Amid tragedy, ‘Dark Knight’ strong at box office

0

One of the biggest weekends ever at the domestic box office came and went without celebration.

Though
the weekend numbers for the opening of Warner Bros.’ “The Dark Knight
Rises” were eagerly anticipated, the other studios followed WB’s lead in
not reporting numbers, out of respect for the victims of the July 20
shooting. Exhibitors also showed discreet solidarity, acknowledging
their security concerns, but were downplaying the glowing results.

And
despite heavy media coverage of the massacre in Aurora, Colo., it is a
measure of the national mood and the fact that moviegoers seemed mostly
unfazed, because indications are that “TDKR” collected north of $160
million. Revised figures will be reported Monday, but if the estimates
hold up, this would be the biggest 2D opening of a film ever, beating
the $158 million for “The Dark Knight” in 2008.

Read more…