The Dark Knight is the 2008 sequel to Batman Begins, both based on the DC Comics character Batman. It is the second film in the Dark Knight film trilogy.
Christian Bale returns as Bruce Wayne / Batman, who has become a symbol to the people of Gotham, even as crime escalates. Batman sees new district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhardt), a principled crime fighter who works within the law, as someone who can provide true leadership to the city. Unfortunately a new criminal element turns up in the form of The Joker (Heath Ledger), an unhinged agent of chaos who terrorized both crime bosses and citizens alike with his seemingly-unmotivated violence. Also returning are Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman. Maggie Gyllenhaal replaces Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes.
Christopher Nolan once again directs the the film from a script he co-wrote with brother Jonathan Nolan, from a story he developed with David S. Goyer.
The Dark Knight is widely lauded as one of the best superhero films of all time, thanks in large part to Leger's mesmerizing performance, one of his last before he died the same year. It was also a massive box office success, becoming the highest-grossing movie of that year.
