DARK KNIGHT Opening Weekend Prediction
Author: Stephen Gerding July 8th, 2008Just so we can keep this all scientific like, for future generations to study and debate: a poll! My vote was for the $61-80 million option, even though I already have a sneaking feeling in my gut that it may end up in the $85 million range…
Comics, Movie/TV




July 8th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Really? Over 60% of you really think “Dark Knight” is going to buck the historical trends of the Batman movies and break $100M? Without a holiday weekend or a wide-open schedule? How? Why?
July 8th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Dude, this movie has buzz beyond buzz on it. Everyone I know is ordering opening night advance tickets, and some local theaters around here (Philly area) were sold out as early as 3 weeks in advance. This movie is going to make more money than any movie ever. AND I think it’ll still be in the theater at Halloween time, because it will keep performing those numbers.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
But even Indiana Jones and the Star Wars Skull, with nearly two decades of anticipation built up, positive reviews and a much more open playing field “only” pulled in $100M in it’s opening weekend.
Or are you just screwing around with my head, here?
July 9th, 2008 at 9:10 am
The Dark Knight is showing strong advance tickets sales that have surpassed both Iron Man and Indiana 4 at this point, and the marketing for The Dark Knight has been incredibly stronger than either of those two movies.
Plus, the Star Wars prequels did not achieve overall positive reviews, and they were marked with disappointment by many, and Indy 4’s reception is mixed, while The Dark Knight is riding on the very well received Batman Begins, which did not show strong muscle at the box office but sold a lot on DVD. And early word from professional critics regarding the Dark Knight are calling it nothing short of a “masterpiece”. Not just a good comic book film adaption, but a great movie period.
And it should be mentioned, almost 20 years of anticipation doesn’t guarantee everything. Iron Man could be considered new to the general public’s mind, but it is doing slightly better domestically at the box office than Indy 4. And Star Wars and Indy 4 catered to different generations, meaning the people who were highly anticipating those films may not actually be looking forward to the Batman movie, or vice versa. The Dark Knight could be simply be resonating with this generation at the right time.
And of course, Heath Ledger’s death could be having a profound impact on the public’s interest for the film.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
The Dark Knight is going to break a BILLION dollars, box office, by Halloween. I’ll bet you a dollar. Hell, I’m going to a 9am IMAX showing after work that Friday Morning…
July 9th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Well played, sir.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:08 am
And if I’m wrong about that billion, I’ll mail you a dollar.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Billion dollars global box office you’re saying, right?
July 10th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Sure.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I’m going out on a limb and saying 200M in the first 2 weeks. This will OWN the summer.
July 20th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Come on all of you who don’t think that this is going to be the biggest movie of the year are batshit crazy. This will come very close to toppling everything in the record books. And it always was going to; I dont think any film has seen this much hype as well as being reviewed excellently. And having seen it twice it is justified. I’m agreeing with T-Unit that it will own the summer but will gross at least 160 mil in its opening weekend. And it will have legs as well, repeat viewing anyone? I know I’ll be seeing it for a third time in a couple of days.