The Dark Knight (2008): Film Notes and Scores

Director:

Cast:

Poster artwork for The Dark Knight — Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

Batman, a determined prosecutor, and Gotham’s police face a criminal who turns fear and disorder into weapons.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

Batman, police lieutenant James Gordon, and district attorney Harvey Dent form an alliance against Gotham's organized crime. The Joker answers by designing public tests that weaponize panic, forcing each man to defend his methods as well as the city.

Why it belongs

In The Dark Knight, a citywide conscience-bound trap, nocturnal IMAX scale, and Ledger's anarchic Joker push the superhero film toward crime epic and civic nightmare.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Nolan expands crime spectacle through IMAX scale, practical stunts, crosscut deadlines, and Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard's escalating score, while Ledger's Joker transforms every set piece into a test of institutions and personal limits.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20

Academy Awards2 wins2009 · official ceremony record ↗

Actor in a Supporting Role2009 · Heath Ledgerofficial ceremony record ↗

Plus 1 additional win

Golden Globes1 win2009 · official film record ↗

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture2009 · Heath Ledgerofficial film record ↗

BAFTA1 win2009 · official BAFTA 2009 Film Awards results ↗

Supporting Actor2009 · Heath Ledger (posthumous)official BAFTA 2009 Film Awards results ↗

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Good for

Film Club