To quote the Joker, “It’s not about money. It’s about sending a message.”
Consider the message received, loud and clear.
The Dark Knight has officially dethroned former champ Spider-Man 3 to become the movie with the highest-grossing first-day premiere. Led by fan fervor, strong buzz, impeccable reviews from both fans and critics alike, and a all that talk, talk, talk, about the late Heath Ledger’s boundary-shattering performance as the Joker, Dark Knight managed to rake in $66.4 million in just its first day! (More than twice what The Love Guru has made all Summer.)
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And the record breaking didn’t stop there. Dark Knight also set a new record for the biggest ever midnight bow, taking in $18.5 million from 3,040 screens, a higher gross than Revenge of Sith’s $16.9 million midnight debut on 2,915 screens, back in 2005. Not even factored into TDK’s midnight figures are the 1 am, 3 am and 6 am showings of the film, which is running 24/7 throughout the weekend in many theaters. (I went to a 3AM show myself and I can tell you, it was a packed house.)
All signs seem to indicate that Dark Knight will ultimately top Spider-Man 3’s $151.1 million opening weekend to set a new record in that category as well. (Guess that puts to rest any and all talk about whether the expectations for the film were too high.) Of course, the great news has made the suits over at Warner Bros. giddy with green fever.
“We’re very proud of the film,” [said Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. head of distribution,] “It’s the magic of the movie business, how one film just stands out above the others.”
No magic involved, Danny, just the end result of having great source material to work with, phenomenal actors to play the parts, a great script, big enough budget, and all of it placed into the hands of a competent and accomplished director like Chris Nolan, with enough free reign for him to do what he does best. The resulting film has set a new bar for what both comic book movies and summer blockbusters can be. Kudos to you, your crew and your cast, Mr. Nolan. Heath, we miss your talent more than ever, man. (And here’s hoping you get your Oscar. The buzz is that you definitely deserve it.)
So, did you do YOUR part to help The Dark Knight get to the top? Did you ever think a movie could become such a cultural phenomenon as this film has? Rant back and speak on it.
The Dark Knight is now playing at a theater near you.
Source: MSNBC
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23 Comments
This is unbelievable with 66.4 million openeing day..I don’t think it can keep up this pace but those numbers are absolutely AMAZING…
It will probably break Spiderman 3’s record of 151.1 million and end up with 165-170 million this weekend…I will be very interested to see how much it falls next weekend although I am enjoying this moment too much to think heavily on next weekend right now..Way to go Nolan, Bale, Ledger and crew..you deserve all the accolades you are recieving and more..I hope Mr. Ledger gets the Oscar and I hope TDK wins best picture and Nolan best director…This movie has and will continue to cement the credibility of this genre and I hope the rest of the people out there looking to make comic books into movies are taking notice…
This is unbelievable with 66.4 million openeing day..I don’t think it can keep up this pace but those numbers are absolutely AMAZING…
It will probably break Spiderman 3’s record of 151.1 million and end up with 165-170 million this weekend…I will be very interested to see how much it falls next weekend although I am enjoying this moment too much to think heavily on next weekend right now..Way to go Nolan, Bale, Ledger and crew..you deserve all the accolades you are recieving and more..I hope Mr. Ledger gets the Oscar and I hope TDK wins best picture and Nolan best director…This movie has and will continue to cement the credibility of this genre and I hope the rest of the people out there looking to make comic books into movies are taking notice…
BRAVO !!!!
I’ve got to say, TDK is really a cinematic achievement like no other, especially considering that it’s a superhero movie. I read somewhere (I think IMDb) that Nolan was inspired by the Pacino/De Niro ‘95 classic “Heat” to lay down the framework for TDK, and it really shows. Since “Heat” was an amazing movie in and of itself, it makes sense that TDK follows suit. I think maybe though what is MOST important about this film is how is shows just how phenomenal of an actor Heath Ledger was. His performance in TDK is the EPITOME of bittersweetness. As amazing of a film as TDK is, the more important thing is how great of an actor the world has lost.
“Batman Beggins” is one of my very favourite superhero’s movie. Is not only a good superhero’s movie, is a movie, a good movie; good screenplay, excellent scenography, beautiful/impressive music -oh, men!, do you know the “Molossus” theme?-, good actor’s performance, right edit (excepting, maybe, some confusing combat’s scenes), brilliant direction…
I’m happy now reading that “The Dark Knight” is getting what I hoped it to deserve. ^^
I am resigned to wait ’till 13/08/2008 -08/13/2008 for your compute’s use, I think- to see this film -I am from Spain-. ‘So’ (or simply ‘and’) I ask myself something…: Is there in this film more flashbacks? Oh, men, I think that the flashbacks in “Batman Beggins” were really perfect done -flashbacks into flashbacks, intrincated ones even, but easy to understand the sense of the action anyway-. If someone of you would want to answer me this question I will be thankful. ^^
Take a greet.
This is great news. The Dark Knight has carved out a place in history, and it won’t soon be forgotten.
the movie was awesome heath should win the oscar award for best actor
I thought it was a very good film
I agree with Vics 4.5 rating.
I hope there is room for Aaron Eckhart to get an oscar nomination too .
I thought he was superb as Harvey Dent.
I thought Ledgers best scenes took place when he was one on one with another actor
He had 3 such scenes.
Those intimate scenes were his best .
Kudos to Nolan and Co. for a great piece of filmmaking.
This could still blow past 200mil // crazy.
I went out today and more than once I heard ppl talking about how they loved the film.
What a huge impact this film is having.
I already have plans to see in Imax next weekend with friends. I’m not sure I can wait a week to see it.
After this news, I am seriously considering convincing my wife to go with me tomorrow at a regular theatre (Imax was sold out 10 days ago in DC for this opening weekend). If we can help boost break Spidey 3’s record (and get me in the g.d. theatre before next week), I swear it is my duty.
I did my part yesterday at the 12:50 pm showing.
It looks as though Nikki FInke is estimating 153-155 million for TDK with 48 million on Saturday and 38-42 million on Sunday….The Friday to Saturday drop is negligble if you don’t count Fridays midnight screenings..
Way to go DK and Nolan and crew!!!
I went to a 920am showing thats how I knew it was probably going to hit that
155- 160 mark.
that was the most crowded morning screening I have ever seen.
According to a story off the Associated Press filed 53 minutes ago,
TDK made an estimated 155.34 million
this weekend .
congrats to all involved .
Well deserved.
WB, plan this sequel carefully.
DONT GO CRAZY!
Ok, now I’ve done my duty. Not only did my wife and I go tonight, but we dragged three of our friends. S3’s record is goin’ down
I have a dumb question with regard to these box office records….
I’m not sure how they can say something has broken a record in dollars when todays movies cost more, plus the price of inflation. Shouldn’t they use tickets sold as the record instead?
Then, you could truly say that Movie A made in 2008 beat Movie B made in the 90’s, 80’s or whenever.
Even inflation-adjusted, TDK now holds the record for opening weekend box office, but yeah, I hear what you’re saying. Of course the number of screens on which a film premieres should also be a factor.
If you want to see an inflation adjusted list of all time biggest box office earners go here:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm
The majority of films in the top ten might surprise you.
Vic
Final numbers for TDK released by WB are 158.3 million!!! This will be talked about for years..
Best comicbook movie ever made….
I think the movie itself is what people should be talking about .
records are made to be broken.
With ticket prices rapidly increasing,
I have no doubt this record will fall. but it will fall by only a few million.
these records are broken in terms of inches.
There’s no perfect way to compare movie ticket sales from the 1930s to now (or 1980s to now for that matter). It’s not about inflation, it’s about consumer demand. If the price of a movie ticket is higher than average price indices, it hasn’t slowed moviegoers.
If that were the case, these records would have to be based on % of GDP, adjusted for the average population during the run of the film, adjusted for those who are bedridden and those too young to walk, and adjusted for how many fruit flies sneezed during the first promo trailer.
Just take the measures for what they are. TDK is a great movie!!!
YOU CAN FOOL MOST OF THE PEOPLE MOST OF THE TIME!!!THE DARK KNIGHT HAS ALL THE FAULTS OF SPIDERMAN 3 YET IS GETTING LOTS OF PRAISE AND DOING GREAT AT THE BOX OFFICE,I’M SORRY,I WAS BORED TO DEATH HALF WAY THROUGH…JUST PROVES THAT HYPE HAS WORKED A TREAT HERE..BUT NO-WAY IS IT A “GREAT SUPERHERO MOVIE”.
I MUCH PREFERED BATMAN BEGINS…THE NEW ONE HAS TOO MANY CHARACTERS,IS HARD TO FOLLOW THE SCRIPT AND THE ACTION IS SO DARKLY SHOT IT REMINDS ME OF THE END SCENE IN HULK 2003…
THE INCREDIBLE HULK IS STILL THE BEST COMIC ADAPTION OF THE YEAR WITH IRON MAN CLOSE BEHIND…
Yes the hulk was awesome, and it would have done a heck of alot better at the box office, had ed norton promoted the movie, and if the trailers were released at least 2 months ahead of the june 13 release. batman is one of my all time favorite characters. the reason the bat movie did so well is because of the early TV trailer releases. plus, the movie was given a real time feel; sort of like law and order. plus, unlike the fantastic 4 movies, this bat flick was not made for kids. i remember some of the critics advising the parents to keep their kids at home.
they finally took a superhero and made a movie out of him for adults. and tah dah…an explosive box office hit.
it’s good to be right! *_*
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