Small in Japan: It was bound to happen eventually: We’ve finally found the one country in the world where The Dark Knight is underperforming. Japanese moviegoers have reportedly bowed out of the global phenomenon, with TDK hovering around the equivalent of $8.7 million in its second week of release. In comparison, observers point to the film’s $14 million take during the same frame in Korea, as well as Batman Begins‘ own $14 million Japanese opening three years ago. Why the plunge? Competition from Hayao Miyazaki’s blockbuster Ponyo on the Cliff — currently sitting at $93 million after only a month in theatres — hasn’t helped. Nor has its unrelenting heaviness, says one critic: “Japanese movie fans expect such films to be fun and action-packed, for the hero to be attractive, for the villain to be loud and outrageous, and for the movie itself to be easy to understand and light.” At least that should brighten post-Hulk spirits at Marvel: Iron Man opens in Japan on Sept. 20. [Film Junk via /film]