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Batman: The Killing Joke

2016·Movie
1h 17min·R
IMDb6.4Metacritic–6.5Rotten Tomatoes35%50%

Where to watch

HBO MaxDC

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Batman: The Killing Joke fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, emotionally cool.

Energy

Brutally violent and tense

Fast from start to finish.

  • Violence9
  • Tension8
  • Scare7

Heart

Melancholic and moving

  • Melancholy8
  • Pathos7
  • Catharsis6

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor6
  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Cringe Humor2

World

Crime, the mind, and mystery

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout characters

  • Character Depth8
  • Intrigue8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodGraphic violence bothers you

Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological moviesMelancholic movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

The madness begins.

As Batman hunts for the escaped Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime attacks the Gordon family to prove a diabolical point mirroring his own fall into madness.
Psychological ThrillerDark and GrittyCrime NoirVillain Origin StoryMoral AmbiguityTragic BackstoryIntense and DisturbingVisually StrikingCharacter Study

Crew

Directed by:
Sam Liu
Written by:
Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Alan Moore
Produced by:
Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, Sam Register
Composed by:
Lolita Ritmanis, Mark A. Keatts, Mark A. Keatts

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Batman: The Killing Joke

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Batman: The Killing Joke legally?

HBO MaxDC

Batman: The Killing Joke is included with a subscription to HBO Max in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Batman: The Killing Joke worth watching?

48
MediocreGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 48/100 (IMDb 6.4 and Rotten Tomatoes 35%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Batman: The Killing Joke rated?

RViolenceDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is Batman: The Killing Joke?

1 h 17 min

Batman: The Killing Joke runs 1 h 17 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Batman: The Killing Joke?

Critics35
Audiences60

Not quite. Audiences rate Batman: The Killing Joke higher (60) than critics (35). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was Batman: The Killing Joke a box office hit?

Budget$4 million
Box office$4 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $4 million to make and earned $4 million worldwide, 1.1 times its budget.

What language is Batman: The Killing Joke in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Batman: The Killing Joke?

87AGAOARATAUAZBBBEBFBGBOBRBSBY+73

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Batman: The Killing Joke in 87 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Batman: The Killing Joke use?

Asshole VictimCreator ThumbprintFoe Romance SubtextHe Is Not My BoyfriendDarker and EdgierThe DreadedRape Discretion ShotCarnival of KillersThe StingerAdaptational JerkassFalse FriendUnreliable Narratorand 112 more

TV Tropes lists 124 storytelling tropes for Batman: The Killing Joke, including Asshole Victim, Creator Thumbprint, Foe Romance Subtext.