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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Animation · Action · Mystery · 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?

Movie details

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

“From the chronicles of the DC Universe comes the sweeping saga of rebirth, revenge, and redemption.”

2013 Animation · Action · Mystery 2h 28m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

8.1 / 10

Community rating

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?

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?

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, Part 1

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jay Oliva

Written by

Bob Goodman

Peter Weller

Peter Weller

Bruce Wayne / Batman (voice)

Ariel Winter

Ariel Winter

Carrie Kelley / Robin (voice)

David Selby

David Selby

Commissioner James Gordon (voice)

Wade Williams

Wade Williams

Harvey Dent / Two-Face (voice)

Michael Emerson

Michael Emerson

Joker (voice)

Dee Bradley Baker

Dee Bradley Baker

Don / Fat Mutant / Additional Voices (voice)

Maria Canals-Barrera

Maria Canals-Barrera

Commissioner Ellen Yindel (voice)

Court is in session

Put Batman: The Dark Knight Returns on trial.

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

The defence The Arthouse Gremlin

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.