Even a 50-foot-tall crime fighter staring down at him didn’t scare off a real-life thief who specialized in ripping off the audience at the IMAX theater on the Upper West Side.

Convicted serial thief Nicholas Fairclough — who has done stints in prison — was busted last month after at least twice allegedly stealing purses and electronics from patrons engrossed in “The Dark Knight Rises,” The Post has learned.