Literally there are people walking around the streets of New York in full out Batman costumes. I saw four people on my way to the office this morning. Already, fans are lining up at theaters for the midnight screening of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises” starring Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway.
There is no doubt in my mind that like “The Dark Knight”, released in 2008 which opened with $158.4 million and broke screening records, “The Dark Knight Rises” will absolutely smash the box office again. There is a lot of talk about whether TDKR can beat Avengers which opened with 207.4 million. In my opinion, no, but it will come close. TDKR is not being released in 3-D which will lower sales but I have no doubt that it will come close! It will definitely gross over 1 billion and it will beat out Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II which earned 169.2 in its opening weekend, which was the second highest grossing on opening weekend film .
Only five movies have exceeded $150 million at the domestic box office during the opening weekend. “The Dark Knight Rises” will likely join that group.
These fans are serious! I understand that the movie-review website Rotten Tomatoes was forced to shut off its popular online comment feature when some Batman-backers lashed out at people who posted negative advance reviews of the film — including some death threats.
Shots out to the cast and crew and Christopher Nolan who is a beast of a director.
- TY Walker
