Aug 10, 2008 10:37 am US/Pacific
Dark Knight Is Now 3rd Highest-Grossing Movie Ever
LOS ANGELES
-
-
At this rate, "The Dark Knight" appears to be on track to surpass
1977's "Star Wars" and all its re-releases over three decades. "Titanic," released in 1997, remains in the number one all-time spot, having sold $600 million in tickets.
AP
"The Dark Knight" remained the number one movie at the nation's box offices this weekend, and is now the third-highest-grossing movie of all time.
Only "Titanic" and "Star Wars," have sold more tickets than the latest Batman movie, according to Media By Numbers, an Encino firm that tracks box office receipts.
"The Dark Knight" is estimated to be on track to sell $26 million in tickets this weekend, Media By Numbers reported, bringing the Warner Bros. release up to an estimated $441.5 million in business in the United States and Canada alone by the close of business Sunday night.
At this rate, "The Dark Knight" appears to be on track to surpass 1977's "Star Wars" and all its re-releases over three decades, which have grossed an estimated $461 million in sales. "Titanic," released in 1997, remains in the number one all-time spot, having sold $600 million in tickets.
This weekend, an R-rated Seth Rogen stoner comedy opened strongly, and came within spitting distance of displacing the Batman movie from its summertime perch in the number one spot after three weeks there.
"Pineapple Express" is estimated to sell $22.4 million in tickets this weekend. The Sony/Columbia release opened Wednesday, and including that night will have sold $40.5 million in tickets so far.
In third place was "The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor." The Universal picture will do $16.1 million in sales this weekend, for a two-week total of $70.7 million.
Another Wednesday-night opener, "Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants 2," will sell $10.8 million in admissions this weekend, good enough for fourth place. That movie, from Warner Bros., will total $19.7 million by the end of the weekend.
This weekend also saw the musical romp "Mamma Mia!" cross the $100 million sales mark, although it finished in sixth place.
Rounding out the top ten, starting with fifth place:
-- "Step Brothers," Sony/Columbia, $8.9 million this weekend, $80.9 million over three weeks;
-- "Mamma Mia! The Movie," Universal, $8 million this weekend, $104 million over four weeks;
-- "Journey To The Center Of The Earth," Warner Bros., $4.9 million this weekend, $81.8 million over five weeks;
-- "Hancock," Sony/Columbia, $3.3 million this weekend, $221.7 million over six weeks;
-- "Swing Vote," Disney, $3.1 million this weekend, $12 million over two weeks; and
-- "Wall-E," Disney, $3 million this weekend, $210.1 million over seven weeks.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
Slideshow: Hollywood's Biggest Moneymaker Movies
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
