The eagerly-awaited new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, has broken the record for a midnight debut, earning 18.5 million dollars for its screening Friday, according to figures released by tracking firm Media By Numbers, dpa reported.
The film stars Heath Ledger in a widely acclaimed performance as Batman's arch enemy, the Joker. Ledger died from an accidental drug overdose in January. Christian Bale plays the Caped Crusader and the movie is directed by Chistopher Nolan.
Interest in the dark sequel to Nolan's Batman Begins has been so great that experts are predicting a record-breaking weekend for the US box office as fans also rush to see the Abba-based musical Mamma Mia, starring Meryl Streep.
The Dark Knight is showing on a record 4,366 screens.
Currently the record take for a non-holiday weekend is 218.4 million dollars earned on July 7-9, 2006, when Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest earned more than 130 million dollars.
The previous record for a midnight debut was 16.9 million dollars, earned by Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.