All 10 Batman movies ranked from worst to greatest
By Cody Schultz
2. The Dark Knight
Release Date: July 18, 2008
Plot Summary: As the Joker unleashes chaos and destruction upon the citizens of Gotham City, Batman is faced with one of his most challenging tests yet.
Cast: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Heath Ledger as the Joker, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, Gary Oldman as James Gordon, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox.
Box Office Results: $1 billion
The Dark Knight undeniably stands as the defining film of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, captivating audiences and redefining the superhero genre to become one of the most critically acclaimed blockbusters ever.
While this list might be about the Dark Knight, you can’t look back at The Dark Knight and not admit that it was the legendary performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker that truly stole the show. The way in which he embodied the chaos and madness at the heart of the character, all while bringing plenty of dark humor, was unlike anything we’d ever seen before in a superhero film. Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance was mesmerizing and helped elevate the film to unprecedented heights.
The Dark Knight showed critics that superhero films can be just as nuanced as the most beloved indie drama, even if they still choose to overlook the genre during awards season. While it might not have even been recognized as a Best Picture nominee at the Oscars, The Dark Knight has firmly established itself as a modern classic, and we can still see its affects on the superhero genre today.