Christian Bale hasn’t seen Dark Knight Rises since the 2012 Aurora shooting

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES concluded Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy with a bang, giving Christian Bale’s turn as Bruce Wayne a proper sendoff. Even after over five years, the movie is a still standout in the comic book movie genre, with Tom Hardy’s Bane remaining an iconic villain. But despite the movie’s (and the trilogy as a whole) lasting popularity, the 2012 Aurora shootings have stopped Bale from being able to sit down and enjoy the movie.

While speaking with MTV’s Happy Sad Confused podcast (via CinemaBlend), Bale revealed that he’s been unable to watch RISES ever since the mass shooting occurred during a screening of the movie. The pain that comes with such a tragedy has simply made it too difficult to sit back and enjoy the film.

Very sadly, I have not been able to watch that film since because of the whole tragedy of Aurora. I have not been able to sit down and see it without thinking of that. And I'd love to be able to, one day.

The 2012 shooting took place during a midnight screening of DARK KNIGHT RISES at a theater in Aurora, Colorado, in which a man named James Eagan Holmes entered a crowded theater in a gas mask and began shooting audience members. Later reports said the man told police he was “The Joker”, Batman’s most popular nemesis. In total, 12 people were killed and 58 injured. Bale would later visit the survivors at the hospital. Three years later, Holmes was sentenced to 12 lifetimes in prison – one for each of the people who died in the shooting.

The tragedy took a toll on many people, and the fallout has certainly made some question whether it’s safe to go see a movie in theaters. My heart still goes out to all of those affected by the shooting, and I can’t imagine what it’s like for someone like Bale to try and watch a movie and think, “People died trying to watch a movie I made.” You can’t help but sympathize with the guy, and I too hope enough time passes to where he can watch the movie. The movie has held up great over the years, and Bale should be proud of the work he and the crew did.