The Dark Knight celebrates 16 years as fans dub it 'the greatest superhero film ever'

Sixteen years on, 'The Dark Knight' remains a genre-defining masterpiece, celebrated as the ultimate superhero film.

Fans of "The Dark Knight" have flooded social media to celebrate the film’s 16th anniversary, hailing it as “the greatest superhero movie” of all time.

Released on July 18, 2008, Christopher Nolan’s second instalment in his Batman trilogy grossed over $1 billion globally against a production budget of $185 million.

Starring Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as the Joker, the film is renowned for its dark, gripping portrayal of Gotham City’s descent into chaos. 

Ledger’s performance, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, has been particularly praised.

On this milestone anniversary, fans have taken to social media to reflect on the film’s impact. One user on X remarked, “The first comic book film to ever receive major Academy Awards recognition as well as the first comic book film to ever cross the $1B mark at the global box office.

The film completely revolutionised the superhero genre & modern day blockbuster filmmaking overall, becoming a massive critical, financial, & cultural phenomenon.”

Another fan shared their experience: “Batman Begins & The Dark Knight are still some of my favorite movies, don’t care if that makes my taste basic or anything either. Seeing this movie in theaters day one was a religious experience, the same way when I saw Begins for the first time.”

Yet another commented, “16 years today since the greatest comic book film ‘The Dark Knight’ was released. Pound for pound one of the top 10 films of all time.”

In April, Nolan revealed his initial hesitation about making "The Dark Knight," saying he “didn’t want to become a superhero movie director.” 

Despite his reservations, the film remains a towering achievement in cinematic history.