The Dark Knight

What’s it about?

When a menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc on the people of Gotham, Batman and his allies must work together to end his madness.

The facts 

• Directed by Christopher Nolan (Interstellar, Inception)
• Starring Christian Bale (American Psycho), Michael Caine (The Prestige), Heath Ledger (10 Things I Hate About You), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Secretary), Aaron Eckhart (Thank You For Smoking), Gary Oldman (Dracula), and Morgan Freeman (Seven)
• English and Mandarin languages
• Runtime: 152 minutes

Why did it get this rating? 

This film game was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Violence

This film contains depictions of characters using various weapons. People are shot, stabbed, injured, and killed in shootings, fistfights and explosions, though aside from a few scenes there is little blood or injury detail.

Some of the strongest violence includes:

• Half of a man’s face is burned, shown in detail.
• A villain slashes the cheeks of a man, though the camera cuts away as it happens.
• A character who has been killed is shown hanging from a noose in front of a window.
• One man has a bomb sewn under his skin and the building he is in later explodes.
• A man falls from a small height, breaking his legs with an audible snap.

Many people are threatened and killed throughout the film, with lots of crime and corruption. The Joker’s appearance may also scare some younger viewers.

When content stays with you: 

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters