The Batman (film)

***The Batman*** is a 2005 superhero film, based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name. It is the first film in the DC Cinematic Universe and the first film of Phase One. The film was released on June 15, 2005 in the United States.

The film is directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Bruce Wayne, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon, Felicity Jones as Selina Kyle, Djimon Hounsou as Lucius Fox, Rachel McAdams as Vicki Vale, Heath Ledger as Tommy Elliot, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, and Sylvester Stallone as Carmine Falcone.

## Plot

12-year-old Bruce Wayne and his wealthy parents Thomas and Martha exit a movie theater in a crime-ridden section of Gotham City. A mugger approaches them and murders Thomas and Martha, leaving Bruce orphaned. Bruce's butler Alfred Pennyworth picks him up from the police station, now being his legal guardian.

Twelve years later, Bruce returns to Gotham after training overseas for five years. Coinciding with his arrival is Jim Gordon, a transfer detective. Bruce, learning that crime boss Carmine Falcone has taken over most of downtown, confronts Falcone and uses his newfound skills to fight off most of his guards. Falcone is not scared of Bruce and unleashes Selina Kyle, a deadly fighter-for-hire, to fight him. Selina easily defeats Bruce in combat, though he claims he let her win, before escaping. Returning to Wayne Manor, Alfred helps tend to his injuries and discourages him of confronting crime head-on like that. Bruce realizes he needs armor, but more importantly, a disguise for people to recognize. Bruce meets with Wayne Enterprises's CFO and President Lucius Fox, who has created a military-grade armor that he supplies Bruce with.

Meanwhile, Bruce reunites with his childhood best friend Tommy Elliot and strikes up a relationship with journalist Vicki Vale. As Bruce begins fighting crime operating as a vigilante, Vicki names the hero Batman. Gordon is against the vigilante, but keeps his bias hidden as he attempts to rid the GCPD of its corruptness. Bruce confronts Falcone again, this time as Batman, and Falcone appears afraid. Selina fights him once again, but recognizes Bruce by his fighting. Bruce offers to forgive her if she joins him in taking down Falcone. She refuses and informs Falcone of Batman's identity. Bruce and Vicki's relationship becomes strained as she becomes obsessed with meeting the Batman. To help Vicki's budding career, Bruce meets with her as Batman and does a brief interview.

Bruce is also forced to hide his identity from Tommy, which becomes harder as Tommy holds a grudge against the vigilante. Bruce holds a charity ball which Vicki, Tommy, Selina, Fox, and Alfred all attend. Bruce goes after Kyle after seeing her arrive, which annoys Vicki, causing her to leave with Tommy. When the event is crashed by a group of thugs, Bruce changes into his Batman armor and fights them off, with the help of Selinav, who kisses Batman. Fox tells Bruce to be more careful with his identity, while Alfred suggests having some sort of communication with Bruce while he is operating. With Fox's help, Bruce turns the caverns underneath his mansion into the "Batcave", where Alfred can help him.

Falcone begins his plot to take over the economic district of Gotham, where Wayne Enterprises is. During a board meeting that includes Bruce and Fox, they are informed of Falcone's invasion and the building is placed on lockdown. Alfred is able to remotely transport the Batsuit to Bruce, who changes into it and goes out onto the streets. Gordon and Batman are forced to put aside their differences to fight Falcone. Vicki and Tommy attempt to get out of the streets but they are confronted by Falcone's men and attacked. Bruce takes on Selina one-on-one and gives her another chance to redeem herself, but she refuses. However, after he incapacitates her, she calls out to Falcone for help, and he leaves her for dead. Fox supplies Bruce with a new gadget that is able to take down nearly the entire army. He is able to get Falcone to admit to his crimes, and he incriminates several other corrupt members of Gotham with him, including the Gotham City Police Department commissioner, Gillian Loeb. Bruce tries to find Selina, but she has escaped.

Vicki dies of her injuries, but Tommy survives, deepening his vendetta against Batman, due to the vigilante not saving her. Bruce is grief-stricken by her death, but is inspired to continue helping people to honor her. Gordon meets the new commissioner, Sarah Essen, and they appear to have a connection. Alfred, Fox, and Bruce agree to work as a team to save Gotham. Gordon and Batman meet on the rooftop of the police station, where the former thanks the other for his help. Batman asks him to be his police confident and Gordon happily agrees, before leaving. As Bruce prepares to begin another night of crime fighting, he sees Selina in the distance, and they both go their separate ways.

## Cast

* Jake Gyllenhaal as Bruce Wayne/Batman
* Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon
* Felicity Jones as Selina Kyle/Catwoman
* Djimon Hounsou as Lucius Fox
* Rachel McAdams as Vicki Vale
* Heath Ledger as Tommy Elliot
* Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth
* Sylvester Stallone as Carmine Falcone

## Reception

### **Box office**

*The Batman* grossed $183.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $359.1 million in other territories, for a total of $542.7 million. The film had a domestic opening weekend of $46.4 million, and a five-day total of $59.3 million.

### **Critical reception**

*The Batman* received praise for its screenplay, direction, musical score, sound effects, and cinematography; some critics called it Nolan's best work, and one of the greatest superhero films. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 92% based on 253 reviews, with an average of 8.70/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "*The Batman* serves up emotionally satisfying spectacle, delivered by a writer-director in full command of his craft and brought to life by a gifted ensemble cast that honors the comic-book story." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 94 out of 100 based on reviews from 53 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". According to MRQE, it has an average rating of 86/100, based on 128 critics. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it an 88% overall positive score, with 63% saying they would recommend it.