"The Dark Knight" is a 2008 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan. It is the second installment in Nolan's Batman film trilogy, following "Batman Begins" (2005) and preceding "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012). The film explores the themes of chaos versus order, the nature of heroism, and the fine line between good and evil.

*Cast:*
1. Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman: The billionaire industrialist who moonlights as the vigilante crime-fighter Batman.
2. Heath Ledger as The Joker: A psychopathic criminal mastermind who seeks to plunge Gotham City into anarchy.
3. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent / Two-Face: Gotham's district attorney who becomes the villain Two-Face after a tragic accident.
4. Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth: Bruce Wayne's loyal butler and confidant.
5. Gary Oldman as James Gordon: The dedicated police commissioner of Gotham City.
6. Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes: A district attorney and Bruce Wayne's childhood friend.
7. Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox: The CEO of Wayne Enterprises who provides Batman with his technology and gadgets.
8. Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow: A former Arkham Asylum psychiatrist turned fear-inducing criminal.
9. Eric Roberts as Salvatore Maroni: Gotham's leading crime boss.

The film received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. "The Dark Knight" is often regarded as one of the greatest superhero films of all time and has had a significant cultural impact since its release.