The Dark Knight Rises

The legend ends.

RELEASED 17 Jul 20122h 45m★ 7.8 TMDB★ Essential pick

Following the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman assumes responsibility for Dent's crimes to protect the late attorney's reputation and is subsequently hunted by the Gotham City Police Department. Eight years later, Batman encounters the mysterious Selina Kyle and the villainous Bane, a new terrorist leader who overwhelms Gotham's finest. The Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.

WATCH NOTE

Covers Christopher Nolan’s 2012 theatrical feature, excluding promotional prologue presentations and packaged supplements. US wide release was July 20, 2012; the catalogue’s July 17 date and earliest international commercial availability remain unverified. Selina, Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, Fox and Miranda resolve to Catwoman, Alfred Pennyworth, James Gordon, Lucius Fox and Talia al Ghul. Ra’s al Ghul and Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow also have supported appearances. John Blake is distinct from Damian Wayne. Remaining supporting official profile matches and complete archival, photographic, uncredited and silent/background appearance coverage remain under review. Published runtimes differ between 164 and 165 minutes; BBFC records cinema presentations of 164:27 and 164:31 and a home presentation of 157:42. Preserve the existing 165-minute runtime pending presentation-specific reconciliation.

Why it matters in DC

The concluding chapter returns to the consequences of Harvey Dent's legacy and Bruce's withdrawal from Gotham. Its eight-year gap makes Batman's return a question of whether an old symbol can still serve a changed city, rather than simply another night of crime-fighting.

Watch these first

2 titles to watch before The Dark Knight Rises — 4h 52m in total.

Batman BeginsStory prerequisite2h 20m★ 7.7
Batman Begins is recorded as a direct predecessor to The Dark Knight Rises in The Dark Knight Trilogy, establishing the version of this world carried into the later title.
The Dark KnightStory prerequisite2h 32m★ 8.5+1 before this
The Dark Knight is recorded as a direct predecessor to The Dark Knight Rises in The Dark Knight Trilogy, establishing the version of this world carried into the later title.

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How these titles are selected

Story prerequisites are curated. Likely prerequisites are inferred from sequel numbering or explicit synopsis references. Recommendations are earlier stories in the same continuity; background picks are separate adaptations. Series lists cover whole shows, not an episode-by-episode watch order.

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Where it fits in the DC universe

The Dark Knight Rises is title 3 of 3 in our The Dark Knight Trilogy viewing sequence. The conclusion of Christopher Nolan’s separate Batman trilogy follows The Dark Knight, with its main story set eight years after Harvey Dent’s death. Begin with Batman Begins, continue with The Dark Knight, then watch this film.

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