“The Dark Knight” smashed box office records with a $155.3 million opening weekend total—beating “Spider-Man 3” as the movie with the biggest weekend opening— per Exhibitor Relations Co. estimates, reports E! News.

On Friday alone, “The Dark Knight” made $66.4 million, setting the record for biggest-ever single day.

“Some people probably stayed away [to avoid] the crowds,” Exhibitor Relations’ Jeff Bock told E! News.

“The Dark Knight” was also the late Heath Ledger’s last big role before his death in January. Curiosity and buzz surrounding the actor’s performance as the legendary foe The Joker probably brought many audience members to the theatres.

“This is really unprecedented, an actor in a blockbuster film dying before the release,” Bock said.

The Christopher Nolan film and the “Batman Begins” sequel continues to receive positive reviews from critics nation wide.

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1. ‘Iron Man 2′ Does Well at Box Office – Doesn’t Beat ‘Dark Knight’
2. ‘Tropic Thunder’ Tops Box Office; ‘Dark Knight’ Falls to Second Place
3. ‘The Dark Knight’ Strikes Box Office Gold, Again

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