LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- "The Dark Knight" crossed the $400 million mark in domestic receipts, it was reported Tuesday, shattering the record for meeting that sales threshold by doing it in just 18 days.
Data from box-office tracker Media by Numbers show "The Dark Knight" made $6.29 million at the North American box office on Monday, putting it just a shade above $400 million in cumulative receipts.
The film from Time Warner Inc.'s (TWX:
Warner Bros. Pictures passed the mark in 18 days, blasting past the old mark of 43 days set by 2004's "Shrek 2."
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Warner Bros. Pictures passed the mark in 18 days, blasting past the old mark of 43 days set by 2004's "Shrek 2."
Only a handful of films - eight to be exact - have crossed the $400 million threshold. It would have to make roughly $61 million more in order to claim second place all-time on the list, currently held by 1977's "Star Wars."
There is talk in the industry that "Dark Knight" may threaten the all-time box-office record, currently held by "Titanic," the 1997 release from Viacom Inc.'s (VIA:
Paramount Pictures. That movie made $600 million domestically and more than $1.2 billion overseas. It is the only film ever to cross either the $500 million or $600 million mark.
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Paramount Pictures. That movie made $600 million domestically and more than $1.2 billion overseas. It is the only film ever to cross either the $500 million or $600 million mark.
But "Dark Knight" will have to display the same kind of staying power that kept "Titanic" at the top of the box-office heap for nearly four months. From this point on, the movie will have to earn the entire domestic take of its predecessor in the series -- 2005's "Batman Begins," which made $200 million -- if it is to set a new record.
At its current pace, though, "Dark Knight" has a shot. On Monday, the film made twice what "Titanic" made at the same stage in its release schedule, according to figures from Boxofficemojo.com. Still, "Titanic" kept drawing in audiences for repeated showings during its run.
Time Warner shares were up 3.3% at the close Tuesday. 
Russ Britt is the Los Angeles bureau chief for MarketWatch.
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who cares if this batman is "too dark for kids." obviously you don't even know anything about the comic book because it was quite dark. and unless you're talking about toddlers, kids are darker than you seem to think or are willing to adm...
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