2008: "The Dark Knight"
Adjusted gross: $1.12 billion
Unadjusted gross: $1 billion
What it's about: Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" gave newfound respect to the superhero genre, making it a dark and gritty morality drama instead of mere escapism. Batman (played by Christian Bale) faces off against the Joker (played by Heath Ledger) while trying to avoid the psychological traps he sets.