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Parents' Guide to

The Dark Knight

By James Rocchi, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Excellent sequel much darker, more violent than the first.

Movie PG-13 2008 152 minutes
The Dark Knight Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 130 parent reviews

Hilary_Saquetez104
Hilary_Saquetez104 Adult
June 15, 2021
age 12+

Great Movie but Joker May Scare Kids

The movie is very violent and dark for a batman movie, more dark than the first one. Joker may scar kids, the things he does and says. It's clear that he doesn't care for really anything not any human life not even his own, he shoots his henchmen, mixes up his story about his scars (This was written in on purpose by Nolan), he laughs manically when he's killed, etc. He does a lot of things that kids might find scary but as long as they know this is a movie and cops and our protectors have a much better watch and control over these types of help might help them be more comfortable. It also is pretty violent, shootings, stabbings, explosions and more are a common theme. It has an overall dark tone as well and taps into deeper things that no batman or even superhero film has done before. So overall Joker is scary, it's violent, it's dark but it amazing.
SlickFish2000
SlickFish2000 Adult
January 11, 2021
age 10+

An excellent Batman film from Christopher Nolan

The dark knight is an excellent movie and probably the best movie in the series. I showed my 10 year old this film and he had no problem with anything. As for violence, there are frequent hand to hand fights and some guns and knifes. The joker may scare younger viewers and two face is a pretty disturbing villain. Frequent scenes of peril and some swearing. Nothing too sexual. Overall I would recommend this to 10+ and maybe some mature 9 year olds
See all 130 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Following 2005's Batman Begins, THE DARK KNIGHT continues the adventures of billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), who poses as a playboy in public -- and in private takes to the streets as costumed vigilante Batman, working to clean up the beleaguered city of Gotham. This time around, Batman has allies, including up-and-coming district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), whose own crusade to stop Gotham's gangs and organized crime families is almost as effective as Batman's -- and, more importantly, carried out within the letter of the law. Weary and battered, Wayne is eager to help Dent so that he can retire Batman's shadowy efforts, but the arrival of a new player, the giddy and grim anarchist known as The Joker (Heath Ledger) tosses a very wild card into the game.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (130 ):
Kids say (697 ):

Big, bold, and bruising, this is a prime example of how a high-budget, high-profile comic-book sequel can still be an actual movie -- well-made, exciting, invested, and engaging. Yes, it's going to sell tickets and toys, but credit has to go to director/co-writer Christopher Nolan for making a strong, rich film that gives audiences plenty to talk about and mull over even after the initial adrenaline rush wears off. Like the other filmmakers who've tackled Batman in the modern age, Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher, Nolan has an obvious enthusiasm for the character; unlike Burton and Schumacher, Nolan also has an obvious respect for the character's history, grounding the costumes and action with real character development and focused storytelling.

The actors are all excellent, as well; Ledger's work as The Joker is earning Oscar buzz, and that's not just post-mortem sympathy talking. His swaggering, unhinged take on the character makes for an unsettling, compelling interpretation. As Dent (who, as comic-book fans know, eventually becomes the scarred villain Two-Face), Eckhart also delivers a strong performance that goes much deeper than the special-effects makeup he winds up wearing. Bale's performance is also terrific, whether he's portraying Batman's driven crime-fighting exploits or the quieter moments of Bruce Wayne's struggles behind the mask. Supporting players Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Maggie Gyllenhaal also deliver in their smaller roles. The Dark Knight is two and a half hours long, but it never meanders or wastes time; instead, it's packed to the brim with action, ideas, well-drawn character moments, and surprisingly effective drama.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Dark Knight's violence. How does the film differentiate between "good" and "bad" uses of violence?

  • What distinguishes Batman from the Joker? Both are angry and dark; why is one a hero and one a villain? Is the rule of law more important than the rule of force?

  • What does it take to maintain order in the face of those who try to create chaos? Does keeping the public safe from harm justifying curtailing their right to privacy?

  • Talk about the media coverage around Ledger's role in the film. How does a tragedy like his death affect a film's marketing and publicity?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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