Guide Note

Warner Bros. says The Dark Knight, the latest installment of the Batman franchise, made $155.34 million in its opening weekend, topping the previous record held by 2007's Spider-Man 3.¹

The film, which opened on July 18, 2008, screened on more North American movie screens in its first weekend than any previous film.² Ticket sales to the midnight screenings broke the previous record, set by Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith, by over $2 million.³

Fast Facts

1. Warner Bros. said The Dark Knight made $155.34 in its opening weekend¹
2. Film set a single-day box office record of $66.4 million⁴
3. The Dark Knight premiered on 4,366 movie screens across North America⁵
4. Over 1,600 showings in 400 cities were sold out by the morning of July 18, 2008⁵
5. Online movie ticket retailer Fandango reported that The Dark Knight accounted for 94% of sales the week previous to the film's opening⁵
6. The Dark Knight midnight showings grossed $18.4 million in ticket sales³
7. Weekend box office prediction: $165 million⁶
8. Spider-Man 3 was the record holder for the highest grossing opening three-day weekend with $151 million³

1. Release date: July 18, 2008
2. Director: Christopher Nolan
3. Studio: Warner Bros.
4. Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman
5. Run time: 152 minutes
6. MPAA rating: PG-13