Batman Begins

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2:19

Batman Begins

PG-13

Released Jun 15, 2005

2h 20m

Action

Fantasy

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

288 Reviews

94%

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250,000+ Ratings

A young Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels to the Far East, where he's trained in the martial arts by Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), a member of the mysterious League of Shadows. When Ducard reveals the League's true purpose -- the complete destruction of Gotham City -- Wayne returns to Gotham intent on cleaning up the city without resorting to murder. With the help of Alfred (Michael Caine), his loyal butler, and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), a tech expert at Wayne Enterprises, Batman is born.

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Critics Consensus

Brooding and dark, but also exciting and smart, Batman Begins is a film that understands the essence of one of the definitive superheroes.

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Namrata Joshi

Outlook

Batman has been all about darkness, Nolan just makes it a shade darker. Go see it.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 8, 2019

Full Review

Christy Lemire

Associated Press

Nolan takes an admirable stab at developing a character-driven drama, only to give in to generic action-movie conventions with a blinding, deafening, explosion-laden finale that could have capped off any number of interchangeable Jerry Bruckheimer flicks.

Apr 14, 2013

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Batman Begins summons up moments of great eloquence and power. If only its cast of characters was as fully inhabited as its turbulent city.

Apr 14, 2013

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Martin Carr

CBR

Batman Begins might have rescued the franchise from ignominy, but much of Christopher Nolan's DC debut suffers from pacing issues. The production design and grounded realism may elevate things, but this film has its flaws.

Rated: 7/10

Aug 29, 2024

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Stella Papamichael

Radio Times

Batman Begins swoops you up and doesn't let go till the end.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 22, 2024

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Akhil Arora

AkhilArora.com

This is the moment Nolan began to establish his blockbuster tendencies: dynamic camera movement, rich cinematography, and heavy use of a majestic background score.

Oct 17, 2023

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Pamela

We really enjoyed the movie! Lots of action going on.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/18/23

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Michael

Best movie of 2023! Cant wait for the sequel!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/23

Full Review

Ben W

So great! As an origin story, it works incredibly well. The groundednessand grittyness was great.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/23

Full Review

Toby D

*Batman Begins* (2005), directed by Christopher Nolan, is a gritty, grounded masterpiece that reinvents Batman with a compelling backstory, laying the foundation for the iconic *Dark Knight* trilogy. Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne is a haunted, complex figure, and the film’s focus on his training with Ra’s al Ghul (Liam Neeson) and transformation into Gotham’s protector feels fresh and human. Overshadowed by its sequels, this origin story still stands as a riveting, character-driven triumph that redefined superhero cinema. Nolan’s Gotham is a bleak, crime-ridden urban sprawl, brought to life with a realism that contrasts sharply with the cartoonish excess of *Batman & Robin*. Cillian MURPHY’s chilling Scarecrow and Michael Caine’s warm Alfred add depth to the ensemble, while the exploration of fear as a weapon gives the film psychological weight. The action, from the martial arts training to the Tumbler’s roaring chases, is visceral yet purposeful. Though it lacks the operatic grandeur of *The Dark Knight*, *Batman Begins* is a near-perfect reboot, blending heart, grit, and a bold vision. It’s a testament to Nolan’s ability to craft a superhero film that’s both emotionally resonant and thrilling, proving Batman’s enduring power starts with humble, human origins.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

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George F

Great movie, definitely better than I remember, but unfortunately overshadowed by the dark knight.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

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tim s

This film is the breath of fresh air that Batman needed after Batman & Robin. Christopher Nolan ditches the camp and neon lighting in favor of brooding shadows. Christian Bale’s first appearance as Batman—shrouded in darkness as he takes down criminals—is an awesome moment. It’s also refreshing to see Ra’s al Ghul as the main villain, since that character had never been featured in a movie before.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

Full Review

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Christopher Nolan

Director

Christian Bale

Bruce Wayne

Michael Caine

Alfred Pennyworth

Liam Neeson

Henri Ducard

Katie Holmes

Rachel Dawes

Gary Oldman

Lt. James Gordon

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Batman Begins: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A young Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels to the Far East, where he's trained in the martial arts by Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), a member of the mysterious League of Shadows. When Ducard reveals the League's true purpose -- the complete destruction of Gotham City -- Wayne returns to Gotham intent on cleaning up the city without resorting to murder. With the help of Alfred (Michael Caine), his loyal butler, and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), a tech expert at Wayne Enterprises, Batman is born.

Director: Christopher Nolan
Producer: Larry J. Franco, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas
Screenwriter: David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan, Bob Kane
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: DC Comics, Warner Brothers, Syncopy, Di Bonaventura Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Action Violence|Disturbing Images|Some Thematic Elements)
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 9, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $206.9M
Runtime: 2h 20m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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