Few films can stand toe to toe with Nolan's Batman trilogy, but these movies are certainly worthy of its company.
When Christopher Nolan took on the Batman franchise back in 2005, the British filmmaker was one of the most promising talents in Hollywood, and The Dark Knight Trilogy which followed is now widely regarded as the finest on-screen iteration of the caped crusader ever put to film.
For fans of Nolan's incredible Batman movies, there's plenty of similarly epic adventures to check out - those which inspired Nolan's own films, and those which followed and took notes from it. There may be no better benchmark when it comes to superhero movies, but The Dark Knight's influence stretches far beyond the masked heroes and villains of the comic book world.
10 Heat Served Up Some Serious Inspiration For The Dark Knight
Michael Mann's Heat has its fingerprints all over Nolan's second Batman movie, and for any fan of The Dark Knight, there's no better viewing to start with when looking for something similar.
Heat is an action-packed crime drama expertly built around the much anticipated first on-screen meeting of legends Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Much like Batman and The Joker's first meeting, it keeps the viewer's eyes glued to the screen and takes the film to incredible heights. Tense, captivating, and surprisingly deep, Heat remains a hugely influential piece of cinema.
9 The Man From Nowhere Is Something Of A Dark Knight Himself
Action thrillers don't come a great deal better than Lee Jeong-beom's The Man From Nowhere. The South Korean film is a blood-soaked tale of revenge and redemption focused on one man's quest to save his only friend.
The movie stars one of the most selective actors in cinema, Won Bin, who remarkably managed to carve out an exceptional profile as an actor despite only appearing in five movies, including the terrific thriller Mother, directed by Bong Joon-ho of Parasite fame.
8 For More Batman Of The Dark And Gritty Variety, There's Tim Burton's Take
Christopher Nolan's take on the caped crusader returned Batman to the dark and gritty. Years before the bright and campy styles of Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin, DC fans were treated to what still stands as one of Batman's best big-screen outings.
1989 saw Tim Burton's Batman lay the groundwork for many modern superhero movies, it's a thrill ride that takes itself seriously in all the right places, and some of the scenes and psychological terror remain haunting even today. And for fans of Heath Ledger's Joker, Jack Nicholson's version of the clown prince of crime is absolutely a must-see, and for far more reasons than just the purpose of comparison.
7 The Bourne Ultimatum Is More Twists, Turns, And Heart-Pounding Action
The third film in the fantastic Jason Bourne series starring Matt Damon as the titular assassin is arguably the best, though any of the installments from the original Bourne trilogy make for worthy viewing alongside Nolan's Batman films. The plot features similar mind-numbing twists and turns, and the action is some of the most thrilling of any noughties movie.
The Bourne Ultimatum earned multiple Academy Award nominations, and in addition to star Matt Damon, features the undeniable acting talents of Julia Stiles, Scott Glenn, and Joan Allen.
6 The Long Halloween Is The Best Of Animated Batman
Going from Christopher Nolan's classics to a direct-to-video animated Batman movie may raise the eyebrows of the uninitiated, yet at times, for the very best of The World's Greatest Detective, you have to leave the live-action behind.
Batman: The Long Halloween is a two-part film featuring all the essential elements fans would expect from the caped crusader's outings. The Long Halloween isn't just one of the best animated Batman films, but one of the best to showcase The Dark Knight in general.
5 For More Superhero Fun, Watch The Watchmen
Zack Snyder has spent some serious time with DC's heroes and villains, yet 2009's Watchmen arguably remains his best effort when it comes to bringing comic book characters to life on screen.
Though Snyder's film doesn't hold up so well when compared directly to Nolan's Batman outings, Watchmen remains a highly enjoyable popcorn flick packed with charm, exciting action, and adult humor - and of course, features Snyder's excellent and always eye-catching visual style.
4 Even Nolan's Batman Doesn't Hit As Hard As John Woo's Hard Boiled
Action scenes within cinema simply wouldn't be the same without Chinese director John Woo's contributions. The iconic filmmaker didn't invent high-octane, chaotic action on the big screen, but he arguably perfected it.
For many, Woo's masterpiece is the 1992 movie Hard Boiled, and with the teaming of Woo, Chow Yun-fat, and Tony Leung, the action film serves as a showcase for three true legends of Hong Kong cinema. Hard Boiled is startlingly powerful not just in its blistering action but also in its hefty emotional weight.
3 Heath Ledger's Portrayal Was Amazing, But There's More Clown Prince To Be Seen In Joker
The R-rated superhero movie has seemingly reached even darker depths in recent times, and though Heath Ledger's legendary performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight is held up by many as the best iteration of Batman's nemesis, Joaquin Phoenix certainly gave anyone ranking the performances something to think about in 2019.
Todd Philips' Joker makes for a chilling and downright fascinating watch, with Phoenix's Oscar-winning performance being the highlight of the film, and possibly the most disturbing big-screen version of The Joker to date.
2 Inception Is Nolan At His Most Ambitious, And Arguably Best
Christopher Nolan may well lay claim to being the most talented filmmaker alive today, and for many of his fans, Inception remains his greatest cinematic achievement.
Although there's an argument that any viewers who enjoyed Nolan's Batman would surely gain great pleasure from watching any of the British director's other offerings, Inception's twist-filled plot, jaw-dropping action, and exceptional pacing leave it as The Dark Knight's closest equal.
1 Hugh Jackman's Aging Wolverine In Logan Is A Jaw-Dropping Watch
If you like your superheroes conflicted, gritty, and dark, then Hugh Jackman's portrayal of an aging Wolverine will certainly satisfy any cravings. The best-reviewed film from the entire X-Men franchise, Logan is quite simply one of the finest superhero movies ever made.
There is plenty of action, R-rated gore, and bloodshed, yet Logan's real beauty is in its heartbreaking character-driven story. Jackman's Logan has to put everything on the line in order to protect the sick Charles Xavier and a young mutant with whom he shares more than a few things in common. It's breathtaking, and certainly worthy of standing alongside Nolan's Batman films as the greatest when it comes to superhero movies best viewed once the children are in bed.