and plot points:
- The opening scene shows a daring mid-air plane heist led by Bane (Tom Hardy) and his mercenaries, who kidnap a scientist working for Wayne Enterprises.
- Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) has become a recluse, living in seclusion within the rebuilt Wayne Manor. He has also retired the Batman persona, after taking the blame for Dent's crimes and allowing a new anti-crime law (the "Dent Act") to put many criminals behind bars.
- Commissioner Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) is also struggling with guilt over keeping the truth about Dent's fall from grace and eventual death a secret from Gotham's citizens.
- Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) is introduced as a skilled thief who is hired to steal Bruce's fingerprints by Bane's henchmen. She has her own motivations for getting involved in Bane's plans, and becomes a key player in the conflict.
- Bane's master plan is to hold Gotham hostage with a stolen Wayne Enterprises device that can turn its energy source into a nuclear bomb. His objective is to "crash the system" of society and reveal the corrupt nature of those in power, while also avenging a personal history with the Wayne family.
- Batman is forced out of retirement when he realizes the threat Bane poses to Gotham, and seeks out the help of Alfred (Michael Caine), Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), and eventually Gordon and Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a young cop who idolized Batman as a kid.
- The film features several epic set pieces, including a stadium explosion, a car chase through the city's streets, a prison break-out, and the ultimate showdown between Batman and Bane in downtown Gotham.
- Along the way, the themes of sacrifice, redemption, and heroism are explored as characters grapple with the consequences of their actions and the toll of their personal struggles.
- The film's ending leaves some room for interpretation, with several characters undergoing significant changes and developments in their arcs.