UPDATE: 'DARK KNIGHT': RECORD $65M FRIDAY
FRIDAY 7AM: Warner Bros is poised to make Hollywood history this weekend. That's because its opening comic book caper The Dark Knight is already on its way to breaking records left and right today even as it's still sparking a ticket-selling frenzy across North America. I've just been told that the latest Batman installment's $18.5 million midnight shows -- technically, 12:01AM -- in 3,040 theaters 
broke the record of $16.9 million set by 2005's Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith then playing in 2,915 venues. According to Media By Numbers, Imax showings of also set a record with $640K in the midnight previews. (This figure is included in the studio's overall.) Across North America, theater managers in small towns to big cities are working feverishly to squeeze in more screenings and satisfy voracious moviegoer demand. News reports were quoting fans as saying they'd pay $100 per ticket just to see the PG-13 pic. (Photo by Jim Stevenson of audiences arriving at Hollywood's Arclight Theater for the first showing of Dark Knight.)
Fandango.com, the largest online ticketseller, has just announced that Dark Knight has jumped to No. 2 on its Top 10 List of Advance Ticket-Sellers. It's No. 4 on MovieTickets.com's list. Fandango.com says it's now selling an average of nearly 10 tickets per second for the pic during peak periods, while MovieTickets.com cites more than 1,300 performances nationwide that are still sold out, including more than 220 in New York City and Los Angeles alone. These are extraordinary metrics underscoring Hollywood's belief that not just the individual but also the overall 3-day non-holiday box office record is going down this weekend. Meanwhile, see the Batman franchise numbers here.
Top 10 Advance Ticket-Sellers list from Fandango.com:
1. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
2. The Dark Knight (2008)
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
6. Hannah Montana 3D (2008)
7. Lord Of The Rings: Return of the King (2003)
8. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
9. Sex And The City (2008)
10. The Passion Of The Christ (2004)
MovieTickets.com's Top Pre-Sale List Of All Times:
1. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
4. The Dark Knight
- 'Dark Knight' Speeding Towards Records (continuously updated...)
- DHD CONTEST: 'Dark Knight' Predictions!
The excitement over The Dark Knight shows some really brilliant planning on the part of Nolan and Co., and unlike what the media thinks, has only a minor relationship to the hype around Heath Ledger’s unfortunate demise.
It started right at the beginning of it all when they resisted the obvious temptation to use the Joker in the first film, opting for the less infamous villains of the Scarecrow and Ras Al Ghul.
Then they did a very good job with those villains. So Bat-fans and non-comic fans alike started wondering how great it will be when the Joker shows up to take his place on the top of the Bat-Villain food chain.
Anticipation is a powerful thing, and with the buzz from critics saying that the anticipation will be rewarded well, it becomes a force that could break records.
It’s either really brilliant on the part of Nolan and Co. or they’re the luckiest people in Hollywood.
Comment by Furious D — July 18, 2008 @ 8:27 am
This was one of the best movies I have ever seen and definitely the best blockbuster picture ever, its a well deserving flick to break all box office records.
Comment by sam — July 18, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Best superhero movie ever. Take time to appreciate the subtleties that are the Joker and you have a character portrayal that is a force to be reckoned with. Oh and there’s nothing like a good magic trick!
Comment by Brandon — July 18, 2008 @ 10:04 am
Not just another popcorn movie, but a powerful and intelligent piece of film making. This is one picture NOT to miss on the big screen. Everyone deserves credit but the acting is first-rate, and the story is very strong. This movie will be remember for much more than Ledger’s haunting performance.
Comment by Scot — July 18, 2008 @ 10:56 am
Would love to see the Mamma Mia! and Space Chimps midnight showing grosses in comparison. (Yes, believe it or not there were Space Chimps midnight showings.)
Comment by Sandy — July 18, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Batman was good, not great. Go in expecting a typical superhero movie and you’ll be pleasently surprised, but go in expecting the #4 movie of all time (as it sits right now on IMDB) and you will be underwhelmed.
Also I agree with Sandy about midnight showings for the other two. I guess theatre owners were hoping to sell tickets to those two to Batman fans after it sold out, but I highly doubt they were very successful.
Comment by College Student — July 18, 2008 @ 11:56 am
Somehow WB will figure out a way to screw over the writer on this project, and they’ll also say they didn’t make any money (read profits) on the film either…
Comment by Hmmmmm...? — July 18, 2008 @ 1:18 pm