early reviews from noted critics have raved this movie beyond norm for a SH movie. It definitely deserves to win.

With the amazing buzz about the movie even from folks who normally dont see SH movies, it has a great shot at doing something amazing at BO. The sellouts are just confirming the hype/buzz.

That's what happens when you have a dead actor who WHO DELIEVERS A PERFORMANCE FOR THE AGES just happens to be in the movie as his last role.. That's bound to get everyone crawling out of the woodwork to see it and rave about it.. It's critic proof..

BKB,
I am curious. R u still sticking with 85M OW and disastorous BO for TDK.

http://cinemablend.com/new/Dark-Knight-Already-Sold-Out-9378.html

"Even though the movie’s release is more than 16 days away, the folks over at MovieTickets.com tell us that already at least 100 showings of the movie are completely sold out."

This does not include Fandango, which if I am not mistaken is a more popular online ticketing site with a larger amount of theaters to choose from.

Honestly guys I dont like to be ridiculous and overhype films and im not exactly a big Batman fan (but loved Begins) but TDK has so much going for it - that Pirates : DMC OW is a realistic target.

It is the last monster smash of the summer
It will have mega weekdays for atleast 4 weeks
It's competition after it opens is solid but not huge
Its coming off the much loved WOM hit Batman Begins
The marketing has been fantastic

and most importantly;

It stars a young actor who not only made headlines thanks to his untimely death but just happens to have given a performance of a lifetime. The number of people who want to see Ledger in his last complete film role (and a big showy one at that) will surprise even seasoned BO veterens. This is what could push this film's OW performance into record breaking territory.

Honestly, the only thing that stopping me from going super-crazy high for TDK is the fact that BB made "only" 205m.

It just seems insane to think that a sequel will gross 300m+ so easily when its predcessor only made 205m. And it is insane I think but....this hype is just so big.

But the "sane" person in me is only predicting 120m/340m.

The Joker is

There are no sane and insane predicts, the films is 150% guaranteed to top 400m with such relative ease that magnus will wonder why ever ever doubted such an inevitability.

400m+

BJs Prediction:

148m | 510m

100% guaranteed head exploding 55m+ opening day
100% guaranteed ball crushing 136m+ opening wknd
100% guaranteed eye popping 4 wks straight over 20m
100% guaranteed GUARANTEED! top grosser of 2008
150% guaranteed jaw dropping 400m+

It would be great if TDK breaks DMC's record but I would be happy with 3rd highest OW.

Hype here in US is insane, but is there any buzz at all in other places?

Honestly, the only thing that stopping me from going super-crazy high for TDK is the fact that BB made "only" 205m.

It just seems insane to think that a sequel will gross 300m+ so easily when its predcessor only made 205m. And it is insane I think but....this hype is just so big. Reviews so far are the best I've seen for a live-action film since LOTR. It's not really about the rating they are giving it but they way they are describing it. A reviewer may have given Iron Man an 'A' and TDK an 'A', but the difference is that most reviewers were praising Iron Man as a fun, blockbuster while reviewers have been praising TDK as a masterpiece. Two very different things.

Honestly, unless you either hated Batman Begins, I don't see why you would NOT want to see this. Even people who thought BB was 'meh' are going to end up seeing this. They may not be going crazy over it like us fanboys, but they are still going to end up paying to see it in theaters.

I love how everything is 100%, but 400m+ is 150%

Honestly, the only thing that stopping me from going super-crazy high for TDK is the fact that BB made "only" 205m.

It just seems insane to think that a sequel will gross 300m+ so easily when its predcessor only made 205m. And it is insane I think but....this hype is just so big. Reviews so far are the best I've seen for a live-action film since LOTR. It's not really about the rating they are giving it but they way they are describing it. A reviewer may have given Iron Man an 'A' and TDK an 'A', but the difference is that most reviewers were praising Iron Man as a fun, blockbuster while reviewers have been praising TDK as a masterpiece. Two very different things.

Honestly, unless you either hated Batman Begins, I don't see why you would NOT want to see this. Even people who thought BB was 'meh' are going to end up seeing this. They may not be going crazy over it like us fanboys, but they are still going to end up paying to see it in theaters.