In 'Batman Begins', director Christopher Nolan explores the origins of the legendary Dark Knight. In the wake of his parents' murders, disillusioned heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. In 'The Dark Knight', Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham. The trio proves effective. But soon the three find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker (Heath Ledger), who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces Batman closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante. In 'The Dark Knight Rises', eight years ago, after assuming the blame for D.A. Harvey Den's death, a disgraced Batman mysteriously vanished. But everything changes with the appearance of a cunning cat burglar and the arrival of Bane, a ruthless madman. Bane's reign of terror forces Bruce out of his self-imposed exile and into the ultimate battle for Gotham City's survival and his own.