Batman Begins

Bruce Wayne comes back to Gotham carrying the weight of a childhood loss and a determination to change the city that failed him. He pushes his body and mind through extreme training, studies criminal psychology, and assembles the technology and allies he'll need. When he realizes that the legal system is riddled with corruption and won't fix itself, he creates a striking new identity designed to intimidate criminals and operate beyond ordinary limits. The film follows his methodical preparation and the early steps he takes as this persona, showing how fear, discipline, and secrecy become tools in his effort to challenge Gotham's power structures, all while keeping major plot revelations under wraps.

Released in 2005 and directed by Christopher Nolan, Batman Begins was shaped from ideas by David S. Goyer and the original Batman comics by Bob Kane. It stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, with Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, and Gary Oldman in key roles.

The film relaunched the Batman franchise and achieved broad commercial success, drawing big audiences and setting up a viable path for sequels. Its box office strength helped reestablish Batman as a major tentpole property for Warner Bros and proved there was appetite for a darker, more realistic comic book adaptation.

Nolan's grounded tone and emphasis on practical effects altered expectations for superhero movies, encouraging a more realistic aesthetic and thematic seriousness in the genre. Scenes that focus on training, surveillance, and the creation of a myth around a hero have become frequent reference points in pop culture, and the film influenced how later filmmakers approached comic book adaptations.

Critics and audiences reacted positively, reflected in a 7.72 out of 10 average from viewers. Reviewers praised the performances, particularly Bale's brooding lead and Caine's steady support, as well as the film's atmosphere. Major themes include fear as a tool, questions of identity and legitimacy, vigilantism versus the rule of law, and the moral costs of pursuing justice.