15 greatest superhero movies of the decade

2. The Dark Knight Rises

Released: July 20, 2012

Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy may be among the greatest superhero movies of all time, but it’s also one of the all-time greatest trilogies in cinema history. Granted, a large part of that reputation is down to the middle entry – 2008’s masterpiece The Dark Knight – but every great trio’s success is the sum of its parts, and it was up to 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises to bring Nolan’s wonderful chapter in Batman’s history to a close.

Set eight years after the previous installment, the film saw the arrival of Tom Hardy’s unforgettable Bane – who sought to carry on Ra’s al Ghul’s legacy by destroying Gotham City – something that ultimately forced Batman out of retirement.

A tale that was as melancholic as it was triumphant, Rises was determined to give fans an ending to this saga that was satisfying but authentic. In spite of a few minor flaws, it absolutely pulls it off, paying tribute to the two films that took place before it while serving as a vehicle for Christian Bale’s last stand as Gotham’s true hero.

The longest of the three films, it allowed the pressure to slowly build  and released it at the right moment, bringing eight years of exceptional storytelling to a close. Capped off by incredible performances from Bale, Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman, this was the conclusion we needed and deserved.