That's a real issue, but we'll have to wait and see.

And no, does not stand a chance. Titanic was a once in a lifetime (or generation) event.

Look at the numbers (because I'm too lazy to) and you will see a movie that grossed more per week as it went along, not less.

TDK is following a VERY standard summer blockbuster pattern. They simply had more theaters, and more audience. But same pattern. Compare TDK %s to Dead Man's Chest, ROTS, etc, and you will see it is running fairly parallel.

That's why I think we are looking at a $510-$530 range. Sure, only one mega weekend away from Titanic, but it might as well be a lifetime.

Now marketing has a VERY outside chance of helping. They should push hard during Holloween and Oscar seasons.

But you and I both know they want this puppy on DVD by 12/1

PS - And not a snowballs chance in hell of beating Titanic in global gross.

Dark Knight just passed Spider-Man's adjusted gross. Look:

http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm

* * *

Heath Ledger Owns Your Ass and Occasionally Succeeds at Making You Forget About Bale's Idiotic Batman Voice will more than likely take advantage of the Labor Day weekend and pass the 500 million mark by Sunday or Monday.

U.S. box office watching will be pretty dull until around mid-November.