Holy Box Office, Batman!

(CBS)  When "The Dark Knight" swoops into theaters across the country starting at midnight Friday, Hollywood is betting Batman will crash through to box office history, CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reports.

"There have only been in history 10 films that have opened with $100 million, and 'The Dark Knight' is poised to be one," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers.

The numbers tell the story.

"The Dark Knight" will be showing in 4,366 theaters in North America, on more screens than any movie ever.

More than 1,600 showtimes in 400 cities are sold out already.

And Fandango, one of the largest online ticket-sellers says "The Dark Knight accounted for 94 percent of all tickets sold this week.

"And some theaters are going to show this movie round-the-clock opening day. That's how much demand there is for this movie," Dergarabedian said.

Continuing the story set in motion with "Batman Begins" in 2005, this grimmer, darker sequel has Batman, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne, fighting his internal demons - and one in flesh and blood: The Joker.

"It's simple," the Joker says. "Kill the Batman."

"He's uncompromising as Batman is," said Christian Bale, who returns as Batman in this sequel. "But the problem is, Batman has rules and the Joker doesn't."

Heath Ledger plays the menacing, maniacal Joker, who says, "This town needs a better class of criminal, and I'm going to give it to them."

Ledger's last big Hollywood role before his death from an accidental overdose in January already is generating Oscar buzz and has fans buzzing with anticipation. Christopher Nolan directed "The Dark Knight."

"With Heath's portrayal of the Joker, though, it was apparent to everybody on the set that there was something very special going on with that performance," Nolan said.

With "The Dark Knight, it seems the sky's the limit.

[whiskyrocker]

I just got one heck of a visual Radman 5000

[radman5000]

I just saw brokeback batman too. dont waste your time

[whiskyrocker]

This movie sucked just like I thought it would. What a waste of $$$

[magoo2u1]

"Choose your heroes a little more sensibly "
Jeez. Who said anything about a hero. He was an actor and reportedly did a great job in this movie. Died of an accidental overdose of medications he was prescribed by a doctor. Wow. Accidentally die and you''re the poster child for every right wing Christian nut job organization on earth. He was being treated for depression wasn''t it? Ooops! I forgot- diet, exercise ,prayer and vitamins are all one needs for that illness. IF it even exists.
Maybe you confuse the roles these people play on-screen with the real person. I don''t. He was just a man who acted for a living. Reportedly worked hard and did a good job. Oh, Christians don''t like hard workers, do they? I gotta read the bible again ''cause I missed a lot this stuff the first time through- who to hate , who to kill, who to judge from a thousand miles away.................

[tuppman]

Whoops Heath Sorry

[avigil2]

This just in:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," grossed a record $18.5 million from midnight preview screenings ahead of its official opening on Friday, according to box office tracking service Media By Numbers.

That tally includes receipts from 12:01 a.m. Friday showings only in 3,040 North American theaters -- 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. screenings were not counted -- and shatters the preview record of $16.9 million set by "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" in 2005, Media By Numbers said.

The film''s robust performance in advance screenings bolstered projections that "Dark Knight" was headed for an opening weekend of $100 million or more in the United States and Canada.

[avigil2]

I''ve seen THE DARK KNIGHT at an advanced screening this week. This movie is absolutely AMAZING! It''s near perfection of what a make should be. I do recommend this movie.

To MyOpinion1: it''s too bad your attitude really stinks (about everything, actually). What are you basing your comments about the new Batman movie being "mediocre at best"? You obviously haven''t been to a movie in ages. Get off of your high horse and go see one. It just might make you a happier individual.

[closethippy1]

"None of it would have happened if Mr. Ledger didn''''''''t abuse drugs. "

Wow, one his close friends that knows intimate details of his life is posting here. Cool. So how much time did you two spend together? Were you lovers? As for myself I will pass on judging the man since all I have to go on is gossip from people trying to sell papers and commercials. My wife suffers from depression so I won''''t call using medicine to deal with a psych problem abuse. I guess Christians can do that because they have the special gift of being "good" samaritans.
I''''m with you though. I hate talking nice of the dead. I would rather claim he''''s in hell and try to control everyone else with that fear.

noun- samaritan A special class of people that practice discrimination and abuse of people different from themselves while claiming to follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
Posted by magoo2u1 at 08:29 AM : Jul 18, 2008

Yo, Magoo, do yourself a big favor and have someone check your behind to see what''s stuck up there, will ya''?

[tootsie1963]

HAVE YOU NOTICED THE MOVIES THAT HAVE DONE WELL ALL SUMMER ARE THE FANTASY / NON-FICTION ONES....ITS HOW I ESCAPE FROM REALITY....IF WAS WANT REALITY OR SAD, I WILL WATCH THE NEWS. INDY, HELLBOY 2, HANCOCK, BATMAN, AND SOON THE MUMMY. MY BEST SUMMER YET!!!

[tootall10142]

ON ANOTHER PAGE EVERYONE BEETHES ABOUT THE ECONOMY . WHEN THE MOVIE PEOPLE STOP MAKING SO MANY MILLIONS TO EXCITE THE ADOLESCENT MIND THEN YOU WILL KNOW TIMES ARE HARD AND WE ARE INDEED INA RECESSION