The Dark Knight2008

Directed by Christopher Nolan · 2008 · Movie · 2h 32m

DramaActionCrimeThriller

Batman, Lieutenant Gordon and Harvey Dent try to take down Gotham's mob, until the Joker begins a campaign of chaos.

5.7dumb per hour
Facepalm

Lower is better.

3 scenes flagged

1
Guilty
1
Contested
1
Explained

3,060 ratings

3
Scenes flagged
3,060
Ratings
1,980
Dumb votes
1,080
Explained votes
1
Not scored
Rob
First to flag

Is The Dark Knight dumb?

The Dark Knight scores 5.7 dumb scenes per hour, which puts it in the Facepalm band. Lower is better. 2 of its 3 flagged scenes count toward that score, based on 3,060 ratings.

1 scene is Guilty (most viewers say dumb), 1 Contested and 1 Explained. Explained scenes do not count.

Where does The Dark Knight go wrong?

The most common problems are “Broken science” (1 scene), “Impossible knowledge” (1 scene) and “Plot hole” (1 scene).

Is it worth watching if I hate “Broken science”?

1 of 3 flagged scenes are tagged “Broken science”. It shows up regularly. The highest rated one is Is the sonar surveillance device in The Dark Knight possible?.

Is it worth watching if I hate “Impossible knowledge”?

1 of 3 flagged scenes are tagged “Impossible knowledge”. It shows up regularly. The highest rated one is How did the Joker rig a hospital with explosives without anyone noticing?.

Scenes in The Dark Knight

Reviews

On the scene

How did the Joker rig a hospital with explosives without anyone noticing?
plothole_peteFounding Critic #7Supporter8/10Nov 3, 2026

Says dumb

The film leaves out when, how much and who helped. A hospital is a busy building and a large amount of explosive would be noticed.

On the scene

Is the sonar surveillance device in The Dark Knight possible?
rocketry_rob7/10Nov 6, 2026

Says dumb

Phone microphones and speakers are not built for ranging at that scale, and the film skips how the data is gathered. It is closer to a comic-book idea than a technical one.

On the scene

How did the Joker rig a hospital with explosives without anyone noticing?
harbor_lightsFounding Critic #58Supporter7/10AI rewriteSep 4, 2026

Says dumb

I like the scene, but it needed one line from the Joker about the plan. Instead we get a long walk away from an explosion.

On the scene

Is the sonar surveillance device in The Dark Knight possible?
counsel_okaforVerified expert: Criminal lawSupporter6/10AI rewriteSep 24, 2026

Says explained

The film treats the device as a moral problem rather than a technical one. Fox's objection is the point of the scene.

On the scene

Why does Batman's voice sound so rough in The Dark Knight?
late_to_credits6/10AI rewriteOct 29, 2026

Says dumb

The effect is useful for the story but it is hard to follow in some scenes. I would have liked a milder version.

On the scene

Why does Batman's voice sound so rough in The Dark Knight?
tessa_in_the_aisle5/10Aug 15, 2026

Says explained

The voice is a deliberate disguise and the film makes that point. I got used to it.