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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1

Science Fiction · Action · Animation · 2012

Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?

Movie details

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1

“Old heroes never die. They just get darker.”

2012 Science Fiction · Action · Animation 1h 16m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.7 / 10

Community rating

Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Animation · 2013

Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing fifty-five-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl, but does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?

Injustice

Injustice

Animation · 2021

When Lois Lane is killed, an unhinged Superman decides to take control of the Earth. Determined to stop him, Batman creates a team of freedom-fighting heroes. But when superheroes go to war, can the world survive?

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Foxtrot Six

Foxtrot Six

Action · 2019

Escalating climate change is turning the world economy upside down. With crops dying and food price spiking, FOOD has replaced oil as the world's most valuable commodity. Among the very few lands still left fertile, Indonesia is quickly rising as the next economic superpower, when its government is suddenly and ruthlessly overtaken by a popular rogue political party. In just three days, six former Marines must work together, find their long-lost brotherhood, stop a nationwide government- sanctioned genocide, and save millions of lives, for one last shot at redemption. Or die trying.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Two

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Animation · 2024

An endless army of shadow demons bent on the destruction of all reality swarms over our world and all parallel Earths! The only thing opposing them is the mightiest team of metahumans ever assembled. But not even the combined power of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and all their fellow superheroes can slow down the onslaught of this invincible horde. What mysterious force is driving them? And how do the long-buried secrets of the Monitor and Supergirl threaten to crush our last defense?

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The Death and Return of Superman

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Sci-fi · 2019

The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen now presented as an over two-hour unabridged and seamless animated feature. Witness the no-holds-barred battle between the Justice League and an unstoppable alien force known only as Doomsday, a battle that only Superman can finish and will forever change the face of Metropolis.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jay Oliva

Written by

Bob Goodman

Peter Weller

Peter Weller

Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice)

Ariel Winter

Ariel Winter

Robin / Carrie Kelley (voice)

David Selby

David Selby

James Gordon (voice)

Wade Williams

Wade Williams

Harvey Dent / Two-Face (voice)

Michael McKean

Michael McKean

Dr. Bartholomew Wolper (voice)

Rob Paulsen

Rob Paulsen

Jeff Adams (voice)

Gary Anthony Williams

Gary Anthony Williams

Mutant Leader / Anchor Bill (voice)

Court is in session

Put Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Arthouse Gremlin

“Its refusal to behave is the point.”

The strange choices create the kind of friction that follows you out of the theatre and into the argument.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Oddness is not depth.”

A film can break every rule and still leave nothing behind but the memory of how hard it tried to be singular.