Christopher Nolan made his entire team watch Michael Mann's Heat before production began. Not for the action—for the philosophy. Mann's criminals are professionals first, men second; Nolan wanted Bruce Wayne's adversaries to carry the same cold discipline. The interrogation scene between Pacino and De Niro is the template for every Batman/Ra's al Ghul exchange: two men who understand each other completely, across an uncrossable line. Nolan cited this in the 2005 Batman Begins production notes. Heat is on MUBI.
Films That Influenced Batman Begins
