The Dark Knight (2008) is a superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan and the second installment in Nolan’s Batman trilogy. It follows Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) as Batman, who continues his fight to rid Gotham City of crime. His mission becomes complicated with the emergence of a new villain, the Joker (Heath Ledger), a psychopathic criminal mastermind who seeks to create chaos and destroy Gotham’s moral fabric.

The Joker’s goal is to prove that anyone can be corrupted and to plunge the city into anarchy. He orchestrates a series of attacks, including targeting Gotham’s law enforcement, and forces Batman, along with Gotham’s district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), to make impossible moral decisions. As the Joker manipulates everyone around him, Harvey Dent turns into the villain Two-Face, representing the consequences of chaos and revenge.

As the Joker escalates his plans, Batman is forced to confront the darker side of heroism, making personal sacrifices to protect Gotham’s future. The film explores themes of justice, morality, and the fine line between hero and villain.

The Dark Knight was a critical and commercial success, with Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker being widely acclaimed, earning him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film is considered one of the greatest superhero movies ever made.