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Gotham’s vigilante
Bruce Wayne / Batman
A billionaire who secretly operates as Batman. He hopes Harvey Dent can fight crime openly and allow Batman to step back.
ClearStory FILM GUIDE · 2008
The Dark Knight
Follow the alliance. Understand the Joker’s plan. Keep the ending hidden.
What you need to know
Batman and police lieutenant James Gordon have weakened Gotham’s criminal organisations. A determined new District Attorney, Harvey Dent, offers the city a lawful public hero. Their progress is threatened by the Joker, an unpredictable criminal who wants to prove that Gotham’s rules and good intentions can be broken.
2 hours 32 minutesCrime thrillerSecond Dark Knight film
OPTIONAL REFERENCECharacters, places and useful termsContains story details. Open after watching.
BEFORE YOU WATCH
12 peopleWho is that character?
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The threat
The Joker
A violent criminal who plans elaborate attacks and keeps changing the story of who he is. His real name and background are unknown.
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District Attorney
Harvey Dent
Gotham’s new chief prosecutor. He is brave, popular and determined to take the city’s organised crime families to court.
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Gotham police
James Gordon
An honest police lieutenant who leads the Major Crimes Unit and works secretly with Batman and Harvey Dent.
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Assistant District Attorney
Rachel Dawes
Bruce’s childhood friend and a prosecutor working with Harvey. She is in a relationship with Harvey, although Bruce still loves her.
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Bruce’s closest adviser
Alfred Pennyworth
Bruce’s trusted butler and father figure. He helps Bruce understand people whose motives are not money or power.
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Wayne Enterprises
Lucius Fox
The company’s chief executive and the person who supplies Batman with vehicles, armour and other technology.
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Gotham organised crime
Sal Maroni
The most prominent of Gotham’s crime bosses after the fall of Carmine Falcone.
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Mob accountant
Lau
A businessman who controls the organised crime families’ shared money and moves it away from Gotham when police close in.
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Gotham police
Anna Ramirez
A detective in Gordon’s unit. Gordon knows some officers around him may be vulnerable to pressure or corruption.
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Gotham police
Michael Wuertz
A detective connected with Harvey Dent’s investigations and part of the police operation against the mob.
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Wayne Enterprises
Coleman Reese
An employee who examines company records and begins asking questions about Bruce Wayne’s hidden activities.
DURING THE FILM
Recap as you go
Choose only a scene you have completed. If you are unsure, wait until you finish watching.
The simple way to follow it
Batman, Gordon and Harvey want to defeat the mob. The Joker is trying to break their alliance and prove that anyone can be corrupted.
AFTER WATCHING
Key story points
This section contains major spoilers, including the ending.
Content note: This film contains strong violence, threat, terrorism, burns and injury detail, death, hostage situations and frightening scenes.
An unofficial, independently written viewing companion for the 2008 film The Dark Knight. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Warner Bros., DC or the filmmakers. No official images, logos or film artwork are used.