The Dark Knight
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
A gang of masked criminals rob a mafia-owned bank in Gotham City, betraying and killing each other until the sole survivor, the Joker, reveals himself as the mastermind and escapes with the money. The vigilante Batman, district attorney Harvey Dent, and police lieutenant Jim Gordon ally to eliminate Gotham's organized crime. Batman's true identity, the billionaire Bruce Wayne, publicly supports Dent as Gotham's legitimate protector, believing Dent's success will allow him to retire as Batman and romantically pursue his childhood friend Rachel Dawes—despite her being with Dent. Gotham's mafia bosses gather to discuss protecting their organizations from the Joker, the police, and Batman. The Joker interrupts the meeting and offers to kill Batman for half of the fortune their accountant, Lau, concealed before fleeing to Hong Kong to avoid extradition.
Production
Written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, the film was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures. James Newton Howard composed the score. Wally Pfister handled the cinematography. The film runs 152 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $185,000,000, The Dark Knight grossed $1,004,558,444 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
The Dark Knight is part of the The Dark Knight Collection franchise; its influence and legacy endure in later cinema.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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