The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, produced, and co-written by Christopher Nolan. It is the second film in The Dark Knight Trilogy. It stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman, with Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Morgan Freeman in supporting roles.
The film follows Batman as he attempts to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City with the help of Police Lieutenant Jim Gordon and new District Attorney Harvey Dent. However, their efforts are complicated by the emergence of the Joker, a psychotic criminal who seeks to undermine Batman's influence and create chaos in the city.
The Dark Knight was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide. It received eight nominations at the 81st Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won two, for Best Supporting Actor (Ledger) and Best Sound Editing.
The film has been praised for its complex characters, Ledger's performance as the Joker, Nolan's direction, and its dark and realistic portrayal of Gotham City. It is considered one of the greatest superhero films of all time.
In 2012, The Dark Knight was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".