Heath Ledger’s performance in the opening bank heist of The Dark Knight (2008) set a new standard for the genre, combining meticulous preparation with a “proof of concept” for large-scale filmmaking. Director Christopher Nolan chose the bank heist as the first sequence to be filmed to let Ledger ease into the role. Since the Joker is masked for most of the scene, it allowed Ledger to find the character’s physical presence before delivering the final, unmasked reveal.
This was the first time a major Hollywood feature used IMAX 70mm cameras for a narrative dramatic sequence. The cameras were so loud and bulky that they limited mobility, requiring every shot to be precisely pre-visualized. In the famous close-up where the Joker removes his mask and says, “I believe whatever doesn’t kill you simply makes you stranger,” the shot is actually slightly out of focus. Due to the experimental nature of IMAX at the time, there were technical issues, but Nolan kept the take because Ledger’s performance was so compelling.
The exterior “Gotham National Bank” was a fake extension built on a vacant lot in Chicago, while the interior was filmed in the lobby of the Old Chicago Main Post Office. The “death slide” zip-line from the 14th-floor window and the school bus crashing through the bank wall were both performed as real, physical stunts without CGI.
Ledger’s iconic habit of licking his lips started as a practical solution to keep his silicone scars from peeling off during takes. Nolan noticed it added a “reptile-like” quality and encouraged him to keep it as part of the character. Impressed by Ledger’s vision, Nolan allowed him to direct the homemade hostage videos himself. For the second video featuring a kidnapped reporter, Nolan was so confident in Ledger that he didn’t even attend the shoot.
To stay in character, Ledger kept a “Joker Diary” on set filled with disturbing images and writings. On the final page of the diary, he wrote “BYE BYE” after filming concluded.
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