The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight is a 2008 action movie directed by Christopher Nolan, with a running time of 2h 32m. It stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart.
Batman has Gotham's mobsters on the run when a man in clown makeup walks into their meeting and offers to kill him for half their money. Heath Ledger's Joker is chaos with no plan you can bargain with, and Christopher Nolan uses him to push Bruce Wayne, Harvey Dent, and the whole city toward the question of how much you break to keep order. Hans Zimmer's score sits on one rising note like a nerve about to snap. It is a superhero film shot like a crime epic, and it barely feels like either.
Quick answers
What is The Dark Knight about?
Batman has Gotham's mobsters on the run when a man in clown makeup walks into their meeting and offers to kill him for half their money. Heath Ledger's Joker is chaos with no plan you can bargain with, and Christopher Nolan uses him to push Bruce Wayne, Harvey Dent, and the whole city toward the question of how much you break to keep order. Hans Zimmer's score sits on one rising note like a nerve about to snap. It is a superhero film shot like a crime epic, and it barely feels like either.
When was The Dark Knight released?
The Dark Knight was released on 16 July 2008.
How long is The Dark Knight?
The Dark Knight runs 2h 32m.
Who made The Dark Knight?
The Dark Knight was directed by Christopher Nolan.
Where can I watch The Dark Knight?
The Dark Knight is available on HBO (Via Hulu), HBO Max, MAX (Via Amazon Prime), YouTube TV, Amazon and AppleTV.
Where to watch The Dark Knight
Stream: HBO (Via Hulu), HBO Max, MAX (Via Amazon Prime), YouTube TV
Rent: Amazon, AppleTV, Fandango at Home
Buy: Fandango at Home
Official site
Cast
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Explore The Dark Knight guides
The Dark Knight in our writing
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- Companion guide: Superhero Deconstruction: The Complete Guide to Capes Gone Wrong
- Companion guide: Superheroes
- Companion guide: Villains & Great Antagonists
A few thoughts on The Dark Knight
The film treats a comic-book villain as a real philosophical threat. Batman: Arkham Asylum lets you prowl the same Gotham as a game, and Heat is the crime-epic bloodline Christopher Nolan is openly working in.
Every side of Batman on screen, camp to noir
The Dark Knight shot a superhero as a crime epic, but Gotham has worn many tones. These series run the range: the art-deco noir of the Animated Series, the sixties camp of Adam West, Gotham's origin sprawl and the sleek new Caped Crusader. One city, one cowl, endlessly reinvented.
Play as the Dark Knight: the best Batman games
Nolan's Batman thinks two steps ahead and hits like a truck, which is exactly what these games let you do. The Arkham titles turn Gotham into a playground of gadgets and dread, Telltale's Enemy Within makes you choose who Batman becomes, and Batman Begins retells the origin. Cape optional.
Read the Batman comics behind the movies
Every screen Batman starts on the page, and The Dark Knight borrows heavily from that ink. These books take you into Gotham's panels, from the core Batman runs to Batman and Robin and the future of Batman Beyond. Essential reading for anyone who wants the source under Nolan's crime saga.
When Gotham's villains steal the show
Heath Ledger's Joker runs off with The Dark Knight, proof that Gotham's rogues are half the appeal. These lean into the other side of the mask: Harley Quinn's chaos, a Suicide Squad gone isekai, Catwoman's schemes and Batgirl stepping up. Anti-heroes and villains across TV, games and comics.