andPOP » The Dark Knight

‘Dark Knight’ Crosses $1 Billion Mark

Eva Lam — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:03:03 +0000

“The Dark Knight” has joined an exclusive club: movies that have crossed the $1 billion mark in worldwide revenues.

Warner Bros. announced Friday that Christopher Nolan’s Batman sequel, which has eight nods going into this weekend’s Oscars, has accumulated a gross of $1,001,082,160 billion to date.

Those earnings places the movie fourth in highest worldwide grossers of all time.

It comes in just behind “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” at No. 3, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” at No. 2 and “Titanic,” which is currently the champion at more than $1.8 billion.

Released on July 18 last year, “The Dark Knight” got off to an impressive start by taking in $158.4 million during its opening weekend.

Batman To Return To Cinemas In January

Eva Lam — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 06:28:52 +0000

“The Dark Knight” will be re-released in North American cinemas next month, boosting its chances of cracking the $1-billion mark at the worldwide box office.

The top-grossing U.S. film of 2008, which comes out on DVD Tuesday, has already earned $996 million US, according to tracking website Box Office Mojo.

“We wanted to provide one more opportunity for moviegoers to experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen,” Dan Fellman, president of Warner Brothers’ U.S. distribution, said in a statement.

The movie’s return to cinemas on Jan. 23 will come a day after the Academy Award nominations are announced.

The re-release is expected to help the movie’s Oscar chances, with the late Heath Ledger and director Christopher Nolan seen as favourites to earn nominations.

If “The Dark Knight” reaches the $1-billion mark, it would become only the fourth film in history to do so, following “Titanic,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

‘The Dark Knight’ Strikes Box Office Gold, Again

Irene Ogrodnik — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:06:12 +0000

“The Dark Knight” has struck gold the second weekend in a row by bringing in an estimated $75.6 million this weekend, reports E! News.

Christopher Nolan’s sequel to 2005’s “Batman Begins” has surpassed the $300 million mark domestically in record time and a $400 million overall take is around the corner.

“Certainly, $400 million, boom, that’s going to happen,” said Media by Numbers box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

“The trajectory it’s on has never before been seen. This is absolutely unprecedented.”

The movie’s second-weekend gross was, per studio estimates, the biggest ever, despite the usual 50 percent or so drop in business.

Although “The Dark Knight” has yet to surpass the $400 million mark, Dergarabedian predicts the movie will bring in that amount in about a week from now, or 18 days after its release. In 2004, it took “Shrek 2” about 43 days to reach $400 million— a mark that continues to be the Hollywood benchmark.

Coming in second place was Will Ferrell’s “Step Brothers” which brought in an impressive 30 million while “X-Files: I Want to Believe” brought in a somewhat disappointing 10.2 million.

Batman Forever: ‘The Dark Knight’ Smashes Box Office Records

Irene Ogrodnik — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:47:23 +0000

“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.

Heath Ledger Cast as The Joker in Next ‘Batman’

andPOP Staff — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 15:52:23 +0000

Australian actor Heath Ledger has been confirmed to play the role of the Joker in the next Batman movie. Titled “The Dark Knight,” the film will also star Christian Bale in his second appearance as Bruce Wayne.

E! Online reports that Warner Bros. confirmed the casting on Monday with a statement from returning director Christopher Nolan.

“I’m excited to continue the story we started with ‘Batman Begins,’” said Nolan. “Our challenge in casting the Joker was to find an actor who is not just extraordinarily talented but fearless. Watching Heath Ledger’s interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale’s Batman is going to be incredible.”

The 27-year-old Ledger is best known for his Oscar-nominated role in last year’s “Brokeback Mountain.” His casting as the Joke has been rumoured for the past three weeks.

The role of the Joker was originally taken on by Jack Nicholson in the first “Batman” movie. Michael Keaton played the caped crusader in that film, as well as the follow-up, “Batman Returns.”

“The Dark Knight” is set to start shooting in early 2007, making a summer 2008 release very likely.