‘The Dark Knight’ enters ‘Titanic’ territory
By John Horn, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer July 29, 2008
It’s as hallowed a statistic to Hollywood as Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak is to baseball: “Titanic’s” record box-office gross of $600.8 million. All of a sudden, that mark might be within ” The Dark Knight’s” reach.
Distribution executives have started debating in earnest the potential total “Dark Knight” haul, which already has passed $300 million and is projected to eclipse the $400-million mark on Aug. 4 or 5. Although half a dozen industry insiders surveyed Monday said “Titanic’s” record appeared safe for now, the majority of distribution executives placed the film’s probable final gross just past $500 million, thanks in part to repeat business from across the audience spectrum.
That would make “The Dark Knight” the second-highest grossing film of all-time, ahead of 1977’s “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” (whose combined theatrical releases total $461 million) and 2004’s “Shrek 2” ($436.7 million).
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