Holy Moolah, Batman! Dark Knight Sets Opening-Weekend Record

• Jul 20, 2008 04:30 PM ET
• by movienews

As predicted, Christopher Nolan's superhero/crime-drama epic The Dark Knight has set a new record for the highest opening-weekend box-office earnings in history.

According to Variety, $158.3 million was raked in by the Caped Crusader this weekend, besting Spider-Man 3's previous record-setting mark by more than $7 million. (The final tally was $3 million more than early estimates reported by Warner Bros. on Sunday.) The film's IMAX draw also outdid Spidey, earning an estimated $6.2 million to claim the best debut ever in the large-screen format. (Having seen the film in both formats, I'll tell you the IMAX experience is a remarkable upgrade.)

The earnings no doubt benefitted from the nearly unanimous glowing reviews the film received, most of which centered on the much-anticipated final performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker. Ledger's disturbing, sociopathic spin on the character has already created (deserved, in my mind) buzz of a posthumous Oscar nomination - a thought echoed by the audiences in my screenings, who cheered at his every move, as well as when Nolan's tribute to the actor appeared during the credits.

In addition to these latest records, The Dark Knight also wrote its name in the history books by earning the best midnight and first-day opening numbers ever. And with 64 percent of first-weekend viewers on Fandango.com reportedly saying they plan to see the film again, it appears the money will continue to pour in. I think it's safe to say Warner Bros. doesn't have to worry anymore - its most prized franchise is clearly revitalized and more powerful than ever. - Adam Bryant

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Related:
" The Dark Knight's Big Opening Day
" Read our review of The Dark Knight
" Photo Gallery: The History of the Joker
" Photo Gallery: 15 Defining Moments of the Batman Franchise
" The Dark Knight Shines Bright at World Premiere