New Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises has topped the US weekend box office charts, opening with receipts of just over $160 million (£103 million).
The film’s opening takings confirm its position as the most successful 2D opening in since records began, exceeding the $158 million (£101.8 million) opening gross for The Dark Knight.
The Dark Knight Rises also grossed $88 million (£56.7 million) in 17 territories worldwide, earning global takings of $249 million (£160.4 million). Figures for individual countries including Australia and the United Kingdom are expected tomorrow (July 24).
The figures for The Dark Knight Rises were held back until today out of respect for the victims of Friday’s shooting at a Dark Knight Rises screening in Aurora, Colorado. The suspected gunman James Holmes appeared in court for the first time this afternoon.
Elsewhere, the top ten sees little change bar the re-entry of To Rome With Love in tenth place.
The US box office top ten in full (studio estimates):
1. (-) The Dark Knight Rises – $160,887,295
2. (1) Ice Age: Continental Drift – $20,416,978
3. (2) The Amazing Spider-Man – $10,887,111
4. (3) Ted – $10,011,610
5. (4) Brave – $6,024,987
6. (5) Magic Mike – $4,291,432
7. (6) Savages – $3,398,880
8. (7) Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection – $2,253,074
9. (9) Moonrise Kingdom – $1,831,471
10. (11) To Rome With Love – $1,420,891
