The Dark Knight Rises is the third and final movie in the modern Batman trilogy directed by Christopher Nolan. Once again starring Christian Bale as the lead hero Bruce Wayne/Batman and joined by an all-star cast of similarly talented performers, The Dark Knight Rises promises an epic finale for this larger-than-life series. The Dark Knight Rises takes place nearly a decade after the events of the previous movie, The Dark Knight. Following the death of Harvey Dent, Batman has been marked as a wanted man and has disappeared from Gotham City entirely.
Bruce Wayne shutters himself indoors, refusing to show up for social occasions or help run his company, Wayne Enterprises. As various villainous characters start to plot and plan, Gotham faces its biggest test of all. Luckily, Bruce Wayne is not without allies. Does The Dark Knight Rises give fans a proper send-off for this wildly successful version of the Batman? Let’s see if the third time is the charm!
How to Stream or Download The Dark Knight Rises
To stream or to download the movie, click on the Where to Watch & Stream button below. First, you should, however, watch the previous two movies, starting with Batman Begins.
The Movie Review
Although The Dark Knight Rises takes place eight years after the events of the previous film, it continues many of the story threads started in both the first and second movies. In an effort to protect the citizens of Gotham from the horrid truth of Harvey Dent’s death, Bruce Wayne/Batman has taken some time off, letting his victory over the Joker keep him satisfied.
Unfortunately, this has given plenty of other criminals time to refine their craft. While Gotham sees a bit of crime from the jewel thief Catwoman (Anne Hathaway), but the true threat comes from Bane (Tom Hardy), a masked mercenary with very little mercy. Working alongside the scheming businessman John Dagget (Ben Mendelson), Bane looks to bring Gotham to its knees while simultaneously overthrowing all official authority. While Bane might not be as sinister or depraved as the Joker, he’s arguably far more deadly, leaving a massive body-count in his wake.
With a runtime of nearly 3 hours, The Dark Knight rises is no slouch when it comes to content. There are a wide number of subplots and side characters, some truly impressive action scenes, and plenty of signature Batman banter. For the most part, the movie whizzes by with continuously impressive set-pieces and sequences, only pumping the brakes during the middle of the movie.
While The Dark Knight rises is packed with a surprising amount of violence, it’s a bit more cartoonish and aloof than the previous film, resulting in a mixed bag. For instance, Anne Hathaway’s performance as Catwoman is far more playful than serious, which clashes with Christian Bale’s ultra-serious portrayal of Batman. Luckily, some new characters, including police officer Blake (Joseph Gordon Levitt) and Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard), pick up the slack. Bane is also a villain with plenty of bravado, although Hardy makes it work.
The Bottom Line
Overall, The Dark Knight Rises is a bombastic and intriguing climax for Nolan’s Batman trilogy. It fails to surpass the previous film in terms of quality, but that’s a significantly tough accomplishment. While it might not be the best in the series, The Dark Knight Rises is still undeniably fun and entertaining. For those who are unfamiliar with Batman’s extensive roster of allies and enemies, there are bound to be some fun surprises in store. However, if you’re a longtime Batman fan, you might find some of the “plot twists” to be a bit predictable.
That said, even if you’re not a fan of the storytelling, you’ll undoubtedly be impressed by some of the film’s more intense action scenes. As the closing chapter, The Dark Knight Rises provides fans with satisfying closure, interesting developments, and a hefty amount of inventive action. Even if you’re not a fan of the caped crusader, it’s hard to watch The Dark Knight Rises and not be entertained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you stream or buy The Dark Knight Rises in November 2026?
As of November 2026, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises (2012) starring Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, and Anne Hathaway streams on HBO Max and is available to rent or own in 4K UHD on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
What is the watch order for Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy?
Start with Bruce Wayne’s origin in Batman Begins (2005), continue with The Dark Knight (2008), and conclude the trilogy eight years later in Gotham with The Dark Knight Rises (2012).
