Featured Audience Ratings

• John M

  
  One of the best superhero movies ever. Christian Bale continues to shine in this role. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are superb.

• Nikhil N

  
  The movie is almost perfect. Outstandingly acted and perfectly directed by Chris Nolan. The movie's only fault lies in the fact that the character of Harvey Dent/Two Face isn't given enough time to develop his psychological state. Heath Ledger steals the show and stands out… More
  The movie is almost perfect. Outstandingly acted and perfectly directed by Chris Nolan. The movie's only fault lies in the fact that the character of Harvey Dent/Two Face isn't given enough time to develop his psychological state. Heath Ledger steals the show and stands out as the best actor in the bunch. The movie gets better and better every time I watch it.

• Joseph M

  
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• Bathsheba M

  
  I'm definitely on the wrong side of this one. I thought there was way too much back story and talkie talk about why Bruce Wade is depressed and limping. The dialogue was weak and predictable. I like bat man. I like comic book movies. I just thought the story here was not well… More
  I'm definitely on the wrong side of this one. I thought there was way too much back story and talkie talk about why Bruce Wade is depressed and limping. The dialogue was weak and predictable. I like bat man. I like comic book movies. I just thought the story here was not well presented. Visually, it looked kind of cool.

• xGary X

  
  Being a bit of a latecomer when it comes to The Dark Knight, this film was always going to be about the hype. It's a tall order to live up to the expectation generated by the most anticipated film of the year directed by one of my favourite directors containing a performance… More
  Being a bit of a latecomer when it comes to The Dark Knight, this film was always going to be about the hype. It's a tall order to live up to the expectation generated by the most anticipated film of the year directed by one of my favourite directors containing a performance lauded over by all and sundry. Basically, it had a HELL of a lot to live up to. Astonishingly, it did not disappoint. I loved Batman Begins, particularly its examination of the psychology of Bruce Wayne/Batman and the sequel can be seen as the continuation of a single story in a similar way to the first two Godfather films. This time it's The Joker's show all the way and Ledger tiptoes the line between playfulness and psychosis perfectly. His character is obviously designed to strike a cord with western audiences as a villain with no agenda, fear of death or capture, no objective other than chaos is clearly the ultimate "terrorist". I just wish there had been more dialogue between he and Bale, rather than The Joker making observations while Batman wordlessly pounded on him, but absolutely every other aspect of the film is pretty much flawless; the action, the effects, the performances, all spot on. The script is brilliantly written and I was glad to see it didn't follow the usual pattern of "we're all super-baddies so let's all join up to fight the hero", instead Two Face being a far more believable by-product of The Joker's manipulations. I still prefer the stylistic approach of Sin City, but it's still easily one of the best superhero films ever made.

• Louis R

  
  Thematically concise and effective, with a line up of truly outstanding performances (Gary Oldman and Heath Ledger in particular), genuinely breathtaking spectacle and direction by Chris Nolan and brooding, gorgeous cinematography from Wally Phfister.

• Josh L

  
  Now that Nolan had everything in place and the origin story was out of the way, he had pretty much free reign to do whatever he chose and was able to shape it himself. It is safe to say that The Dark Knight is the best superhero film ever made and it forever changed how we perceive… More
  Now that Nolan had everything in place and the origin story was out of the way, he had pretty much free reign to do whatever he chose and was able to shape it himself. It is safe to say that The Dark Knight is the best superhero film ever made and it forever changed how we perceive not only the superhero film, but also blockbuster film making in general. It has already had an incredible influence on franchises as popular and established as James Bond (Skyfall, the highest grossing Bond film of all time and 3rd in ticket sales out of 23 films. Sam Mendes has confessed himself he was influenced by Christopher Nolan). Heath Ledger as the Joker set the bar for villains in general and will forever be remembered as the character, eclipsing Jack Nicholson's Joker that was supposed to be defining back in the 80's. The rush of watching the opening sequence for the first time is something I wish I could experience again. This is a film that even Batman and superhero non-fans can enjoy because it can also be put up there as a crime epic on the level of the past greats in that genre. This cannot be said about the other two in the series, as spectacular as they are. The Dark Knight is a dark and depressing story not for those who are feint in heart (and probably pushed the limit of the PG-13 rating as far as it could possibly go). Nolan's The Dark Knight is a crowning achievement and a landmark film.

• Jason L

  
  A dazzling achievement that set a new precedent in not only the comic-book genre, but in film-making itself.

• Directors C

  
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] I was amazed at how moving and deeply art house Batman Begins was, I still think it is one of the most intelligent comic book movies ever made. But Christopher Nolan continues to surprise me with the second… More
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] I was amazed at how moving and deeply art house Batman Begins was, I still think it is one of the most intelligent comic book movies ever made. But Christopher Nolan continues to surprise me with the second installment in his Batman saga, which is even more mind blowing in terms of everything that made the first film great, including a darker and more serious approach. There is just so much to take pleasure in, terrific performances, epic and well choreographed battles, amazing cinematography and one of the best ensemble castings ever. It's a true masterpiece. Absolutely flawless, the Heath Ledger performance as The Joker is scene stealing because it's just so inspired and complexily jaw dropping in which his psychopathic yet comical character engages you on a cerebral as well as emotional level. The epic set pieces are awe inspiringly mind blowing and yet at the same time, they have a purpose. For example, The Joker setting fire to the mountain of consummerist legal tender. Partly due to hugely peculiar and metaphorical scenes like this The Dark Knight stands out not only completely from comic book adaptations but blockbuster and art house genres in general. It has everything that the two rivalling audiences could possibly wish for. It's a film where both parties can collide and be entertained by it's deep substance and enormous spectacle. It is arguably the first big scale clash of the genres, but whichever side you think it shares heritage to, it makes no difference that it's a very emotional, intelligent, mysterious, unforgettable moviegoing experience. One of my favourite director's of all time, Christopher Nolan, would be a legendary figure of cinema if he improved upon it in any sense or every aspect with The Dark Knight Rises. I've now seen it, and I think he made a film as equally as perfect. He is one of the greatest film makers of all time, and The Dark Knight trilogy is the best movie trilogy ever made.

• paul o

  
  Arguably Nolan's best film by his critics and his legion of followers, The Dark Knight sets the stage for the perfect villain played by the late Heath Ledger. The Batman suit is revamped and the story is tight so that any audience viewer (even those who aren't a fan of the… More
  Arguably Nolan's best film by his critics and his legion of followers, The Dark Knight sets the stage for the perfect villain played by the late Heath Ledger. The Batman suit is revamped and the story is tight so that any audience viewer (even those who aren't a fan of the franchise) can keep up with the story and not feel lost or deprived. Its not just a super hero movie, its a modern day epic.

• Sanjay R

  
  A good all around movie. Great performances along with an unconventional plot, thanks to an unconventional villain. It certainly has its flaws when it comes to the story however. Good, but incredibly overrated.

• Samuel R

  
  Bigger and stronger than the first. With performances going even further than before, especially Heath Ledger with his iconic and shocking role. However, 'The Joker' in the comics is psychotic, clever and humorous. The portrayal in this film is that he is a sadistic genius.… More
  Bigger and stronger than the first. With performances going even further than before, especially Heath Ledger with his iconic and shocking role. However, 'The Joker' in the comics is psychotic, clever and humorous. The portrayal in this film is that he is a sadistic genius. Faith of the comics can be seen a little bit more with Aaron Eckhart's role. Featuring more action and a darker atmosphere, this is a superb comic book film and may be the finest.

• Brian D

  
  Very good sequel.Just about live up to the hype.Heath Ledger is good as the joker but not he's stand out performance that everyone is saying.That for me would be Ned Kelly but thats me.For me i still perfer batman begins it had that wow factor and the dark knight just lost it… More
  Very good sequel.Just about live up to the hype.Heath Ledger is good as the joker but not he's stand out performance that everyone is saying.That for me would be Ned Kelly but thats me.For me i still perfer batman begins it had that wow factor and the dark knight just lost it abit.

• Eugene B

  
  Arguably one of the best crime/comic-book adapted/overall films of all time. Christopher Nolan's ominous sequel to his direction of the Dark Knight Trilogy is a masterpiece. From it's visual concepts to it's classical, psychopathic performance by the late-great Heath… More
  Arguably one of the best crime/comic-book adapted/overall films of all time. Christopher Nolan's ominous sequel to his direction of the Dark Knight Trilogy is a masterpiece. From it's visual concepts to it's classical, psychopathic performance by the late-great Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight is truly an epic that's not to miss. 5/5

• Emil K

  
  After this film there is no denying of the fact that director Christopher Nolan belongs up there with the modern masters of cinema. The Dark Knight is revolutionary mix of huge summer blockbuster and more artistic auteur film. It may have chases, fistfights and explosions, but it also… More
  After this film there is no denying of the fact that director Christopher Nolan belongs up there with the modern masters of cinema. The Dark Knight is revolutionary mix of huge summer blockbuster and more artistic auteur film. It may have chases, fistfights and explosions, but it also has surprising amount of darker elements under it's skin. Once again Nolan plays with the typical good vs. evil setting and turns it quite upside down, just like in his dreamlike film-noir Insomnia. This is a film about moral dilemmas that these characters are wrestling and the decisions they have to make. Where goes the line of being a evil and how easy it is to cross. It is much more of an film about psychological battle than the action or explosions. All the hype surrounding Heath Ledger in this film is not just talk. He truly steals the show here and every scene he is in is just hypnotic to watch because of him. His performance as a joker might be theatrical and over the top, but it fits well to this film's atmosphere. The Dark Knight does surely has it flaws, mainly in the form of Christian Bale as a Batman. His portrait of the grim title hero is way too stiff like it was in Batman Begins and almost turns into self-parody at times. Film's screenplay wanders in too many directions with too many characters, but all in all The Dark Knight is one of the better blockbusters of recent years. This second entry to Batman-trilogy is also an huge improvement over Batman Begins which is catastrophic and worst film from director Nolan to date.

• Jeff "

  
  This film is quite possibly one of the best action films out there. Heath Ledger's performance definitely lives up to the hype. I could go on, and on about how great this film was. To those who say that Batman Sucks, you guys don't know what you're talking about. THIS… More
  This film is quite possibly one of the best action films out there. Heath Ledger's performance definitely lives up to the hype. I could go on, and on about how great this film was. To those who say that Batman Sucks, you guys don't know what you're talking about. THIS is the superhero film to truly call a masterpiece; The Hulk does not stand a chance against The Dark Knight. Even though The Hulk was great, this one is better, far better. Acting wise, special effects wise and story wise, this film succeeds on many levels. The Dark Knight is a darker, more melancholic film than previous Batman films. This Gotham City is more depressing and more real than previous films. Heath Ledger as The Joker delivers the most intense performance of all. Not since Malcolm McDowell portrayed Alex Delarge in A Clockwork Orange has a villain been this menacing. He really did deserve that Oscar. If great directors such as Stanley Kubrick would have made a batman film, The Dark Knight would have been it. A true masterpiece and a film that will live on as the greatest superhero film ever made. Christopher Nolan definitely delivered something unique with this film, and it shows. He raised the bar higher for every super hero film that would come after it, and pushed the boundaries on how far a film in this genre can go. This film is brilliant and is among my favorites because this is the first time where a superhero film is serious and faces off with a more real villain. The performance of Ledger alone is what makes this film so unique, so good and it stands in a category by itself. This is a stunning picture that comic book fans will certainly love and cherish. Every moment, every scene of the film is incendiary. Of all the Christopher Nolan films, this is my favorite. He hasn't topped this film, he only equalled it with his following Batman film, but he will never release a stronger film. This is a smartly crafted picture where it strips away the cartoony, romanticized aspects that we know about caped crusaders, and offers us something raw, nasty and unforgettable. The fact that Heath Ledger died shortly after principal photography adds to the melancholic atmosphere of this film, very much as The Crow did for Brandon Lee. Unfortunately Heath Ledger is not around to see his Joker menace audiences the world over, but at least this film will live on as a testament of his talents.

• Chris W

  
  A superb epic crime film that not only elevates the comic book genre into Oscar worthy territory, but surpasses all of the hype surrounding it by miles. 'Nuff said. Just kidding. I have more to say. Like how this one immediately shows that Nolan learned from the previous film… More
  A superb epic crime film that not only elevates the comic book genre into Oscar worthy territory, but surpasses all of the hype surrounding it by miles. 'Nuff said. Just kidding. I have more to say. Like how this one immediately shows that Nolan learned from the previous film and fixed the action scene editing, making it a lot easier to tell what's going on. Good job. Also, the stakes are definitely raised here, and the theme of escalation is definitely on display. Yes, like the previous one, there's flaws, such as a bit too much of the heavy handed dialogue sequences (though I don't totally hate the philosophizing), and there's some plot holes and it really asks you to take some big leaps of faith with suspension of disbelief, which is hard to do when you're superhero comic film is trying to take a more realistic approach. You can't have it both ways, but they manage to straddle the line better than most. Now, onto the great stuff. The acting. I really don't need to comment muchc here. Ledger won the Oscar, and yeah, it was a lamndmark performance. I think the media overblew it, and maybe he wasn't *quite* as deserving, but I don't think that giving him the Oscar was a mistake either. He took what Nicholson did, built on the darker aspects of it, and delivered one of the best incarnations of one of the greatest fictional characters either. That ain't an easy thing to do. Bale is still strong as Bruce/Batman, but that voice he uses is still a little off-putting. It doesn't bother me as much as it bothers others though. Gyllenhaal is better than Holmes, but I still think they underused her. Eckhart is great as Harvey Dent, but looking back, I'm slightly underwhelmed and disappointed with how they treated him. They did good (better than Schumacher) but I really feel they rushed it with the ending. In fact, the entire climax feels that way, but especially so given how things played out in reality. I realized Ledger finished things before his death, and they didn't reshoot anything, but still, knowing that he wouldn't be coming back retroactively dampens the impact of the ending. All this griping aside, this is a wonderful film. Even with the flaws it's basically perfect, and by that I mean it really delivers on all sides to all types of viewers. It'll please the fanboys and girls, the intellectuals, casual viewers, those who love gritty crime dramas, and those who appreciate art films that also work as summer blockbusters. Plus, that music is just...WOW!

• Adriel Denzel L

  
  It's one of those few movies where it truly is a treat to watch every second, even more so when re-watched, again and again... and again. Much thanks to the deft acting of Heath Ledger, giving life to a villain totally larger than life on screen power. And there are few movies… More
  It's one of those few movies where it truly is a treat to watch every second, even more so when re-watched, again and again... and again. Much thanks to the deft acting of Heath Ledger, giving life to a villain totally larger than life on screen power. And there are few movies which satisfactorily carry a lot of artistic meaning and message such as this Nolan masterpiece. These moments define great film and great art. And it delivers it spectacularly well.

• Everett J

  
  "The Dark Knight" is easily one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. I don't say that lightly either as I watch a lot of movie, but this ranks right at the top. As of right now on 7/20/2012, it's my favorite comic book adaptation ever. Everything about this… More
  "The Dark Knight" is easily one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. I don't say that lightly either as I watch a lot of movie, but this ranks right at the top. As of right now on 7/20/2012, it's my favorite comic book adaptation ever. Everything about this movie is perfect. The story, the acting, the look, the feel, it all works beautifully. There are twists and turns that keep you on a thrill ride that you just don't want to end. Christian Bale returns as Bruce Wayne, and is easily the best Batman ever. Here, he is faced with the Joker(Heath Ledger) and trying to help Harvey Dent(Aaron Eckhart)maintain his "white knight" appeal to the city and give them hope that there is still good in the world. First, Eckhart is fantastic as Dent. He makes you believe in Harvey Dent, and wish he were a real life district attorney. As for Heath Ledger's Joker, I truly feel he is the greatest cinematic villain of All Time. The performance is simply amazing and ranks as one of the best of all time. It's truly a shame that Ledger passed away before this movie release, because his role is something that only comes along once in a lifetime. I have yet to see the third installment, "Rises", but it has huge shoes to fill. Christopher Nolan is my favorite director, and this is his masterpiece. This movie, from the first frame to the last credit is brilliant and absolutely a must watch for everyone.

• Chris M

  
  Not only is this film better than the first, its better than any other superhero movie I have ever seen. Everybody is top notch in this movie. Especially Heath Ledger who did the performance of a lifetime. This is truly the strongest of all the Batman films and one of my favorites.… More
  Not only is this film better than the first, its better than any other superhero movie I have ever seen. Everybody is top notch in this movie. Especially Heath Ledger who did the performance of a lifetime. This is truly the strongest of all the Batman films and one of my favorites. Its a masterpiece.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings