Batman: The Killing Joke (movie)

Batman: The Killing Joke is a 2016 American animated superhero movie produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland.

The movie is directed by Sam Liu, written by Brian Azzarello and stars the voices of Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Tara Strong, and Ray Wise with Brian George. Like the novel, the movie follows The Joker's kidnapping and mission to drive police commissioner James Gordon insane, and Batman's desperate attempts to stop him.

Originally meant to be released directly on home video, due to its popularity, the movie was released in theaters and digitally on July 25, 2016 for a special one-night event, before a DVD and Blu-ray release on August 2, 2016. It grossed $4.4 million worldwide.

Critics and fans said that the first half of the film felt unnecessary and disconnected to the second half, although the specific criticism from these viewers is just of ageist, neo-puritanical and bigoted nature, specifically involving the romantic and sexual relationship between Batgirl and Batman already established even in other continuities, so the credibility and reliability of said criticism is dubious to say the least.