Dark Knight to storm the box office
Ledger's last film expected to be a classic
Heath Ledger's last film "The Dark Knight" is shaping up to be the biggest film in box office history as fans eagerly await its Friday night opening.
"The Dark Knight," had around 3,000 late-night showings, including almost 100 showings at 3 and 6 a.m. Friday, according to Fandango.com spokesman Harry Medved.
Medved said he couldn't remember the last time there were more than two or three such showings in the middle of the night -- usually in New York or Los Angeles.
"Isn't that when people are just thinking about waking up and going to Starbucks?" Medved said Thursday. "I predict coffee sales will increase tomorrow."
Theaters reported sellouts all over the country, and excited fans were energized by the opening. Enthusiasts showed up in groups, some dressed head to toe in their Batman gear to celebrate the movie's release.
One group attending a showing at the 428-seat Henry Ford IMAX Theatre outside Detroit, Michigan, drove to the venue in their version of the Batmobile and outfits representing nearly every major Batman character. The midnight show -- with a costume party preceding it -- sold out in less than a week, according to the Detroit Free Press.
With a running time of two and a half hours, Medved is declaring "The Dark Knight's" opening day "Dark Friday," predicting attendance at work could be dramatically down.
During a survey given to people who buy tickets through Fandango.com, 38 percent of those who are working said they would be taking either some time or the day off to see the movie.
According to MovieTickets.com, "Dark Knight" sold out more than 150 performances in Los Angeles and New York alone.
The midnight show times were not just for major movie centers, either. Medved said cities such as Fresno, California; Orlando, Florida; and towns in Minnesota were scheduled to host early-morning showings.
"The Dark Knight" already has risen to second place on Fandango.com's all-time list of advance tickets sales, second only to "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." "The Dark Knight" tickets represent 94 percent of Fandango's sales, Medved said.
Interest is high at IMAX theaters, too, especially because six film sequences were shot with IMAX cameras.
And it's not just the movie business that's looking to cash in on the blockbuster. Corporate America hopes to capitalize on the hype, too, with Dominos offering a "Gotham City" pizza, and Comcast showing behind-the-scenes movie footage and interviews with the cast and filmmakers via their On Demand service.
The film also is earning Oscar buzz, thanks to the late Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker.
Moviegoers purchasing tickets on Fandango.com echoed those sentiments, with 53 percent saying his performance was their main motivation for seeing the film.
Ledger's performance has been hailed as "indelible" (Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Turan), "powerful" (The Washington Post's Stephen Hunter, in an overall mixed review) and "mesmerizing" (CNN.com's Tom Charity); clips of his character have dominated the movie's marketing campaign.
His absence was conspicuous Monday at the New York premiere, his co-stars noted.
"He should be here, shouldn't he? Because this is his big moment -- because he is the most amazing thing in the picture," said Michael Caine, who plays Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred. "And it's not because he's dead or something and everyone's concentrating on him. He would have been the most amazing thing in the picture anyway."
Caine also praised the late actor's commitment to immersing himself in a character, something he says is evident from Ledger's opening monologue.
"It's one of the finest close-ups I've ever seen," Caine said.
Aaron Eckhart, who plays Dent, said it was tragic that Ledger wasn't around to celebrate his achievement.
"It's hard to talk about; this is his. He created the Joker," Eckhart said. "He did it in his own way, and it's sad, but on the other hand, I am proud to be able to honor him tonight."
