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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 poster

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1

Movie 2012 76 min Science Fiction, Action, Animation, Mystery Last reviewed 12 Sep 2026
Official Rating M ClearAge 15+ Quality β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†

What we flagged

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Scores are 0–5: 0 means none.

Violence
Strong
Frightening
Moderate
Language
Mild

Our take

This is a dark animated Batman story, not a light cartoon. An older Batman fights a brutal street gang, and a young teen joins him as Robin. News reports talk about kidnapped children and murders. Fine with a parent from 15. Younger kids will find the beatings and the crime talk too much

Uplifting themes

People argue about whether the city still needs someone to stand up for it An older hero tries to protect people, and a young helper wants to do the same

Story (may spoil tone)

Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?

What we flagged

Scores are 0–5: 0 means none.

View all categories

Violence
Strong
Frightening
Moderate
Language
Mild

Details

Violence Strong Street gangs beat people, and a brutal one-on-one fight leaves Batman b…

Street gangs beat people, and a brutal one-on-one fight leaves Batman badly hurt

Language Mild Hell, damn, and son of a b-word. Scattered, not an f-word barrage

Hell, damn, and son of a b-word. Scattered, not an f-word barrage

Frightening Moderate Gotham feels lawless. Kidnapping reports and a savage gang keep the moo…

Gotham feels lawless. Kidnapping reports and a savage gang keep the mood dark

Child peril / abuse Moderate A young teen fights adults as Robin, and news talks about children bein…

A young teen fights adults as Robin, and news talks about children being taken

Gore / death / weapons Moderate Guns, bombs, and some blood. Killings are and people get hurt on screen

Guns, bombs, and some blood. Killings are and people get hurt on screen

Dangerous behaviour Mild Street fights and gadgets a teen might try to copy in play

Street fights and gadgets a teen might try to copy in play

Grief / bereavement Mild A funeral is mentioned after a killing in the city

A funeral is mentioned after a killing in the city

Talk after watching

  • Should a young teen fight crime because they want to help?
  • When does protecting a city turn into hurting people?