'Dark Knight' sets box office record with $66.4M - USATODAY.com

Heath Ledger's turn as The Joker already generated Oscar buzz as it pit the villain in an epic crime duel against Christian Bale's Batman. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Batman's joust with the Joker has set another box office record. Stoked by fan fever over the manic performance of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, The Dark Knight set a one-day box office record with $66.4 million on opening day, Warner Bros. head of distribution Dan Fellman said Saturday. The movie's Friday haul surpassed the previous record of $59.8 million set last year by Spider-Man 3. The Dark Knight might break the opening-weekend record of $151.1 million, also held by Spider-Man 3. REVIEW: Ledger's talent lives on as The Joker in 'Dark Knight' "I think they're in jeopardy," Fellman said of the Spider-Man 3 records. The Dark Knight began with a record $18.5... [read full story]