The Dark Knight poster

The Dark Knight

Closer Strong film that finishes even stronger
2008 · Drama, Action, Crime, Thriller · Christopher Nolan

51% across 249 head-to-head matchups is a strong record on its own. What makes The Dark Knight unusual is that the number actually understates how it performs when it matters most. Heath Ledger's performance pulled this film out of the superhero genre entirely and into the crime-film canon. Voters don't evaluate it as a comic book movie — they evaluate it as a great film that happens to have Batman in it, and that reframing is its permanent advantage.

Synopsis

Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.

Round 1
45.3%
Semifinals
53.8%
35/65
Finals
69.4%
Where it thrives

The 24-point climb from opening round to final tells the story. The Dark Knight doesn't just hold up as the bracket deepens — it accelerates, peaking when the opposition is at its strongest.

Kung Fu Panda at 50% is as close to a dead heat as the platform produces. Every vote matters in this one. On the other end of the spectrum: Avengers: Infinity War at 100% is a comfortable win, while Terminator 2: Judgment Day at 33% is the matchup The Dark Knight can't crack.

Closest Rival

The Dark Knight owns Nolan vs. Fincher. Interstellar is the usual final opponent, and at 67% it's not much of a contest.

The Dark Knight is one of Christopher Nolan's strongest bracket performers — #3 of 4, trailing only The Prestige (57%).

The Prestige 56.6%
Interstellar 54.1%
Inception 46.8%
BingeBracket Record
51%
Win Rate
#30 of 88 in Drama #17 of 41 from the 2000s #3 of 4 Christopher Nolan films
Scores based on real fan votes in head-to-head brackets. 50% = wins as often as it loses — perfectly average.
Featured Tournament

#2 of 8 in Nolan vs. Fincher.

Think it deserves the gold? Cast your vote now.

Fight Club #1
The Dark Knight #2
The Prestige #3
Interstellar #4
Se7en #5
The Social Network #6
Inception #7
Gone Girl #8
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About These Rankings

BingeBracket ranks films through head-to-head matchups in 8-film brackets — no star ratings, no reviews, just direct comparison. Browse tournaments, try Discovery mode, or explore the leaderboards. You can also .