings of Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne. A bit of Hamlet is in this Batman. Read full review

100

Kenneth Turan

May be the most hopeless, despairing comic-book movie in memory. It creates a world where being a superhero is at best a double-edged sword and no triumph is likely to be anything but short-lived. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Pitched at the divide between art and industry, poetry and entertainment, it goes darker and deeper than any Hollywood movie of its comic-book kind. Read full review

Kyle Smith

The highest praise I can give a superhero movie is that it makes me forget about its 10-cent-comic-book soul. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

An action blockbuster extravaganza that's sadder than sad and never pretends otherwise. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

Nolan may want us to believe in the darkness that lurks within each of us, but instead of leading us to it visually, he chops it up and sets it out in front of us, a grim, predigested banquet. Read full review

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User Reviews

DanielL.

Jul 8, 2008

This film is absolutely brilliant, from start to finish you will be surprise, even by event that you knew would happy.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

elliott23

Jan 21, 2011

I don't understand why this movie gets bashed so much because it's "overrated." So what? Pretend as though you never heard anyone say how good this film is, then watch it, and then talk to me. And don't even get me started on people saying, "People like it just because Heath Ledger died!"I don't understand why this movie gets bashed so much because it's "overrated." So what? Pretend as though you never heard anyone say how good this film is, then watch it, and then talk to me. And don't even get me started on people saying, "People like it just because Heath Ledger died!" Again, pretend as though he didn't die, watch his performance again, and then come talk to me. An outstanding performance by anyone who was ever involved in this film.… Expand

140 of 161 users found this helpful14021

BobE.

Jul 20, 2008

I watched in awe the balance of conflicts at the heart of the story -- hero vs. villain, hope vs. desperation, choice vs. chance -- all played out by characters struggling with their own agendas, needs and/or objectives. For those who revel in this film's symphonic nature, they will I watched in awe the balance of conflicts at the heart of the story -- hero vs. villain, hope vs. desperation, choice vs. chance -- all played out by characters struggling with their own agendas, needs and/or objectives. For those who revel in this film's symphonic nature, they will see the meter and pacing of these inter-twined conflicts as something spectacular. And for those who are tone deaf to this symphony, or who cannot seem to grasp even one of these co-mingled themes (these are the people who complain about a muddled story), there's the spectacle of it all. Thank you, Mr. Nolan, for not "dumbing down" this film. You have presented us your vision in its full complexity, and it works!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Bruce722

Mar 7, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Dark Knight is definitely one of the darkest Superhero films of all-time. What Nolan has accomplished with this series is nothing short of remarkable. Some people say the movie is too long but hey, most great movies are. Heath Ledger's role as the Joker was fascinating. How he was able to totally and completely transform into the ultimate villain shows what an incredible actor he was. He was able to perfectly capture exactly why the Joker is the best villain ever in exposing the dynamic between the Joker and Batman's relationship. Christian Bale and the rest of the cast was phenomenal as well and the acting was superb from top to bottom. There were a few disappointments. The first was that Katie Holmes was by Maggie Gyllenhaal. It breaks up the continuity from the first film and let's face it, Maggie Gyllenhaal isn't attractive at all. Are you seriously telling me there weren't any other pretty and talented brunettes in Hollywood who could replace Katie? If you're going to replace someone in a film series, which I truly hate doing, always upgrade. Secondly, I was really disappointed with Two-Face's quick departure. In the canon, other than the joke, Two-Face is the ultimate villain against Batman. Yes, it felt right in the movie so I can't hold that against it but as a fan of the lore, it was a bit of a disappointment for sure. The last thing is that the plot felt more
unrealistic in this film than in the last one. Most of the major plot points rely on unreliable or fantastical elements. These are all within my suspension of disbelief for the film but Batman Begins didn't
contain as much of this. All in all, amazing movie and truly the best superhero sequel of all-time. RIP Heath Ledger.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DerekReide

Mar 29, 2019

"A good sequel?! Hollywood is out of their minds!" -says pre 'The Dark Knight' reviewers. It'll all change when this is shown to them.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SteveF.

Jul 26, 2008

Great performance by Ledger! Almost perfect action movie but at times I felt that two many characters and ideas were introduced at once. The movie could have been edited a little shorter

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JeffG.

Jul 21, 2008

I love dark movies -- Pan's Labyrinth, Apocalypse Now -- but Dark Knight isn't dark: it's sick. If you like horror movies like Hostel and Saw III, maybe this'll be up your line -- but come on: a cell phone stitched into a guy's stomach and rigged to explode crosses I love dark movies -- Pan's Labyrinth, Apocalypse Now -- but Dark Knight isn't dark: it's sick. If you like horror movies like Hostel and Saw III, maybe this'll be up your line -- but come on: a cell phone stitched into a guy's stomach and rigged to explode crosses a line for me. There's no point, no message, just sick, disturbing sadism.… Expand

0 of 21 users found this helpful

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15	#15 Best Movie of 2008
1	#1 Most Discussed Movie of 2008
3	#3 Most Shared Movie of 2008