Editing Christopher Nolan (section)

=== 2003–2013: Widespread recognition ===
In early 2003, Nolan approached Warner Bros. with the idea of making a new [[Batman]] film, based on the character's origin story.<ref name="bb-latimes">{{Cite news |last=Greenberg |first=James |date=8 May 2005 |title=Rescuing Batman |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-08-ca-batman8-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217132113/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-08-ca-batman8-story.html |archive-date=17 December 2019 |access-date=17 December 2019 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Nolan was fascinated by the notion of grounding it in a more realistic world than a comic-book fantasy.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=73–75}} He relied heavily on traditional [[stunt]]s and [[miniature effect]]s during filming, with minimal use of [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI).{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=69}} ''[[Batman Begins]]'' (2005), the biggest project Nolan had undertaken to that point,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Foundas |first=Scott |title=Christopher Nolan looks back over the ''Dark Knight'' trilogy in this extended interview |url=http://filmcomment.com/article/cinematic-faith-christopher-nolan-scott-foundas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820002832/https://www.filmcomment.com/article/cinematic-faith-christopher-nolan-scott-foundas/ |archive-date=20 August 2017 |access-date=27 June 2013 |work=Film Comment}}</ref> was released to critical acclaim and commercial success.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Batman Begins''|date=15 June 2005 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_begins/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115152611/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_begins/ |archive-date=15 January 2018 |access-date=18 January 2014 |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Starring [[Christian Bale]] as [[Bruce Wayne (Dark Knight trilogy)|Bruce Wayne / Batman]]—along with [[Michael Caine]], [[Gary Oldman]], [[Morgan Freeman]] and [[Liam Neeson]]—''Batman Begins'' revived the franchise.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sims|first=David|title=The Complicated Legacy of ''Batman Begins'' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/06/the-complicated-legacy-of-batman-begins/395477/|date=10 June 2015 |url-status=live |work=[[The Atlantic]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611041139/http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/06/the-complicated-legacy-of-batman-begins/395477/ |archive-date=11 June 2015 |access-date=10 June 2015|url-access=subscription}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Shawn|last= Adler |date=14 August 2008 |title=He-Man' Movie Will Go Realistic: 'We're Not Talking About Putting Nipples on the Trapjaw Suit |url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/08/14/he-man-movie-will-go-realistic-were-not-talking-about-putting-nipples-on-the-trapjaw-suit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902155525/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/08/14/he-man-movie-will-go-realistic-were-not-talking-about-putting-nipples-on-the-trapjaw-suit |archive-date=2 September 2008 |access-date=8 April 2013|publisher=[[MTV]]}}</ref> ''Batman Begins'' was 2005's ninth-highest-grossing film and was praised for its psychological depth and contemporary relevance;<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=2005 Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2005/?ref_=bo_cso_table_1 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-date=7 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707054520/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2005&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Christopher Nolan Season at BFI Southbank in July 2012 |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-press-release-christopher-nolan-season-at-bfi-southbank-in-july-2012-06-06.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093423/http://www.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-press-release-christopher-nolan-season-at-bfi-southbank-in-july-2012-06-06.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=31 March 2014 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> it is cited as one of the most influential films of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rothman|first=Michael|title=''Batman Begins'': 5 Ways the Movie Changed Hollywood|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=16 June 2019|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/batman-begins-ways-movie-changed-hollywood/story?id=31802311|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=26 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726151554/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/batman-begins-ways-movie-changed-hollywood/story?id=31802311|url-status=live}}</ref> Film author Ian Nathan wrote that within five years of his career, Nolan "[went] from unknown to indie darling to gaining creative control over one of the biggest properties in Hollywood, and (perhaps unwittingly) fomenting the genre that would redefine the entire industry".{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=58–59}}

Nolan directed, co-wrote and produced ''[[The Prestige (film)|The Prestige]]'' (2006), an adaptation of [[The Prestige|the Christopher Priest novel]] about two rival 19th-century magicians.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=78}} The screenplay was the result of an intermittent, five-year collaboration between him and his brother Jonathan, who had begun writing it already in 2001. Nolan initially intended to make the film as early as 2003, but had postponed the project after agreeing to make ''Batman Begins''.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|p=79}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fleming|first=Michael|date=16 April 2003|title=Nolan wants 'Prestige' |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/news/nolan-wants-prestige-1117884751 |url-status=live |access-date=9 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005094256/http://variety.com/2003/film/news/nolan-wants-prestige-1117884751/ |archive-date=5 October 2013}}</ref> Starring [[Hugh Jackman]] and Christian Bale in the lead roles of rival magicians, ''The Prestige'' received critical acclaim and received two Academy Award nominations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Child |first1=Ben |title=Prestige novelist: Christopher Nolan's Batman movies 'boring and pretentious' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/28/prestige-novelist-christopher-nolans-batman-movies-boring-and-pretentious |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=28 November 2014 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213170546/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/28/prestige-novelist-christopher-nolans-batman-movies-boring-and-pretentious |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Oscars 2007: full list of winners and nominees |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2007/feb/26/awardsandprizes.oscars2007|date=26 February 2007 |url-status=live |access-date=26 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815183501/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2007/feb/26/awardsandprizes.oscars2007 |archive-date=15 August 2017}}</ref> Roger Ebert described it as "quite a movie{{snd}}atmospheric, obsessive, almost satanic",<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger |title=Now you see him...now you see him! |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-prestige-2007 |date=6 September 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203004736/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-prestige-2007 |archive-date=3 February 2014 |access-date=18 January 2014 |work=RogerEbert.com|author-link=Roger Ebert}}</ref> and [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called it an "ambitious, unnerving melodrama".<ref>{{Cite news |first=Kenneth |last=Turan|author-link=Kenneth Turan|title=They've got something up their sleeves |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-20-et-prestige20-story.html|date=20 October 2006 |url-status=live |access-date=23 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814051743/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/oct/20/entertainment/et-prestige20 |archive-date=14 August 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'s}} [[Philip French]] wrote: "In addition to the intellectual or philosophical excitement it engenders, ''The Prestige'' is gripping, suspenseful, mysterious, moving and often darkly funny."<ref>{{Cite news|last=French|first=Philip |author-link=Philip French|title=''The Prestige'' |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/nov/12/drama.sciencefictionandfantasy |url-status=live |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221084521/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/nov/12/drama.sciencefictionandfantasy |archive-date=21 December 2016|date=12 November 2006}}</ref> Despite a negative box-office prognosis, the film earned over $109{{nbsp}}million against a budget of $40{{nbsp}}million.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=85, 94–95}}

[[File:The Dark Knight European Premier - Leicester square2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|Nolan (left) with the cast and crew of ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' at the 2008 European premiere in London|alt=Christopher Nolan speaking to the mic while four people are standing behind him]]

''[[The Dark Knight]]'' (2008), the follow-up to ''Batman Begins'', was Nolan's next venture. Initially reluctant to make a sequel, he agreed after Warner Bros. repeatedly insisted.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=96–97}} Nolan wanted to expand on the [[Film noir|noir]] quality of the first film by broadening the canvas and taking on "the dynamic of a story of the city, a large crime story{{nbsp}}... where you're looking at the police, the justice system, the vigilante, the poor people, the rich people, the criminals".<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Jolin|first=Dan |title=''The Dark Knight'': The Original Feature |url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/dark-knight |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713133553/http://www.empireonline.com/features/dark-knight |archive-date=13 July 2012 |access-date=23 December 2013}}</ref> Continuing to minimise the use of CGI, Nolan employed high-resolution [[IMAX]] cameras, making it the first major motion picture to use this technology.{{sfn|Joy|2015|p=13}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tapley |first1=Kristopher |title=''The Dark Knight'' Set for 10th Anniversary Imax Re-Release (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/dark-knight-10th-anniversary-imax-re-release-1202875906/ |access-date=4 December 2022 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719004545/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/dark-knight-10th-anniversary-imax-re-release-1202875906/ |archive-date=19 July 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Dark Knight'' has been ranked as one of the best films of the 2000s and one of the [[List of films considered the best#Superhero|best superhero films ever made]].{{efn|Attributed to multiple references<ref name="Metadecade" /><ref name="Paste">{{Cite news |date=3 November 2009 |title=The 50 Best Movies of the Decade (2000–2009) |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/50-best-movies-of-the-decade-2000-2009.html?p=4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017223108/https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/50-best-movies-of-the-decade-2000-2009.html?p=4 |archive-date=17 October 2017 |access-date=14 December 2011 |work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]}}</ref><ref name="Empiredecade">{{Cite news |title=Review of the Decade – Year-By-Year: ''Empire''{{'s}} Films of the Decade |url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/reviewofthedecade/films-of-the-decade/9.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924063908/http://www.empireonline.com/features/reviewofthedecade/films-of-the-decade/9.asp |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=4 September 2012 |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Dockterman |first1=Eliana |title=35 Sequels That Are Better Than the Original Movie |url=https://time.com/5353143/sequels-better-than-original/ |access-date=4 December 2022 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=30 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830181714/https://time.com/5353143/sequels-better-than-original/ |archive-date=30 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Readers' Poll: The 15 Greatest Superhero Movies |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/readers-poll-the-15-greatest-superhero-movies-10865/1-the-dark-knight-256287/ |access-date=4 December 2022 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=9 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811220136/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/readers-poll-the-15-greatest-superhero-movies-10865/ |archive-date=11 August 2022}}</ref>}} Many critics declare ''The Dark Knight'' to be "the most successful comic book film ever made".{{sfn|Zornado|Reilly|2021|p=166}} [[Manohla Dargis]] of ''The New York Times'' found the film to be of higher artistic merit than many Hollywood blockbusters: "Pitched at the divide between art and industry, poetry and entertainment, it goes darker and deeper than any Hollywood movie of its comic-book kind."<ref name="Dargis">{{Cite news |first=Manohla|last=Dargis |author-link=Manohla Dargis |date=18 July 2008 |title=''The Dark Knight''-Showdown in Gotham Town |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/movies/18knig.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810124137/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/movies/18knig.html |archive-date=10 August 2016|url-access=limited}}</ref> Ebert expressed a similar point of view, describing it as a "haunted film that leaps beyond its origins and becomes an engrossing tragedy".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=16 July 2008 |title=''The Dark Knight'' |work=RogerEbert.com |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/REVIEWS/55996637 |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102060140/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/REVIEWS/55996637 |archive-date=2 January 2012}}</ref> ''The Dark Knight'' set many box-office records during its theatrical run,<ref>{{Cite news |first=Brooks |last=Barnes |date=28 July 2008 |title=''Dark Knight'' Wins Again at Box Office |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/movies/28box.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411150617/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/movies/28box.html |archive-date=11 April 2009|url-access=limited}}</ref> earning over $1{{nbsp}}billion worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''The Dark Knight'' (2008) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkknight.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221104243/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkknight.htm |archive-date=21 February 2014 |access-date=17 November 2012 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> At the [[81st Academy Awards]], the film was nominated in eight categories, winning two: [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] for [[Richard King (sound designer)|Richard King]] and a posthumous [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor award]] for [[Heath Ledger]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/81st-winners.html |title=The 81st Academy Awards (2009) Nominees and Winners |date=7 October 2014 |access-date=2 December 2022 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141018060312/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2009 |archive-date=18 October 2014}}</ref> The film's failure to garner a Best Picture nomination was criticised by the media. Beginning in 2010, the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|Academy]] increased their Best Picture nominees from five to ten, a change known as "The Dark Knight Rule".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weldon |first1=Glen |title=A Superhero Movie Got a Screenplay Nomination: Glitch or Game-Changer? |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/01/25/580219918/a-superhero-movie-got-a-screenplay-nomination-glitch-or-game-changer |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=10 December 2022 |date=25 January 2018 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210120859/https://www.npr.org/2018/01/25/580219918/a-superhero-movie-got-a-screenplay-nomination-glitch-or-game-changer |url-status=live }}</ref> Nolan received many [[List of accolades received by The Dark Knight|awards and nominations]] for his work on the film.<ref name="nytimesawards" /> In the late 2000s, Nolan was reported to direct a film adaptation of the 1960s television series ''[[The Prisoner]]''.<ref name=chapman/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-pay-1235938430/|title=Christopher Nolan's Final 'Oppenheimer' Payday Close to $100 Million (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Siegel|first=Tatiana|publisher=Variety|date=12 March 2024|access-date=12 March 2024|language=en|archive-date=12 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312171444/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-pay-1235938430/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The success of ''The Dark Knight'' allowed Warner Bros. to sign Nolan to write, direct and co-produce ''[[Inception]]'' (2010) – a film for which he had the idea around nine years before its release.{{sfn|McGowan|2012|p=147}} Nolan described the film as "a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind".<ref name="Tackles">{{Cite news |last=Fleming |first=Michael |date=11 February 2009 |title=Nolan tackles ''Inception'' for WB |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/features/nolan-tackles-inception-for-wb-1117999988/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414183155/http://variety.com/article/VR1117999988.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |archive-date=14 April 2009}}</ref> Starring a large ensemble cast led by [[Leonardo DiCaprio]], the film became a critical and commercial success upon its release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldberg|first=Matt|date=23 December 2010 |title=Warner Bros. Keeping ''Inception'' in Oscar-voters' Minds With 'New' Behind-the-Scenes Featurette |work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |url=https://collider.com/inception-oscar-featurette |url-status=live |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822054454/http://collider.com/inception-oscar-featurette/ |archive-date=22 August 2017}}</ref> Film critic [[Mark Kermode]] named it the best film of 2010, stating "''Inception'' is proof that people are not stupid, that cinema is not trash, and that it is possible for blockbusters and art to be the same thing."<ref name="Kermode">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/entries/5e3e4864-ca72-3dda-b4ab-6b8a1debc437 |title=Kermode Uncut: My Top Five Films of the Year |date=24 December 2010 |last=Kermode |first=Mark |publisher=[[BBC]] |author-link=Mark Kermode |time=5:05 |access-date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106172155/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/2010/12/my_top_five_films_of_the_year.html |archive-date=6 January 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Philosophy professor [[David Kyle Johnson]] wrote that "''Inception'' became a classic almost as soon as it was projected on silver screens", praising its exploration of philosophical ideas, including [[leap of faith]] and [[allegory of the cave]].{{sfn|Johnson|2020|p=2}} The film grossed over $836{{nbsp}}million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Inception'' (2010) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1375666/?ref_=bo_rl_ti |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030220255/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=inception.htm |archive-date=30 October 2012 |access-date=2 November 2012 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> Nominated for eight Academy Awards—including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay—it won [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]], [[Best Sound Mixing]], [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] and [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]].<ref name="Academy Awards 2010 (83rd)">{{Cite web |title=2011 Academy Awards Nominations and Winners |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2011/I?qt-honorees=1#block-quicktabs-honorees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802040831/http://oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2011/I?qt-honorees=1#block-quicktabs-honorees |archive-date=2 August 2017 |access-date=26 July 2017|publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]}}</ref> Nolan was nominated for a [[BAFTA Award for Best Direction|BAFTA Award]] and a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director]], [[List of accolades received by Inception|among other accolades]].<ref name="nytimesawards" />

[[File:Christopher Nolan, London, 2013 (crop).jpg|thumb|upright|Nolan at the 2013 premiere of ''[[Man of Steel (film)|Man of Steel]]'' in London|alt=Christopher Nolan is looking directly towards the camera.]]
Around the release of ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'' (2012), Nolan's third and final Batman film, Joseph Bevan of the [[British Film Institute]] wrote a profile on him: "In the space of just over a decade, Christopher Nolan has shot from promising British indie director to undisputed master of a new brand of intelligent escapism."<ref name="bevan">{{cite web |last1=Bevan |first1=Joseph |title=Christopher Nolan: escape artist |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/features/christopher-nolan-escape-artist |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |access-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204090138/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/features/christopher-nolan-escape-artist |archive-date=4 December 2014 |date=18 July 2012}}</ref> After initial hesitation, Nolan agreed to return to direct ''The Dark Knight Rises'' and worked with his brother and [[David S. Goyer]] to develop a story that he felt would end [[Batman in film#The Dark Knight trilogy|the trilogy]] on a high note.{{sfn|Nathan|2022|pp=138–139}} The film was released to positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite news|title=''The Dark Knight Rises'' receives overwhelmingly positive early reviews |url=https://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/the-dark-knight-rises-receives-overwhelmingly-positive/275513 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305150913/http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/the-dark-knight-rises-receives-overwhelmingly-positive/275513 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=17 April 2020 |work=[[NME]]}}</ref> Kenneth Turan found the film "potent, persuasive and hypnotic" and "more than an exceptional superhero movie, it is masterful filmmaking by any standard".<ref>{{cite news|last=Turan|first=Kenneth|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-dark-knight-20120719-story.html |title=Review: ''The Dark Knight Rises'' more than shines, and on many levels|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=18 July 2012|access-date=6 December 2022|author-link=Kenneth Turan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513141228/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-dark-knight-20120719-story.html |archive-date=13 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Christy Lemire]] of ''[[HuffPost]]'' wrote in her review that Nolan concluded his trilogy in a "typically spectacular, ambitious fashion", but disliked the "overloaded" story and excessive grimness.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lemire |first=Christy |date=16 July 2012 |title=Batman Review: Is ''The Dark Knight Rises'' an Epic Letdown? |work=[[HuffPost]] |agency= |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/batman-review-dark-knight-rises-letdown_n_1677247.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317011538/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/batman-review-dark-knight-rises-letdown_n_1677247.html |archive-date=17 March 2014}}</ref> ''The Dark Knight Rises'' was a box office success, becoming the thirteenth film to gross $1{{nbsp}}billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2 September 2012 |title=Box Office Milestone: ''Dark Knight Rises'' Crosses $1 Billion Worldwide |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-dark-knight-rises-warner-bros-christopher-nolan-christian-bale-367476 |url-status=live |access-date=17 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109092114/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-dark-knight-rises-warner-bros-christopher-nolan-christian-bale-367476 |archive-date=9 January 2014}}</ref> During a midnight showing of the film in [[Aurora, Colorado]], [[2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting|a gunman opened fire inside the theatre]], killing 12 people and injuring 58 others.{{sfn|Koole et al.|2013|pp=147–148}} Nolan released a statement expressing his condolences for the victims of what he described as a "senseless tragedy".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Morley|first=Will|date=20 July 2012|title=Christopher Nolan on Theater Shooting: 'I Would Like to Express Our Profound Sorrow' |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/20/christopher-nolan-dark-knight-rises-shooting-statement |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721130638/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/20/christopher-nolan-dark-knight-rises-shooting-statement/ |archive-date=21 July 2012 |access-date=6 December 2022|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>

''The Dark Knight'' trilogy inspired a trend in future superhero films seeking to replicate its gritty, realistic tone to little success. The second instalment in particular revitalised the genre at a time when recent superhero films had failed to meet expectations.<ref name="Child2015">{{cite news |last1=Child |first1=Ben |title=Christopher Nolan's Batman movies will endure |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/12/christopher-nolan-batman-movies-superhero-escapism-fad |access-date=6 December 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131223820/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/12/christopher-nolan-batman-movies-superhero-escapism-fad |archive-date=31 January 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sims |first1=David |title=''The Dark Knight'' Changed Hollywood Movies Forever |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/07/the-dark-knight-legitimized-the-superhero-movie-for-better-and-worse/565448/ |access-date=11 December 2022 |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=18 July 2018 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310192048/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/07/the-dark-knight-legitimized-the-superhero-movie-for-better-and-worse/565448/|archive-date=10 March 2022}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Ben Child of ''The Guardian'' wrote that the three films "will remain thrilling totems of the genre for decades to come".<ref name="Child2015"/> During story discussions for ''The Dark Knight Rises'', Goyer told Nolan of his idea about ''[[Man of Steel (film)|Man of Steel]]'' (2013), which the latter would produce.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dibdin |first1=Emma |title=''Dark Knight'' inspired ''Man of Steel'' |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a468532/man-of-steel-writer-david-s-goyer-inspired-by-dark-knight-rises/ |access-date=30 December 2022 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=30 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230201626/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a468532/man-of-steel-writer-david-s-goyer-inspired-by-dark-knight-rises/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Impressed with [[Zack Snyder]]'s work in ''[[300 (film)|300]]'' (2006) and ''[[Watchmen (2009 film)|Watchmen]]'' (2009), Nolan hired him to direct the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Itzkoff |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Itzkoff|date=22 May 2013 |title=Alien, Yet Familiar |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/movies/man-of-steel-aims-to-make-superman-relevant-again.html |url-status=live |access-date=22 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523184437/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/movies/man-of-steel-aims-to-make-superman-relevant-again.html |archive-date=23 May 2013|url-access=limited}}</ref> Starring [[Henry Cavill]] as [[Superman (DC Extended Universe)|Clark Kent]] who learns that he is a powerful alien, ''Man of Steel'' received mixed reviews and grossed more than $660{{nbsp}}million against a budget of $220{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Man of Steel'' Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/man-of-steel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706192545/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/man-of-steel |archive-date=6 July 2014 |access-date=12 June 2013 |publisher=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=''Man of Steel'' |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0770828/ |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=31 December 2022 |archive-date=17 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217133914/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0770828/ |url-status=live }}</ref>