Summary

• Batman trilogy boasts highly quotable dialogue, with memorable lines from characters like Bruce Wayne, the Joker, and more.
• Christian Bale's portrayal of Batman sets the Dark Knight trilogy apart, solidifying its place in film history.
• Villains like the Joker and Bane bring new life to the Batman franchise with their memorable quotes and performances.

Christopher Nolan's Batman movies are ranked among some of the greatest films ever made - DC or otherwise. They all appear on IMDb's Top 250 list, with The Dark Knight ranking very highly at the number three spot. One of the reasons that the films have remained as popular as they are is the highly quotable dialogue. Some of the best Dark Knight quotes are some of the most famous lines of movie dialogue from the past 20 years.

There is so much incredible writing between all three films that it is difficult to limit the very best Dark Knight quotes to a definitive ranking. Christian Bale's performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman helped to set the Dark Knight trilogy apart from the numerous other blockbuster Batman movies that had come before, and villains like the Joker (Heath Ledger) and Bane (Tom Hardy) were given new life after both already appearing in live-action movies also. It feels like almost every character gets a memorable quote in the Dark Knight trilogy, but some shine brighter than the others.

20 "I'm Batman."

Bruce Wayne/Batman (Batman Begins)

For a film with "Batman" in the title, Batman Begins spends a lot of time with Bruce Wayne before the Caped Crusader appears. That is not a bad thing, however, and it made this iconic Batman quote hit all the harder when it finally showed up in the movie. When Batman lands on the car and pulls out Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson), it is a chilling moment assisted by a horror-like atmosphere to the scene. This is an unforgettable Batman moment that solidified Christian Bale's new reign as the character.

The simplicity of the line, paired with its common use in Batman media, is a testament to the character's enduring legacy. "I am Batman" is incredibly simple, yet it's enough to strike terror into the most stoic of criminal hearts. Batman has a reputation, and his simple utterance a powerful example of it. Moreover, the line has weight as it's not just a tool for intimidation but a self-affirmation for Bruce as well, who often sees himself as Batman before anything else.

19 "The Night Is Darkest Right Before The Dawn. And I Promise You, The Dawn Is Coming."

Harvey Dent (The Dark Knight)

Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is a crucial character for the themes of The Dark Knight as well as the plans of the Joker. A white knight turned bad, the best of humanity made into something rotten, Dent is the source of some of the best Dark Knight quotes, including this one which he gives in a speech to Gotham. Like Batman, Dent is a symbol of hope and goodness in Gotham, and this is a Dark Knight quote that's rousing even when taken out of its original context.

Though some viewers may have preferred to see more of Dent in his actual Two-Face form, Nolan brilliantly understood that the power of the character rests in who he is before his fall. Batman has no shortage of violent, mentally unstable criminals in his rogues gallery, but few started off as such fine citizens as Dent (at least in this interpretation). This line perfectly summarizes that dichotomy and, with it, Dent's character arc overall.

18 "The Training Is Nothing. The Will Is Everything. The Will To Act."

Henri Ducard (Batman Begins)

Batman Begins is fast-paced in its establishing of Bruce Wayne and his backstory, but the movie makes the most out of his training with Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) and the League of Shadows. There is a lot of wisdom imparted to Wayne by the secret Ra's Al Guhl, including this tidbit about will. Will is a prominent part of the Batman character throughout the trilogy. While Ducard meant it in a more evil way, Bruce's constant will to act, to do good, and to protect Gotham by being whatever Gotham needs him to be is a defining aspect of the character.

This moment is also an interesting insight into one of Batman's more thought-inducing cinematic villains. There's little doubt that what Ra's wants to do with Gotham - burn it to the ground and start over - is wrong, but given how deeply corrupt and vile it is, he's not coming from a place too dissimilar to Bruce. Batman, after all, is vengeance, and this scene lays the groundwork for the subtly of that philosophy that separates it from inhumanity.

17 "A-Ta-Ta-Ta-Ta, Let's Not Blow This Out Of Proportion."

The Joker (The Dark Knight)

The entire scene where the Joker confronts the various crime bosses of Gotham is hugely entertaining and produces some of the best Dark Knight quotes. The Joker's pun while threatening to blow the crime bosses up with an improvised bomb vest highlights not just his twisted nature but also how he is one of the smartest characters in The Dark Knight trilogy. The scene also has two more of the franchise's most memorable quotes in "If you're good at something, never do it for free," and "Do you wanna see a magic trick?"

This isn't Joker's first scene in The Dark Knight, but it's arguably his proper introduction as the Joker. The twisted confidence he shows while interacting with some of the most dangerous people in Gotham is a great example of show-don't-tell storytelling. Of course, Heath Ledger's delivery and body language elevate the line beyond what it otherwise may have been.

16 "You Always Fear What You Don't Understand."

Carmine Falcone (Batman Begins)

Carmine Falcone, head of the Falcone crime family, only appears in Batman Begins, but he plays a crucial role and gives fans a fantastic scene with a younger Bruce Wayne. Fear is the main theme of Batman Begins, and it is integral to Bruce's transformation into Batman and the image that the criminals of Gotham see. Falcone is one of the more underrated and underutilized villains of the Dark Knight trilogy, but quotes like this show that he does get his moments to shine.

Without Bruce's interaction with Falcone, he may never have adopted the Batman persona at all. While the criminals of Gotham may rely on secrets and fright to maintain their control, they aren't immune to it themselves. Of course, this line becomes ironic later in the film when Batman corners a terrified Falcone and flips the script.

15 "I Had This Fantasy, That I Would Look Across The Tables And I'd See You There, With A Wife And Maybe A Couple Of Kids."

Alfred (The Dark Knight Rises)

The relationship between Alfred (Michael Caine) and Bruce in the Dark Knight trilogy is a big part of the emotional core of each film. The ending of The Dark Knight Rises at the café, which pays off on this Dark Knight Rises quote, is not beloved by every fan of the films, but it is still an undeniably touching moment between Alfred and Bruce. Alfred deserved some peace and happiness, and he got that in the knowledge that Bruce lived the life Alfred always wanted for him.

14 "I Believe What Doesn't Kill You Simply Makes You... Stranger."

The Joker (The Dark Knight)

Christopher Nolan has a serious knack for opening scenes, from Inception to Tenet, and The Dark Knight has one of his best so far. The heist sequence at the beginning of the film all leads to this chilling quote from Heath Ledger's Joker. Joker has a variety of excellent Dark Knight quotes, but as this one is accompanied by the reveal of his warpaint makeup and facial scars, it stands out above many others.

What makes the quote so interesting is that it reveals the subtle but important difference between Joker and less "principled" villains. A more violent thug would have simply killed the bank manager because he could. However, Joker is out to prove a message - one that random killings don't accomplish. Death is a tool in his repertoire without doubt, but senseless killing doesn't move his agenda forward.

13 "He's The Hero Gotham Deserves But Not The One It Needs Right Now."

Commissioner Gordon (The Dark Knight)

Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) delivers the closing lines of The Dark Knight, and they contain what are by far some of the most memorable quotes from the trilogy. As Batman is forced to flee from the police, taking the blame for Harvey Dent's death, Commissioner Gordon reassures his young son by trying to explain the contradictory aspects of Batman's very nature. Gordon sums the difficult situation up best with this iconic Dark Knight quote.

This quote is one of many that have gone on to find life outside The Dark Knight and the rest of Nolan's franchise. Whether as an overly-dramatic joke or a legitimate comment, the quote adorns many an online forum and social media post to describe people doing the hard thing that needs to be done. Finding lessons greater than the stories that contain them is the ultimate goal of fiction, and as such, it's hard to argue The Dark Knight's merits.

12 "Let The Games Begin!"

Bane (The Dark Knight Rises)

Tom Hardy had a lot to live up to as the next main villain in the Dark Knight trilogy following Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance in The Dark Knight, but he made Bane a captivating presence throughout The Dark Knight Rises with his own distinctly maniacal personality through quotes like this. Bane says this just before detonating a series of explosives at a football game, beginning his plan to seize control of Gotham city. It's a dark moment in the film, but this highly memorable villain quote from the Dark Knight trilogy gives it just the right amount of levity for what is still a superhero movie.

Moreover, the scene acts to differentiate Bane and the Joker. While the Joker prefers more personal violence to prove his philosophical musings right, Bane isn't above mass killings and collateral to gain control via shock-and-awe. Bane may have a reputation as a muscle-bound bruiser, but he really prefers to use his mind and reputation over his brawn.

11 "Swear To Me!"

Batman (Batman Begins)

This Batman quote from Batman Begins is one of Christian Bale's most iconic moments as the Caped Crusader. He says it as he dangles corrupt Gotham PD cop Arnold Flass (Mark Boone Junior) from the top of a building in order to interrogate him. Flass swears to God that he's speaking the truth, which sets Batman up perfectly from one of the most memorable Dark Knight trilogy quotes.

It's a line that stands out so much that it clearly left itself open to parody and imitation, and it's become somewhat like Michael Keaton's famous "Let's get nuts" line from the original Tim Burton Batman movie. The line is, of course, silly, but it's the conviction with which it's delivered by Bale that makes it work. The scene overall is a great example of Batman's willingness to use fear against anyone and everyone and the degree to which it can be more effective than raw violence.