Comparison Freshness: Jan 18, 2026
The Dark KnightVSJoker
🏆 Rating Winner
The Dark Knight
HIT
Comparison
Rating
Vote Count
Release Date
Runtime
Budget
Revenue
Genres
Joker
HIT
Battle Verdict: Who Wins?
In this cinematic clash of Drama hits, The Dark Knight takes the audience favorite trophy with a +0.4 lead in ratings. However, Joker continues to dominate the cultural conversation when it comes to worldwide collections.
★ 8.5
Audience Rating
★ 8.1
$1,004,558,444
Box Office
$1,078,958,629
$185,000,000
Budget
$55,000,000
152 min
Runtime
122 min
Jul 16, 2008
Release Date
Oct 1, 2019
Deep Dive Analysis
🎭 Audience & Critical Reception
In terms of audience reception, both The Dark Knight (8.5) and Joker (8.1) stand on equal footing. They both managed to capture the cultural zeitgeist of their respective release years (2008 and 2019), proving that quality storytelling resonates regardless of the sub-genre.
💰 Box Office Performance
In the theater aisles, Joker was the undisputed heavyweight champion, pulling in significantly higher global collections than The Dark Knight. Its financial success in 2019 was a testament to its broad marketing reach and "must-see" status.
🎬 Thematic & Style Clash
The contrast between Drama and Crime makes this an interesting study in style. The Dark Knight prioritizes emotional resonance and character study, creating a grounded and reflective experience. On the other hand, Joker is all about broad narrative appeal, leading to a much more engaging narrative.
🏆 The Final Verdict
Final Verdict: It's a split decision. Watch The Dark Knight if you prioritize storytelling depth and audience scores. However, if you want a culturally massive event that dominated the conversation (and the box office), Joker is your pick.