Watch Batman: Year One

Based on an acclaimed graphic novel written by Frank Miller and drawn by David Mazzucchelli, Batman: Year One is an animated film about the origin of Batman following Bruce Wayne's return to Gotham. Following the death of his parents, Bruce Wayne spends year abroad testing the limits of his body before deciding to return to his home to wrest control of Gotham from the local mob and a corrupt police force. Joining him in this fight are Lt. James Gordon, later Commissioner Gordon and Selina Kyle, a cat burglar who frustrates the mob by stealing high-value items from them. Bruce tries various schemes to fight crime in a seedy part of town and is surprised when, despite his training, botches the surprise, is ganged up on by two thieves and is grazed accidentally when a cop shoots at the fleeing suspects. Upon returning home, frustrated, he broods in his den until a bat crashes through the window, giving him inspiration to become a symbol of fear. Hiding in the shadows, using a cape to make himself appear much larger than he is and grappling hook to give himself the appearance of flying are some of the ways The Batman uses to terrorize the underworld. He begins working his way up through petty criminals to haunting the inner circle of organized crime that controls Gotham, becoming an urban legend in the process. At the same time, Lt. James Gordon is resisting the corruption of the police force, which is becoming increasingly hostile toward him. When Batman reveals himself to the honest cop in order to gain an ally in the dishonest police force, Gordon is reluctant to trust him. When Batman is lured into a sting in an abandoned building, it's up to Gordon to assist the Caped Crusader and keep him from being ambushed by a SWAT team.