On July 6, 2012, Warner Bros. held a special IMAX screening of The Dark Knight Rises for more than one hundred reporters and critics. However, technical issues with the computer device synchronizing the sound and picture forced the studio to postpone the screening by a day.[175] The film later premiered on July 16 at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York City,[176] followed by a European premiere on July 18 at Leicester Square in London, England.[177] The film was released in Australia and New Zealand on July 19,[178] and was later released in North America and the United Kingdom on July 20.[179][180]
Colorado shooting
"I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families."
—Director Christopher Nolan's reaction to the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado.[181]
On July 20, 2012, during a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises at the Century 16 cinema in Aurora, Colorado, a gunman wearing a gas mask opened fire inside the theater,[182] killing 12 people and injuring 58 others.[183][184] Police responding to the shooting apprehended a suspect later identified as 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes[185] shortly after arriving on the scene.[186] Initial reports stated that Holmes identified himself as "the Joker" at the time of his arrest, although this has been debunked.[187][188]
Warner Bros. cancelled the Paris, Mexico, and Japan premieres of The Dark Knight Rises,[189][190] and suspended the film's marketing campaign in Finland.[191] Several broadcast networks also suspended television ads for the film in the United States.[192] The trailer for Gangster Squad, another Warner Bros. movie included in the screening of The Dark Knight Rises, was removed as it contains a scene which shows gangsters shooting submachine guns at moviegoers through the screen, similar to the shooting in Aurora.[193]
Director Christopher Nolan released a public statement calling the shooting "unbearably savage".[181] Other stars of the film released statements expressing their condolences, with star Christian Bale paying a personal visit to the survivors and the memorial in Aurora.[194]
Home media
The Dark Knight Rises was released on November 28, 2012, in Hong Kong and New Zealand. On December 3, it was released in the United Kingdom, and on December 4, it was released in the United States. It is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and as a digital download.[195] Coinciding with the release of this film, a box set of The Dark Knight Trilogy was released.[196] The Dark Knight Rises film was released on 4K UHD Blu-ray on December 19, 2017.[197]
