10 Smartest Villain Plans In Movies

In The Dark Knight, Joker proves his theatrical style of villainy isn't just for show; his crimes appear over-the-top to distract the masses from a deeper plan. After the maniacal clown gets arrested, police assume his reign of terror is finished.

However, Joker allowed himself to be imprisoned to distract the cops while his goons kidnapped Rachel Dawes and District Attorney, Harvey Dent, and relocated them to two bomb-filled warehouses. When the explosives detonated, Rachel was killed and Harvey was left horrifically scarred.

When Joker escaped, Batman managed to stop him before he committed any more atrocities. However, Bats failed again to realise that this showdown with the demented jester was a distraction.

Joker alerts Batman that he encouraged Harvey to go on a killing spree earlier that day. After Batman tracks down his former friend, they fight, which indirectly leads to Dent falling to his death. Knowing it would destroy the city to learn the respected DA was manipulated to commit murder, Batman takes the fall for the killings, turning him into a pariah.

Joker may have failed to make Batman break his "one rule" but he manipulated Dent so well, it forced Caped Crusader to retire for eight years.