Blockbuster Reality Check: 'Dark Knight' Only $1 Billion Off Record Pace
Posted by STV at 3:45 AM on August 19, 2008
Big ups to The Dark Knight, which surpassed the first Star Wars film over the weekend to become the second-highest-grossing film ever. Sort of, anyway: That number-two figure on which the industry has had its eye for the last month since TDK's release — $471 million, still a cruise ship shy of Titanic's $600 million — remains quite the impressive number domestically, but isn't really threatening anyone globally. It's a bit of an open, underreported secret, but after the jump, behold the only number that really matters: your 19th-highest-grossing film of all time — only $64 million behind Finding Nemo!
1. Titanic — $1,842.9*
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King — $1,119.3
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest — $1,066.2
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone — $976.5
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End — $961.0
6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix — $938.5
7. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers — $926.3
8. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace — $924.3
9. Shrek 2 — $919.8
10. Jurassic Park — $914.7
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire —$896.0
12. Spider-Man 3 — $890.9
13. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets — $879.0
14. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring — $871.4
15. Finding Nemo — $864.6
16. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith — $849.0
17. Spider-Man — $821.7
18. Independence Day — $817.4
19. The Dark Knight — $800.1
(*Grosses in millions)
And this is after what's characterized as another strong frame for TDK at the international box office. But just in case the guy on the other side of the cubicle wall is trying to sway you with wagers with over-unders less than $1 billion from the No. 1 spot — it's a trick! Fire back with something involving a Roland Emmerich film in the Top 20; we wouldn't have believed it either, fancy house or not.
- Time Warner's `Dark Knight' Nears No. 2 All-Time Film [Bloomberg]
- All Time Worldwide Box Office Grosses [Box Office Mojo]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
TheQuestion
Posted 4:24 AM 19/8/08
Wait a sec, Judge. You got the guys right, for the most part, but Jessica Alba as Catwoman? Hasn't that overrated no talent nitwit ruined enough movies? Tila Tequila as Batgirl? Other than the fact that she's the right height, why? (Not to mention the fact that the current Batgirl's kind of a quiet character, and Tila couldn't keep her mouth shut that long) And Dame Judi Dench as Poison Ivy? NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
TheQuestion
Good Crazy...
Posted 4:19 AM 19/8/08
"presumling", ahhh Mondays...
Good Crazy...
Good Crazy...
Posted 4:16 AM 19/8/08
'presumling', ahh Mondays....
Good Crazy...
Good Crazy...
Posted 4:15 AM 19/8/08
@JudgeFudge: Dude, I'm presumling you kid about those choices, Jessica Alba must NOT be let anywhere near this franchise.
Good Crazy...
JudgeFudge
Posted 4:10 AM 19/8/08
Guys, come on. This is the biggest movie of all time. I don't care about "numbers" or what the "statistics" mean. We're talking movies here, not algebra, and this is clearly the biggest movie that anybody's ever seen. End of story.
Oh, yeah, and another thing while I'm at it; Jason Statham as Mr. Freeze, Steve Carrell as the Riddler, Jessica Alba as Catwoman, Michael Cera as Robin, Tila Tequila as Batgirl, Jerry Ferrera as The Penguin, Dame Judy Dench as Poisin Ivy, and Bonnie Hunt as King Tut. Thanks.
JudgeFudge
torpor
Posted 6:11 AM 19/8/08
The moral, @JudgeFudge:, is not to joke about a franchise that people take very, very seriously.
And everybody knows that Jessica Alba has to be the Riddler.
torpor
sanram64
Posted 7:07 AM 19/8/08
The Dark Knight was awesome. Yes you guys are right they need to keep certain actors away from this franchise or it will be ruined.
sanram64
Shumina
Posted 7:56 AM 19/8/08
I can't remember the last time I was so impressed with a movie as an experience. It may not top Titanic in dollars (though I hope), but it's topped many a great movie on my list of bests.
Oh and Helen Mirren as Catwoman, thanks.
Shumina