Who was the only person who could drive the BatPod motorcyle?
While it looked awesome, apparently the BatPod was extremely unstable and hard to ride. Jean-Pierre Goy, Bale’s stuntman, was the only person who figured it out. Bale wanted to film some scenes on the bike, but the team refused for fear of his safety.
How did the Joker’s makeup look get created?
There was a widespread rumor that Ledger applied the makeup himself, but it turned out to be false. Still, he had a part in creating the look by making bizarre faces while sitting in the makeup chair.
What PR stunt for the Dark Knight caused a widespread panic?
At least one news outlet was evacuated after receiving one of the cakes. How did they not see that coming?
How many awards did Heath Ledger win for his portrayal of the Joker?
Ledger won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a SAG Award and many others. In fact, of all his nominations, he only lost two awards.
Which political figure compared the Joker to ISIS?
In talking about ISIS, Obama said “There's a scene in the beginning in which the gang leaders of Gotham are meeting... These are men who had the city divided up. They were thugs, but there was a kind of order. Everyone had his turf. And then the Joker comes in and lights the whole city on fire. ISIS is the Joker. It has the capacity to set the whole region on fire. That's why we have to fight it.”
Why did Nolan cast Heath Ledger as the Joker?
There were concerns that whoever played the Joker wouldn’t be able to live up to Jack Nicholson’s performance, but Ledger was one person that Nolan was convinced could do it.
Which Batman villain is the character of Coleman Reese a nod to?
The Riddler’s real name is Edward Nigma, making him E. Nigma. Reese was named in a similar manner—Mr. Reese sounds like the word "mysteries."
What blunder cost the production team $500,000?
There were only four cameras like the one they smashed in the entire world at the time. Even worse, they went and broke another one of the cameras while filming the sequel, The Dark Knight Rises.
When the Joker is driving the 18-Wheeler, what shape do the bullet-holes in the windshield make?
This tiny detail is just one of many easter eggs that only the most eagle-eyed fans would have caught.
When the Joker is dressed as a nurse, what does his name tag say?
The name tag was a sneaky tribute to Ledger’s daughter, Matilda.
Which scene actually involved a last-minute improvisation from Heath Ledger?
When the Joker hits the detonator to blow up the hospital, it was supposed to go off immediately, but a technical error caused a delay. Ledger just rolled with it, and it created one of the movie’s most memorable moments.
Why did Ledger constantly lick his lips while playing the Joker?
While the creepy lip-smacking just became a part of the Joker’s terrifying mannerisms, Ledger in part did it because the glue that kept his prosthetics on didn’t stick very well, so he was trying to keep them in place.
Who did Heath Ledger, in part, base his Joker on?
Ledger sequestered himself in a hotel for weeks before filming to get the Joker just right. On top of Vicious, he also took inspiration from Alex DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange.
Which actor forgot his lines because Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker was so terrifying?
The scene in question was when the Joker bursts into the party at Bruce Wayne’s penthouse. Ledger’s terrifying antics just flat out made Caine’s mind go blank.
Who directed the two homemade videos that the Joker sent to GCN?
Christopher Nolan supervised Ledger the first time around, but the actor did such a good job that Nolan gave him free rein on the second one.
What was The Dark Knight called to try and keep filming a secret?
Unfortunately, the ruse didn’t work and the media caught on pretty quickly, but hey, it was worth a try!
Who does Christopher Nolan say is the hero of The Dark Knight?
The Joker may have stolen the show, but to Nolan, the movie is about Dent and his fall from grace, with the title even referencing Dent’s initial role as a White Knight.
Which actress was considered to replace Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes?
While it was widely believed that Katie Holmes was recast because of her acting ability, she, in fact, walked away from the role herself and Maggie Gyllenhaal took up the reins.
What makes The Dark Knight so different from Christopher Nolan’s other movies?
Christopher Nolan doesn’t usually make sequels to his films, and he didn’t initially intend to make one for Batman Begins, but the chance to make a movie about as compelling of a character as the Joker made him change his mind.
What actor was initially in talks to play Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins?
Ledger turned down the role the first time, saying he didn’t want to be in a superhero movie, but when he saw Batman Begins, he realized he’d made a mistake. He approached Nolan about getting cast in the sequel, and the rest is history.
What are the Joker’s distinctive scars called?
The Dark Knight’s prosthetic supervisor Conor O’Sullivan had actually met a man with a Glasgow smile, which inspired him to create the look. When O’Sullivan asked the man how he’d gotten the scars, all he said was that he’d been involved in a “dogfight.”
How many pieces was the film’s Bat Suit made of?
Christian Bale got to wear an updated Bat Suit in the sequel to Batman Begins, and it was apparently much more agile and comfortable than the original.
Which of the following Oscars was The Dark Knight nominated for?
Although the film was nominated for eight Academy Awards and Heath Ledger posthumously won the award for Best Supporting Actor, it was not nominated for Best Picture, a decision which caused controversy in Hollywood. It’s believed that the Academy’s decision to up the number of Best Picture nominees from five to ten was a direct result of the backlash over the snub.
Which comic inspired The Dark Knight?
The graphic novel The Killing Joke inspired many aspects of the Joker in the film, while the descent of Harvey Dent into Two-Face was drawn from the comic series The Long Halloween.
Who tried to sue Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros. after The Dark Knight was released?
The mayor said "There is only one Batman in the world. The American producers used the name of our city without informing us." I hate to say it, but if you had to poll the world on the "only" Batman, I think the superhero would win.
What is special about the actor who tells the Joker “We’re not intimidated by thugs”?
Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont is a huge Batman fan, and he’s appeared in several Batman films and TV shows, the most recent being Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Which actor didn’t believe anyone could top Jack Nicholson’s performance as the Joker, saying “You don’t try and top Jack”?
Though he was skeptical at first, when Ledger was cast, Caine said "Now that's the one guy that could do it!"
What car does Bruce Wayne drive in the film?
An easter egg for the Italian fans, murcielago is Italian for “bat.”
What part of Christian Bale’s performance was changed in post-production?
One aspect of the movie that was often ridiculed was Bale’s Batman voice, but apparently when Bale first did it, it wasn’t gritty enough, so Christopher Nolan made it even rougher after filming was complete.
What was the first comic book movie to make $1 billion?
It was the first, but with the MCU following not too long after, the Dark Knight was certainly not the last.
Your Results
Coleman Reese
Your knowledge of the Caped Crusader really needs some work. I bet you’d give into the Joker’s demands, just like Reese did!
Harvey Dent
You’re the hero that Gotham needs, but you’ve got a little ways to go before you can be the hero that it deserves.
Caped Crusader
You’re the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. We'll hunt you, because you can take it. Because you’re not our hero. You’re a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight.
Happy With Your Test Score? This video can help you do better on any quiz... even if you know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the topic.
Quiz
The Dark Knight is inarguably one of the greatest superhero movies ever made. Long before Thanos and the snap, Christopher Nolan's gritty sequel to Batman Begins, benefitting from a career-defining performance by Heath Ledger as the Joker, set the bar that every comic book film since has had to compare itself to. So now, 10 years later, do you think you still know all about the Dark Knight? The hidden easter eggs and off-screen trivia? Well, it's time to find out if you're the hero that Gotham needs, or the one it deserves, with our quiz about Christopher Nolan's masterpiece.
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