The Dark Knight

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

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IP Overview & Key Facts

IP Key Facts

Essential information and quick stats.

Full Name

The Dark Knight

Also Known As

TDK, Batman 2

Format

Movie

Release Year

2008

Current Status

Released

Country of Origin

United States

Creator

Christopher Nolan (Director), Jonathan Nolan (Writer)

Original Work

movie

Genre

superhero, crime, thriller, action, drama

Story, World & Core Themes

Explore the narrative, setting, and ideas that shape The Dark Knight.

Story

High-level synopsis and narrative focus.

With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces Batman closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.

World

Setting, cultures, and distinctive elements.

Gotham City (Nolanverse). A grounded, realistic metropolis where corruption is systemic and the lines between right and wrong are blurred.

Gotham City, Hong Kong

Themes

Core ideas and recurring motifs.

The Joker represents absolute chaos, challenging Batman's strict moral code.

Escalation: The rise of a masked hero invites a new class of criminal.

Heroism: 'You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.'

Cultural Impact Timeline

High-level milestones showing The Dark Knight's global influence.

2005

Batman Begins is released, rebooting the franchise

2008

The Dark Knight is released to universal acclaim

2009

Heath Ledger wins the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor

2012

The trilogy concludes with The Dark Knight Rises

Key Characters

Meet representative characters from The Dark Knight.

Bruce Wayne / Batman

Bruce Wayne, the billionaire vigilante who protects Gotham City.View Profile

The Joker

A criminal mastermind who describes himself as an 'agent of chaos'.View Profile

Harvey Dent / Two-Face

Gotham's District Attorney who tragically becomes Two-Face.View Profile

James Gordon

One of the few honest police officers in Gotham and Batman's ally.View Profile

Alfred Pennyworth

Bruce Wayne's trusted butler and confidant.View Profile

Lucius Fox

Explore all The Dark Knight characters

Frequently Asked Questions

Who plays the Joker?▼

Heath Ledger played the Joker, a performance that earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

What is the meaning of 'You either die a hero...'?▼

It foreshadows Harvey Dent's fall from grace and Batman's decision to take the blame for Dent's crimes to preserve Gotham's hope.

Why didn't Batman kill the Joker?▼

Batman's one rule is no killing. The Joker tries to force him to break this rule to prove that anyone can fall, but Batman refuses to give in.

Is this a sequel to Batman Begins?▼

Yes, it is the second film in Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight Trilogy', following Batman Begins (2005).

What happens to Harvey Dent?▼

Half his face is burned in an explosion orchestrated by the Joker, driving him insane and turning him into the vigilante 'Two-Face'.

What is the 'pencil trick'?▼

A famous scene where the Joker slams a thug's head onto a pencil standing on a table, instantly killing him and making the pencil 'disappear'.

Did Heath Ledger improvise the clapping scene?▼

Yes, when Gordon is promoted to Commissioner, the Joker (in a jail cell) mockingly claps, which was an unscripted improvisation by Ledger.

How much money did the movie make?▼

It grossed over $1 billion worldwide, becoming the first superhero movie to reach that milestone.

Why does Batman run at the end?▼

He takes the blame for Harvey Dent's murders so that Dent's reputation as Gotham's 'White Knight' remains intact, allowing the city to have a hero it can look up to.

Who composed the music?▼

The score was composed by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, famous for the 'Why So Serious?' theme.