The Dark Knight is a 2008 American superhero film co-written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins. Christian Bale reprises the lead role. Batman's primary conflicts in the film include his fight against his arch-nemesis the Joker (Heath Ledger) and his rivalry with district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) for the affections of assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal).
For his conception of the film, Nolan was inspired by the Joker's first two appearances in the comics and Batman: The Long Halloween. The Dark Knight was filmed primarily in Chicago, as well as in several other locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. The director used an IMAX camera to film six major action sequences, including the Joker's first appearance in the film.
Warner Bros. created a viral marketing campaign for The Dark Knight, developing promotional websites and trailers highlighting screenshots of Heath Ledger as the Joker. After Ledger's death in January 2008, however, the studio refocused its promotional campaign. The film was released on July 16, 2008 in Australia, on July 18, 2008 in North America, and on July 24, 2008 in the United Kingdom. Prior to its box office debut in North America, record numbers of advance tickets were sold for The Dark Knight. The film has broken multiple box office records, and achieved an overall approval rating of 94% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
For his conception of the film, Nolan was inspired by the Joker's first two appearances in the comics and Batman: The Long Halloween. The Dark Knight was filmed primarily in Chicago, as well as in several other locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. The director used an IMAX camera to film six major action sequences, including the Joker's first appearance in the film.
Warner Bros. created a viral marketing campaign for The Dark Knight, developing promotional websites and trailers highlighting screenshots of Heath Ledger as the Joker. After Ledger's death in January 2008, however, the studio refocused its promotional campaign. The film was released on July 16, 2008 in Australia, on July 18, 2008 in North America, and on July 24, 2008 in the United Kingdom. Prior to its box office debut in North America, record numbers of advance tickets were sold for The Dark Knight. The film has broken multiple box office records, and achieved an overall approval rating of 94% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
The film begins with a bank robbery in which the robbers all wear clown masks. Batman impersonators attempt to interrupt a meeting of various mobsters and the Scarecrow. The real Batman appears, but suffers injuries which lead him to re-design the batsuit. Batman and Lieutenant James Gordon must decide if they will include the new district attorney Harvey Dent in their plan to eradicate the mob and if Dent is truly a hero for Gotham. A love triangle involving Harvey Dent, Rachel Dawes, and Bruce Wayne emerges. Mob bosses meet to discuss Batman, Gordon, and Dent, while a Chinese mobster accountant, Lau, informs the gang leaders he has taken their money to Hong Kong to preempt a plan that Dent hatches to seize the mobsters' loot. The Joker appears and offers to solve their problem--Batman--to kill Batman.
When Batman successfully abducts Lau in Hong Kong and delivers him to the Gotham City police, the mobsters agree to hire the Joker. The Joker tells all of Gotham that if Batman does not turn himself in to the police, people will die each day. When the Joker begins killing public officials, including Commissioner Loeb and the judge presiding over the mob trials, Wayne decides to turn himself in. Before he can do so, Dent announces that he is Batman, to draw the Joker out of hiding. The Joker attempts to kill Dent, but Gordon and Batman intervene and arrest him.
Batman interrogates the Joker, who reveals that Dawes and Dent have been taken to opposite sides of the city, far enough apart that Batman does not have time to save both of them, and placed in warehouses rigged with explosives. Batman speeds off to save Dawes, while Gordon and the police head after Dent. However, the Joker has switched the locations, sending Batman after Dent and Gordon after Dawes. With the help of a bomb planted at the police station, the Joker escapes with Lau in tow. Batman arrives at Dent's location in time to save him, but Dent sustains burns to the left side of his face. Gordon does not arrive in time to save Dawes, and she is killed in the explosion. In the hospital, Dent is driven to madness over the loss of Dawes. The Joker frees Dent from the hospital and convinces him to exact revenge on the police, mobsters, Gordon, and Batman.
While Harvey "Two-Face" Dent confronts the corrupt police and the mobsters one by one, flipping a coin to decide their fates, the Joker burns Lau along with his half of the mob's money. The Joker announces to the public that he will rule the streets and that anyone left in Gotham at nightfall will be subject to his rule. With the bridges and tunnels out of the city closed due to the Joker's bomb threat, the authorities begin evacuating people by ferry. The Joker places explosives on two of the ferries—one carrying convicts, the other with civilians—telling the passengers on each that the only way to save themselves is to trigger the explosives on the other ferry; otherwise, at midnight he will destroy them both remotely.
Batman locates the Joker and prevents him from destroying the ferries. After being defeated by Batman, the Joker acknowledges that Batman truly is incorruptible, but that Dent was not and that he has unleashed Dent's madness upon the city. The Joker is subsequently captured by the SWAT team. Batman finds Dent holding Gordon and his family at gunpoint at the remains of the building where Dawes died. Dent proceeds to judge Batman, himself, and Gordon's son through the chance of a coin toss. Dent shoots Batman in the abdomen, but before he can determine the boy's fate Batman tackles him over the side of the building. As Dent lies motionless on the ground, Batman and Gordon realize the fallout and loss of morale the city would suffer if Dent's acts of murder became known. Batman convinces Gordon to blame him for the murders to preserve Dent's image. As Gordon destroys the Bat-Signal, a manhunt is issued for Batman.
When Batman successfully abducts Lau in Hong Kong and delivers him to the Gotham City police, the mobsters agree to hire the Joker. The Joker tells all of Gotham that if Batman does not turn himself in to the police, people will die each day. When the Joker begins killing public officials, including Commissioner Loeb and the judge presiding over the mob trials, Wayne decides to turn himself in. Before he can do so, Dent announces that he is Batman, to draw the Joker out of hiding. The Joker attempts to kill Dent, but Gordon and Batman intervene and arrest him.
Batman interrogates the Joker, who reveals that Dawes and Dent have been taken to opposite sides of the city, far enough apart that Batman does not have time to save both of them, and placed in warehouses rigged with explosives. Batman speeds off to save Dawes, while Gordon and the police head after Dent. However, the Joker has switched the locations, sending Batman after Dent and Gordon after Dawes. With the help of a bomb planted at the police station, the Joker escapes with Lau in tow. Batman arrives at Dent's location in time to save him, but Dent sustains burns to the left side of his face. Gordon does not arrive in time to save Dawes, and she is killed in the explosion. In the hospital, Dent is driven to madness over the loss of Dawes. The Joker frees Dent from the hospital and convinces him to exact revenge on the police, mobsters, Gordon, and Batman.
While Harvey "Two-Face" Dent confronts the corrupt police and the mobsters one by one, flipping a coin to decide their fates, the Joker burns Lau along with his half of the mob's money. The Joker announces to the public that he will rule the streets and that anyone left in Gotham at nightfall will be subject to his rule. With the bridges and tunnels out of the city closed due to the Joker's bomb threat, the authorities begin evacuating people by ferry. The Joker places explosives on two of the ferries—one carrying convicts, the other with civilians—telling the passengers on each that the only way to save themselves is to trigger the explosives on the other ferry; otherwise, at midnight he will destroy them both remotely.
Batman locates the Joker and prevents him from destroying the ferries. After being defeated by Batman, the Joker acknowledges that Batman truly is incorruptible, but that Dent was not and that he has unleashed Dent's madness upon the city. The Joker is subsequently captured by the SWAT team. Batman finds Dent holding Gordon and his family at gunpoint at the remains of the building where Dawes died. Dent proceeds to judge Batman, himself, and Gordon's son through the chance of a coin toss. Dent shoots Batman in the abdomen, but before he can determine the boy's fate Batman tackles him over the side of the building. As Dent lies motionless on the ground, Batman and Gordon realize the fallout and loss of morale the city would suffer if Dent's acts of murder became known. Batman convinces Gordon to blame him for the murders to preserve Dent's image. As Gordon destroys the Bat-Signal, a manhunt is issued for Batman.
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