Complete List: 'The Dark Knight' Claims 8 Box Office Records

Access Hollywood - July 21, 2008 6:32 PM PDT

Sorry Spidey, but the Caped Crusader is the new king of the box office.

"The Dark Knight" opened with record-breaking numbers this weekend, taking in an astounding $158.3 million from Friday - Sunday, knocking "Spider-Man 3" from atop the box office record books.

In 2007, the third installment in the Spider-Man franchise opened with $151 million.

[ 'The Dark Knight' New York Premiere - Play it Now ]

But that wasn't the only record "The Dark Knight" claimed in its opening weekend. In fact, a total of eight records now belong to Batman and friends.

The film, starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger, also posted the biggest single day ever at the box office, taking in a whopping $67 million on Friday alone - another record previously held by "Spider-Man 3."

Here is a complete breakdown of the eight box office records "The Dark Knight" now holds after its opening weekend:

[ All Access: Batman - Heath Ledger - Movies ]

- Largest number of opening theaters with 4,366 (Previous record: "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" opened in 4,362 theaters in 2007).

- Biggest midnight preview gross with $18.4 million in 3,040 theaters (Previous record: "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" and its $16.9 million in 2,915 theaters in 2005).

- Biggest IMAX midnight previews, setting a new record with $640,000 (included in the $18.4 million preview number).

- Biggest single-day gross in box-office history with $67.8 million (Previous record: bests the $59,841,919 set by "Spider-Man 3" in 2007).

-Biggest opening weekend gross in box office history with $158.3 million (Previous record: beats the $151,116 million set by "Spider-Man 3" in 2007).

-Biggest opening weekend gross for an IMAX release in box office history with $6,214,061 million in 94 theaters with $66,107 per theater. (Previous record: $4.7 million set by "Spider-Man 3" in 2007.)

- Biggest opening weekend of 2008 with $158.3 million (Previous record: "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" with $101.1 million from May 23-25, 2008)

- Biggest July opening ever (Previous record: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" with $135,634,554 on July 7, 2006).

Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
Scenes From 'The Dark Knight' - Check Out the Photos
Behind The Scenes: 'The Dark Knight' - Play it Now
Heath Ledger - Check Out the Photos

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comments 1-10 of 21  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • mikeh
    they probly did cut alot of bales scenes... god only knows the original was intended to be 4 hours long...
    report abuseposted July 28, 2008 12:21 AM PDT
  • Batman was the %@!*#in best movie I saw this year. I haven't even seen Iron Man or Indy or Hancock. I enjoyed the movie and everyone was great especially Ledger. I wanna see it again! GO Batman GO.
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008 7:33 PM PDT
  • Josh
    really the whole cast was phenomenal. but eckhart and ledger stole the show because they lived those characters. it has nothing to do with ledger dying. he gave a great performance hands down. and really saying that they cut bale's scenes to focus more in ledger is incredibly retarded. they didn't change the writing last minute. it looks to me like the plot was supposed to focus mo
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008 5:14 PM PDT
  • Ronald D
    Dear "Teh" You need not worship a dead guy who died of an accidental overdose. You also need not speculate about other dead people, based on something you probably read on the net...or maybe Courtney Love said it-GREAT source there! Murder/suicide pact eh? Did Tupac tell you that? Seems like your entire post was started to stir things up. Gotta love the self-righteous. GRE
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008 4:58 PM PDT
  • Huggable_Jack
    The whole cast made a phenomenal perfomance. But the most challenging role was given to Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. I think both of them deserves standing ovation from all over the world for their performance. I really liked Heath Ledgers take on the Joker, it made it truly realistic. Bravo Heath.
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008 4:10 PM PDT
  • Teh truth hurts
    So let me get this straight. I'm supposed to worship a dead guy who was drugging it up till he took his own life and therefore devistating many other lives? Sorry no compassion here. Same with Cobain, he had a murder/suicide pact with Courtney Love to kill newborn daughter Frances Bean and themselves but CL backed out. one thing's for sure Heath's as popular with the worms
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008 4:09 PM PDT
  • wamazon
    end of my submit was: seems like christian bale is just an accessory.
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008 4:02 PM PDT
  • Boo Tearin
    If heath ledger doesnt get nominated for an oscar that will be the only real outrage. Dead or alive or dying or whatever, he put on the best performance of his short life. If he was alive id still be flipping out about what i saw, and so would everyone else. Sometimes i think people say things just to be a "non-comformist". Rose, "Why so serious?"
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008 3:46 PM PDT
  • wamazon
    i think nolan and film editor(s) probably cut a lot of christian's scenes after ledger passed. they knew the public would be hot and heavy for heath. think it is a shame because bale was outstanding in 'batman begins'. in 'dark knight', which is a great piece of work, it's all about ledger. christian, other than when on the bat pod, seems like an
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008 3:45 PM PDT
  • Boo Tearin
    I KNEW IT. As soon as I saw what is hands down THE best superhero movie of all time, not to mention one of the best movies ive ever seen, I knew people would say "heath ledger is only getting great reviews because hes dead". Are you high right now? This joker is the best villain in any movie ever PERIOD. His performance was amazing I literally sat there mouth wide open every t
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008 3:42 PM PDT
comments 1-10 of 21  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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