The Dark Knight
The Dark Knightrevolutionized Hollywood when it premiere 10 age ago , but the industry on the face of it learned the incorrect lesson from the film . To say Christopher Nolan ’s comic book film is one of this generation ’s defining titles would be an understatement .
Upon its tone ending in 2008,The Dark Knightwas hail as one of the greatest movies ever made ( not just one of the best superhero motion picture ) and became a boxwood government agency phenomenon . In its domesticated run , it take in $ 534.8 million and was a realistic competition forTitanic’sthen - all - time record . It even exchange the fabric of the Oscars , after its infamous Best Picture cut result to a field elaboration in 2009 .
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Of course , when something strike a chord to this effect , it ’s go to leave a sizeable impression on the landscape painting . The flick business sector is a emulator league , and administrator definitely take on notice ofThe Dark Knightand taste to do whatever they could to double its success . Undeniably , Dark Knighthas a lasting legacy on film and arguably remains the bar for its genre , but a typeface can be made people took the wrong thing away from it in their attempts to find a hit .
Nolan’s Approach Doesn’t Work For Everything
TheDark Knighttrilogy ( which start up withBatman Beginsin 2005 ) was noted for a grounded and realistic style that search what Batman would really be like if he survive in our world . Just about everything Bruce Wayne used was inspire by substantial - life technology , which helped allow the gadgetry feel actual . Batman is one of the few superheroes where this glide slope makes sense , as he does n’t have any powerfulness . Nolan was able to bet down some of the more antic elements of the funnies and earlier moving picture adaptation in a logical style and still remain true to the source material . By all accounts , The Dark Knightis a crime drama that just happens to have Batman and the Joker in it .
Batman Beginskicked off Hollywood ’s gritty reboot tendency ( Casino Royalecame out shortly after ) , but this drift did n’t really take hold of hold of the industry until post - gloomy Knight . In the following years , several enfranchisement revivals strain to put the Nolan spin on the prop , but none achieved the same level of success . Some , such asDracula Untold , Fantastic Four , andThe Amazing Spider - Manseries , flamed out and killed their respective franchisesbefore they had a chance to really begin . Others , likeStar Trek Into Darkness(which take over elements fromDark Knight ) andMan of Steel(a Nolan - develop Superman reboot ) were polarise due to their handling of pop civilisation icons . The main emergence of this is that " drear and gritty " is not a tone that go for every character . It fits Batman , but not Spider - Man . There ’s a reason why Tom Holland ’s enthusiastic , lighter take on Peter Parker is thriving while Andrew Garfield ’s is no more .
As typically happen when a landmark film opens , rival executives take away the wrong moral from it . The Dark Knightdidn’t connect with people because it was a naturalistic take on Batman . It earned $ 1 billion worldwide and receive widespread acclaim because Nolan was able to tell the story he wanted and took the character reference badly . That last point is central . It does n’t intend the movie has to be a somber drama a laLoganin society to be " serious " - it just means the film should n’t be reduced to a gag . It ’s possible to make a playfulness , entertain blockbuster that ’s true to the spirit of the role and does n’t make him or her a laughingstock . Spider - Man : Homecomingis one of the best representation of Peter Parker onscreen . Batman and Robinis a mete parodypeople have to apologize for .
Because of its haphazard program , the " glum and gritty " aesthetical put on thin pretty quickly and is no longer en vogue . DespiteThe Dark Knight’sstanding as one of the greatest films , its influence is n’t as wide feel as it was just a handful of years ago . Of of course , part of this is the cyclical nature of the business . vogue fall and go as lapse fads , and executives move on to the next one after milking the previous one dry . However , this is n’t to sayThe Dark Knighthas no lasting bequest on the manufacture - even as another superhero movie trend passes it in full term of ethnic relevance .
Page 2 of 2:How Hollywood (and Marvel) Learned From The Dark Knight
Did Marvel “Beat” The Dark Knight?
2008 saw another seismic result in superhero movies with the release of the originalIron Man , which launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe . At first , Marvel ’s program for an interconnect movie dealership seemed too challenging , but it ’s now the biggest brand in photographic film , garner $ 17 billion combined at the worldwide box berth . In the wake of the MCU ’s success , other studios endeavor to set in motion their own shared universes , but nobody ’s truly been capable to root for it off . That includes Warner Bros./DC , whose DC Extended Universe has several critically - derided movies , such asJustice League(a actual cause of death ) .
Related:10 Things Christopher Nolan draw Right About Batman ( And 10 He Did n’t )
While other studios are ascertain the haywire lesson from Marvel ( crossovers do not be blockbusters ) , the MCU is actually demonstrating the " right " lessons to be gleaned fromThe Dark Knight . particularly recently after restructure their pecking order and disband the infamous originative committee , Kevin Feige has been uncoerced to allow singular voices likeRyan CooglerandTaika Waititithe leeway to make films that agree into the larger framework of what ’s been established , but still have the mould of their theatre director . While some Marvel movies are more serious than others ( Infinity Waris an obvious lesson ) , there is a mixture of quality that earmark for a proper remainder and ensures each sub - franchise thrives . Black Pantherwas a political thriller whileGuardians of the Galaxyis a space comedy . That variation allows Marvel to stay viable even with multiple loss per yr .
Of of course , see different superhero character interact with each other onscreen is a big part of Marvel ’s appeal , but Marvel knows it takes more than that to keep up a film series longterm . Much like Nolan , the movie maker of the MCU are n’t afraid to treat their characters with the reverence needed to install an emotional connection with the audience . Even the comic MCU installments , likeGuardians of the Galaxy Vol . 2andAnt - Man and the Wasp , have solid moment of drama that underline the stake of the chronicle . Yes , mood is a chief component of the MCU formula , but James Gunn made watcher misty - eye because a babble out Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree was sacrifice himself for his friend . A director ca n’t pull that off unless he or she takes the material " seriously , " disregarding of how many antic are told .
The MCU follow Nolan ’s route to become the top dog in Hollywood , but a case can be made they ’ve never truly eclipsedThe Dark Knight . Despite an unprecedented string of consecutiveCertified smart hit on Rotten Tomatoes , the MCU is traditionally shunned from the more " prestigious " awards categories and body . Their various technological Oscar nominations have amount in zero profits , while Heath Ledger ’s posthumous Oscar victory in Best Supporting Actor shew what was potential when a amusing Holy Writ moving-picture show top its genre and reach another horizontal surface . In this regard , Loganis the closest thing to aDark Knightheir apparent we ’ve catch , certify by itsBest Adapted Screenplay nomination . clock time will tell if Marvel can ever soar to those peak ( many are hoping for aBlack PantherOscar pushing ) , but correctly now , The Dark Knightstill stands in a class of its own .
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Every biz - record changer in Hollywood occur with its own curing of takeaway , and it ’s paramount for those looking to sit the wave learn the right lesson . Just likeDeadpooldidn’t succeed because it was R - rated , Dark Knightwas more than just a " gritty " superhero movie . It told a thematically rich story that profoundly explored its character , offer sly commentary on the current political clime ( the George W. Bush analog ) , and map one of this era ’s best craftsman at the top of his secret plan . studio apartment reckon to make the nextDark Knightneed to take care past the superficial elements and allow passionate , creative storytelling to flow . Regardless of what the current trend is , that seems to be the proper answer .
MORE:15 Things You Didn’t Know About The Dark Knight Trilogy
