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As darkness spreads across Gotham, Batman's crusade against evil intensifies. Teaming up with trusted allies Gordon and Dent, he targets the city's most notorious gangs. But their success sparks a maelstrom of chaos when the enigmatic Joker emerges, plunging the metropolis into anarchy and forcing Batman to confront his greatest foe in a battle for justice.

As darkness spreads across Gotham, Batman's crusade against evil intensifies. Teaming up with trusted allies Gordon and Dent, he targets the city's most notorious gangs. But their success sparks a maelstrom of chaos when the enigmatic Joker emerges, plunging the metropolis into anarchy and forcing Batman to confront his greatest foe in a battle for justice.

Does The Dark Knight have end credit scenes?

No!

The Dark Knight does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Dark Knight

Explore the complete cast of The Dark Knight, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for The Dark Knight

See how The Dark Knight is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Dark Knight stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

84

Metascore

9.1

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

IMDb

9.0 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

85

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate The Dark Knight Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Dark Knight with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


The Dark Knight Quiz: Test your knowledge on the thrilling events, characters, and twists of The Dark Knight.

What method does the Joker use to escape from the police after being arrested?

Awards & Nominations for The Dark Knight

Explore awards

Discover all the awards and nominations received by The Dark Knight, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how The Dark Knight and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


81st Academy Awards 2009

Heath Ledger
Win

Actor in a Supporting Role

Heath Ledger
Nomination

Art Direction

Nomination

Cinematography

Nomination

Film Editing

Nomination

Makeup

Win

Sound Editing

Nomination

Sound Mixing

Nomination

Visual Effects

62nd British Academy Film Awards 2009

Heath Ledger
Win

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Heath Ledger
Nomination

Best Cinematography

Nomination

Best Costume Design

Nomination

Best Editing

Nomination

Best Makeup and Hair

Nomination

Best Original Music

Nomination

Best Production Design

Nomination

Best Sound

Nomination

Best Special Visual Effects

14th Critics' Choice Awards 2009

Nomination

Best Picture

Christopher Nolan
Nomination

Best Director

Christopher Nolan
Heath Ledger
Win

Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger
Nomination

Best Cast

Win

Best Action Movie

Nomination

Best Composer

15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards 2009

Heath Ledger
Win

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Heath Ledger
Win

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

61st Directors Guild of America Awards 2009

Christopher Nolan
Nomination

Feature Film

Christopher Nolan

24th Artios Awards 2009

Nomination

Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Big Budget Feature - Drama

66th Golden Globe Awards 2009

Heath Ledger
Win

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Heath Ledger

35th Saturn Awards 2009

Nomination

Best Actress

Win

Best Supporting Actor

Nomination

Best Supporting Actor

Nomination

Best Director

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Dark Knight

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Read the complete plot summary of The Dark Knight, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


The film opens with a daring bank heist orchestrated by a crew clad in clown masks, all of whom are there to steal the mob’s substantial cash reserves. As the robbery unfolds, a conflict arises among the clowns over their share, leading to chaos where they begin turning on each other. In a shocking moment, a school bus crashes through the bank wall, causing more mayhem and leaving one clown dead. In a tense confrontation, one surviving clown, a mob bank manager, realizes the clowns are far more dangerous than they appear. The clown kneels in front of him and chillingly states, > “I believe whatever doesn’t kill you simply makes you… stranger…” before revealing his identity as The Joker. Without hesitation, he places a grenade in the banker’s mouth before escaping on the bus, which is cleverly rigged with a gas grenade instead of a conventional bomb. The Joker seamlessly joins a convoy of school buses just as the police arrive.

As night falls in Gotham, a palpable fear has gripped the underworld due to the looming silhouette of the batsignal in the sky. We see Lt. James Gordon manning the signal alongside Det. Anna Ramirez, who wonders if Batman will show up. Gordon reassures her that it’s fine if he doesn’t come, subtly hoping Batman is busy taking down Gotham’s rampant crime. Meanwhile, the Scarecrow, having escaped Arkham Asylum, finds himself in a precarious deal with Russian mobsters, when just as they negotiate, phony Batmen crash the scene aiming to enact their own form of justice. The Batmobile crashes in, and after a destructive display, Batman arrives to turn the tides, fighting off both enemies and misguided vigilantes.

After the intense altercation, Gordon and Ramirez investigate the aftermath of the bank heist while Batman analyzes the situation for leads on the Joker, who is quickly becoming a significant threat amidst the chaos created by Gotham’s mob. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne grapples with the fallout of his double life as he watches the new district attorney, Harvey Dent, pursue justice. Alfred cautions Bruce to tread carefully, sensing a potential conflict brewing over Harvey’s growing closeness with Rachel Dawes, Bruce’s former love.

The tension mounts in court as Harvey and Rachel attempt to bring mob leader Salvatore Maroni to justice. However, their efforts face setbacks, reinforcing the chaos within Gotham’s judicial system. Through it all, Dent’s resolve only strengthens, sparking a precarious alliance with Gordon against corruption. As Bruce Wayne prepares for a gala fundraiser in support of Harvey, the Joker’s plans begin to unfold, revealing his twisted vendetta against Gotham’s vigilante and its heroes.

As the narrative intensifies, the Joker instigates deadly games involving Harvey, Rachel, and Batman, each of whom must confront their values in the face of moral ambiguity. The stakes escalate when Harvey, in a harrowing transformation into Two-Face after Rachel’s tragic fate, seeks vengeance against those he deems responsible for the city’s chaos. This sets off a series of confrontations that question the very fabric of justice in Gotham.

In a heart-stopping climax, Batman is tasked with making an impossible choice: save the love of his life or protect Gotham’s remaining hope in Harvey Dent. The fate of the city hangs in balance as the Joker’s master plan comes to fruition, leading to devastating losses that force Bruce to take on the mantle of a true Dark Knight. As the dust settles, Batman must now bear the burden of blame for crimes he did not commit to uphold Dent’s legacy and preserve hope in a city on the brink of collapse. In a poignant conclusion, Gordon reflects on Batman’s silent sacrifice, declaring him a “silent Guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight.”

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Dark Knight

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from The Dark Knight. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Official Trailer

Original Theatrical Trailer

Cars Featured in The Dark Knight

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Explore all cars featured in The Dark Knight, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


AM

General HMMWV

AM

General M-35

Bentley

2005

Arnage R

BMW

1988

325i Cabrio E30

Buick

1996

Park Avenue

Buick

1991

Roadmaster Estate Wagon

Cadillac

1989

Sedan DeVille

Chevrolet

1994

Camaro

Chevrolet

1984

CUCV M-1010

Chevrolet

1996

Express

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


psychopathmoral dilemmasuperherocriminal mastermindclowndual identitybased on comic bookclown maskelectronic music scorepsychological manipulationbillionairebatman characterstar died before releasebatmobilesequeljoker characterskyscrapertragic heroevil clownneo noiropening action scenedisfigurementsecond partsequel to a rebootno opening creditsno title at beginningtitle at the endepicurban settinglove trianglemobsterhuman monsterrace against timehenchmanjujitsumagic trickface paintmafiaorganized crimedark heroblockbusterfamous scoreanti herofalse confessioncity hallheroelectronic music score in style of orchestral music scorefamous linealfred pennyworth characterdistrict attorney

Articles, Reviews & Explainers About The Dark Knight

Stay updated on The Dark Knight with in-depth articles, critical reviews, and ending explainers. Explore hidden meanings, major themes, and expert insights into the film’s story and impact.


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