Deborah Ross, The Spectator ★★★★★
"[The Dark Knight] doesn't just redefine the superhero genre; it obliterates its limits. Christopher Nolan has crafted a dark, complex, and genuinely philosophical blockbuster that lingers long after the credits roll. This is storytelling on an operatic scale, yet grounded in emotional truth. The Joker's fantastic portrayal elevates the film to perfection."
Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times ★★★★
"I've seen Jack Nicholson's interpretation of the Joker, which I used to think was perfect until yesterday. This version obliterates that portrayal to smithereens. Any future actors to take up this role have humongous shoes to fill because of the brilliant, anarchic, and strangely philosophical performance I saw in [The Dark Knight]. It's the kind of performance that rewires your brain on what acting and villainy can be. I won't name the actor because I have been asked not to. Usually, I wouldn't have complied with that request, but hearing the gasps of surprise at the end of the movie was something I wouldn't want the audience to miss. Go see the movie and make sure not to listen to any spoilers. It will ruin your movie-watching experience. Go with a blank slate, not expecting anything, and be amazed by the sheer brilliance of Christopher Nolan and the Joker."
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian ★★★★½
"A towering achievement. Nolan's direction is meticulous and muscular, weaving together spectacle and psychology in ways rarely seen in Hollywood tentpoles. This isn't just a superhero movie. It's a meditation on chaos, power, and consequence, delivered with searing intelligence and cinematic flair. The Joker's portrayal is so complete, so immersive, it feels like the actor ceases to exist. For two and a half hours, the Joker isn't played; he simply is."
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker ★★★★★
"[The Dark Knight] is a thunderous film; bleak, operatic, and visually mesmerizing. It elevates the Batman mythos to tragic Shakespearean heights, with a screenplay that balances dread and depth. Rarely does a blockbuster carry this much weight and still move like lightning. The Joker is pure cinema chaos, not just a villain but a force of nature."
David Stratton, The Australian ★★★★
"This is Hollywood at its most ambitious, refusing to cater to the lowest common denominator and instead trusting its audience with a morally complex, narratively rich experience. The action is gripping, but it's the ideas that keep you riveted. In an already loaded ensemble, the Joker emerges as the absolute gravitational center of the film; unpredictable, intelligent, and feral."
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon ★★★★★
"Gotham feels less like a comic-book city and more like a real place soaked in corruption, fear, and grit. Nolan's [The Dark Knight] is daring in its tone, more noir than fantasy, and emotionally fearless. The film doesn't pander. It challenges. Joker is less a comic book villain and more a manifestation of dread."
Alonso Duralde, TheWrap ★★★★
"[The Dark Knight] plays like an adrenaline shot to the heart of the modern blockbuster. It's rare to see a film of this scale that also respects narrative subtlety, character psychology, and moral ambiguity. It's more than just entertaining; it's haunting. The performance is chilling, intellectual, and utterly committed. After watching the movie, I can say for sure that one of the Oscars of the year has just been confirmed."
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times ★★★★
"[The Dark Knight] is a masterclass in tension. From its explosive opening sequence to its final, morally complicated conclusion, the film refuses to let up. It's not just the best superhero film in recent memory; it's one of the best films of the year, full stop. The Joker is the soul of the film. I can't imagine anyone else playing him now."
Rene Rodriguez, The Miami Herald ★★★½
"Christopher Nolan doesn't just build a film; he constructs a labyrinth. Every thread, every character, every decision carries weight. [The Dark Knight] is a cinematic puzzle that rewards the viewer not with easy answers, but with rich questions."
Manohla Dargis, The New York Times ★★★★★
"Terrifyingly alive, the Joker on screen feels like a ticking bomb of charisma and cruelty. The mystery around who plays him is a masterstroke by Warner Bros., but make no mistake, it is an Oscar-worthy performance, one that anchors the film's moral and psychological landscape in terrifying truth."
(Break)
"I'm telling you it'll be just a dumb superhero movie," Patty complained for the umpteenth time. "Why couldn't we have gone to see something else? Like [Mamma Mia!]. It has Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and so many other actors. And it's a musical. Claire is going to watch that with Jasper."
Brett rubbed his forehead, tired of the argument.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it was to get tickets to this movie?" he asked incredulously, motioning across the theater. "Look around. Do you see any empty seats anywhere? Everyone who's getting a ticket for [Mamma Mia!] couldn't get the tickets for [The Dark Knight]. It's not even comparable to the magnitude of this film. Even Jasper agreed to go to [Mamma Mia!] because he couldn't get the tickets. He even pleaded with me that he and I should go together, and you could go watch [Mamma Mia!] with Claire."
"Then why didn't you?" Patty shot back.
"Honestly? I can't tolerate the guy. He's too much for my tastes. And I'm sure you won't be disappointed with the movie once it begins. It has received rave reviews, and everyone is saying that it's a must-watch."
Patty mulled it over before saying, "So, I know that the hero is Christian Bale, but who's the villain?"
This was the second time in this conversation that Brett felt like face-palming himself.
"Have you not seen the massive publicity campaign they are running for this movie? The biggest mystery is that no one knows who the villain is. None of the trailers shows his face. We know it is the Joker, but I have no idea who the actor is. I saw an interview of Christian Bale and Maggie Gyllenhaal, and they said that the actor who played the Joker never took off his makeup while filming and kept his identity hidden the entire time."
Brett could see curiosity building on Patty's face, so he added, "I read a few reviews of the movie. Everyone said that the Joker was the best part of the cast, but they refused to identify him, saying that a spoiler review will be released in two weeks. Apparently, Warner Bros has put an embargo on revealing the Joker's identity right now."
"That's not practically possible," Patty argued. "No online forum or social media will respect that embargo."
"True," Brett agreed. "That's why I haven't been on the internet for the last two days since the movie came out. I haven't even talked to any of my other friends besides you, because I don't want this surprise to be spoiled before I watch it."
Patty considered it before saying, "So if we watch the movie, we'll know who he is?"
"End credits will reveal it if the movie itself doesn't," Brett explained, to which Patty could only nod in acceptance.
That was when the lights dimmed in the theater and the movie began.
Thankfully, Patty was sensible enough to keep quiet during the film, though it was probably because of the quality of the film rather than her restraint. It didn't matter much to Brett because he couldn't look away from the screen to even glance at his girlfriend. The film was a masterpiece. There was no better word for it. From the very first scene of the bank heist to the very last one, where Batman speeds away in the night as Gotham police pursue him, he stayed put in his seat, unable to look away at all.
The dialogues and the screenplay were top-notch. There were so many iconic lines that Brett just knew would become instant classics in a few years. And then there was the acting.
The moment the Joker unmasked his face to the bank manager, he became the main character of the film. The more Brett watched the movie, the more he realized that it was the Joker he was waiting to see on screen again, not Batman. Whoever that actor was, he took the bar of acting and raised it for everyone. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent was the second-best actor in the movie. It was a shame that Bruce Wayne was overshadowed so badly in his own film.
It wasn't the big, momentous scenes like the truck flip or the hospital explosion that made the Joker stand out. It was little things — like him clapping with everyone else when Gordon was promoted, or acting like a petulant child when the hospital didn't explode, or burning a mountain of cash just to prove a point to his fellow criminals, that's what made Brett love his character as much as he did.
"Still think it was a bad movie?" Brett turned to Patty.
"It was good," she conceded reluctantly. He knew it must have been very difficult for her to accept that. Patty was a very obstinate girl who rarely went back on her opinion, if at all. "But it wasn't as good as [Harry Potter]. Heck, most of Troy's films were better than this."
Ugh. That was the only thing Brett hated about his girlfriend — her devotion to another boy. If that boy wasn't an international superstar, he might even be jealous of him, but he had grown to love Patty very dearly and could forgive her for this one quirk of hers.
"If you had the option, you'd start a cult in Troy's name," he deadpanned. "I know his movies are good, but can you at least accept that this one was a great movie? Everyone else thinks so as well."
She shrugged. "It's my opinion. I liked it, but it could have been better."
'If only the film featured Troy.' Brett was sure that's what she would have added to her last statement, if she didn't know how much he would tease her afterwards about it.
He looked back at the screen where the credits had just begun, starting with the director's name.
He had almost forgotten that he still didn't know the identity of the Joker's actor. It didn't matter to him that much. He loved the film as it was, and logically it would be better if he didn't know the man behind the character, so that he could remember him as the Joker for the rest of his life.
But curiosity was a thing that got the better of him, and he eagerly looked at the screen to see who that person was. When the name finally appeared on screen, there was a collective gasp in the theater.
'Troy Armitage as Joker' with an image of the Joker in the background.
For a moment or two, there was silence in the theater before all hell broke loose. People started clapping and cheering at finally having the mystery revealed to them. Some even started throwing leftover popcorn at the screen, even when the image of the Joker had been replaced by other characters, like Bruce Wayne or Harvey Dent.
When Brett was finally over his shock, he slowly turned toward his girlfriend with a big grin on his face.
"Oh my God!" Patty exclaimed with a shocked expression. "That was the best film ever. Troy was so good. I still can't believe it was him. I totally have to tell Claire to watch it."
Brett tried to hold it in. He was successful for all of two seconds before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
"Hahahaha!" He laughed so hard that people around him started giving him weird looks, but since the movie had ended, it didn't matter much to him.
"Holy shit. That was the best one, Pat. I can't even—hahahaha!"
"Stop laughing!" Patty hit him in the arm, her face visibly embarrassed.
Brett didn't stop. He couldn't. He was damn sure Patty would have walked out of the theater right then if it weren't for the bonus behind-the-scenes clip that started playing just then.
He finally stopped because Troy was talking to the director of the movie, and some people were still looking at him strangely. Brett was glad he brought Patty along for this film, not Jasper, or he would have missed her funny reaction at the end.
As he saw Troy getting ready for the role of Joker, he couldn't help but think that although he hadn't liked Troy a lot earlier, now he was a fan. Anyone who could pull off what he did with the Joker was undeniably a great actor.
NovaKnight: What. The. Fuck did I just see in [The Dark Knight]?
Spoiler alert: if you haven't seen the movie, go watch it in the theaters right now and stop reading further. You'll regret it later if you don't.
I had never expected that Troy Armitage, the teen actor I have grown to admire so much over the years, would play the role of a psychopathic criminal, that too so ably. The moment he appeared on the screen, I knew I recognized him from somewhere, but when it was finally revealed, I lost my shit. So did half of the theater I was in.
SereneDreamer: I have NEVER heard an audience collectively GASP the way mine did at the end of [The Dark Knight]. Whoever thought of keeping that casting reveal a secret deserves a fucking Nobel Prize. People were literally screaming their heads off. I'm still recovering. What a film. #LoveTAforever
darkgothamgirl: Okay, but WHY did I feel physically unsafe watching the Joker? Not even kidding. That performance had me chewing my sleeves. I finally exhaled in relief when he was caught. And then they go and drop that reveal at the end??? My soul left my body to know that Harry fucking Potter was the Joker. You can't even trust magical geeks these days.
SirCinephile: Warner Bros. did something historic with this one. No press tour, no promo, no name in the credits — and still the most talked-about performance of the decade. The Joker has never been more terrifying or more… real. Troy Armitage just showed the world that he is the GOAT. I think we all just witnessed the birth of a new acting era.
ScreenFreak_87: I thought [The Dark Knight] would be great because of Nolan. I didn't know it would RUIN me. Seriously, how did they keep Troy Armitage a secret? I loved this guy's songs a lot and thought he was sensitive and poetic as a musician, but overhyped as an actor. Then he shows up as a maniac with war paint and grenades, and now I'm scared of him forever.
DarkMatter69: Spoilers don't even matter anymore because Facebook ruined it for me, but holy shit that Joker twist was insane. Troy Armitage? Method acting LEVEL 9999. I honestly thought it was someone else. That voice, that posture was completely unrecognizable. If he were in front of me, I would totally bow to him for giving us that great performance.
QuantumFox: The theater was DEAD silent when the credits rolled. I think we were all too stunned to breathe. The fact that it was TROY?? I won't trust Hollywood or Christopher Nolan easily.
Slytherin4life: Imagine watching the funeral march scene and thinking, "Huh, that guy looks kind of familiar," and then BAM. The Joker is Troy Armitage. Absolute chills. I need to watch it again now that I know it's him.
JavierGFilms: Not to be dramatic, but that performance changed me. We just saw history. The Joker isn't a comic-book villain anymore. He's a case study in chaos. 10/10.
LunaBliss: I knew it. I said this months ago, that the Joker is Troy, just after seeing the first trailer. Link. I just had a feeling, but absolutely no one believed me. People joked about it, calling me stupid. To them all I can say is: SUCK MY DICK. On second thought, that wouldn't be possible since I am a girl, so, SUCK SOMEONE'S DICK.
BexxOnScreen: The way TA absolutely disappeared into that role was legen... wait for it... dary. The fact that they didn't even market him as being in it makes it even more genius. Everyone needs to shut up and let people experience that moment spoiler-free.
PixelWarrior77: That moment when the Joker says, "Do I look like a guy with a plan?" and tilts his head with an evil grin on his face... that's the moment I knew for sure.
I'm not gonna say who, but if you know, you KNOW. Pure evil. Pure brilliance. If you're reading this, TA, you just made me your eternal fan with that one performance. Thank you.
FunFactGreg: Fun fact: I screamed when I realized who was playing the Joker. Another fun fact: I spilled my popcorn. Final fun fact: I'm buying tickets for a second viewing tomorrow. Does anyone want to join me in London?
(Break)
[The Dark Knight] opened in 4,732 theaters in North America, the widest release in the history of cinema at the time, and with that opening, it obliterated all previously held records.
On its opening day, it was released alongside [Mamma Mia!], a jukebox musical comedy starring a big-name ensemble that included Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, and more. Initially, experts believed that the film would give stiff competition to [The Dark Knight], but that didn't turn out to be the case.
The excellent viral marketing strategy used by Warner Bros to promote the film ensured that everyone and their mother was curious about the identity of the Joker. Usually, people start walking out as soon as the credits begin, but this was a rare case where audiences stayed in their seats for several minutes just to uncover the real mystery behind all the promotions. The reactions were nothing short of chaotic, from stunned silence to gasps, cheers, and outright pandemonium, all kinds of responses erupted in theaters around the world.
This reaction led to extremely positive word of mouth, with people recommending the film to friends and family, resulting in a massive turnout in theaters.
A record-breaking $82 million was collected on Friday, July 18. Instead of declining, the revenue increased to $85 million on Saturday, before dipping slightly to $67 million on Sunday, giving the film the biggest box office opening ever with a total of $234 million. That amount even exceeded the movie's production budget, which stood at $190 million.
In the following weekends, although the earnings declined, the film continued to dominate the box office. It gathered $112 million in its second weekend, followed by $63 million, $24 million, and $15 million in the third, fourth, and fifth weeks, respectively.
By the time the film left theaters, it had grossed an astonishing $759 million in North America alone. But that wasn't all.
Troy Armitage had one thing going for him that Christian Bale and even, in another lifetime, Heath Ledger didn't: a deeply dedicated international fanbase.
The moment news leaked that Troy had secretly played the Joker, international ticket bookings skyrocketed overnight. Countries like the UK and Japan, which were initially leaning toward [Mamma Mia!], suddenly shifted their attention to [The Dark Knight].
The results were visible in the numbers.
After the US, the UK became the second-largest revenue source with an astounding $147 million, followed by Australia with $66 million, Germany with $48 million, and Japan with $45 million.
Countries like France, Mexico, Spain, South Korea, Italy, and Brazil also saw excellent returns, each contributing more than $30 million. By the time the film completed its worldwide run, it had collected $773 million internationally, bringing the global total to a staggering $1.532 billion — making it the second highest-grossing film of all time behind [Titanic], and the highest-grossing film of Troy Armitage's career.
As far as his salary was concerned, in addition to the original $15 million he had already received, Troy was paid a further $115 million, bringing his total salary from the movie to a staggering $130 million. Over the years, home video sales and digital releases will only increase this income.
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AN: Visit my personal website to read ahead, or check out my second Hollywood story set in the 80s.
Link: www(dot)fablefic(dot)com