The Dark Knight is probably the greatest superhero movie that has ever been made, and will stay that way for a long, long time.  There are two things that set this movie apart: one being the fact that some of the main characters have already had an entire movie to establish themselves, and do a great job of being incorporated into this movie; and two, the Joker.  Heath Ledger's Joker is pretty much the reason why this movie is so loved.  His acting, writing, and place in the story is all perfect. The acting from Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart is also really good. Almost everything about this movie is great as well, such as the visuals and soundtrack.  The action, while not particularly great, is still very solid and entertaining.  Besides the acting, the story is what really elevates this movie to another level, with great character arcs between two different characters throughout.  I think the only thing that drags this movie down in the slightest is the ending. It's not bad, but its not amazing. Honestly a little bit of an anticlimactic ending to such a strong buildup. Doesn't matter, however, as this film is still an absolute masterclass.