Box Office Report: 'Dark Knight' Headed for Huge $80 to $90 Mil Friday

1:03 PM PDT 7/20/2012 by Pamela McClintock

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Dark Knight Rises Batman Bane Fighting - H 2012

Warner Bros. Pictures

So far the Colorado shooting at a midnight showing of the Warner Bros. film doesn't seem to be dampening moviegoing.

Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises is doing massive business despite the tragic shooting in Colorado that left at least 12 dead during a midnight screening of the film.

'Dark Knight Rises' Opens to Record $30.6 Mil in Midnight Grosses Amid Shooting

President Obama Speaks Out on Colorado 'Dark Knight Rises' Shooting (Video)

According to early returns, the superhero tentpole is poised to gross between $80 million to $90 million on Friday for a weekend opening in the $175 million to $180 million range -- the second-best three-day debut of all time after The Avengers ($207 million).

STORY: 'Dark Knight Rises' Opens to Record $30.6 Mil in Midnight Grosses Amid Shooting

Avengers had the advantage of being released in 3D, with $35 million of its gross coming from the upcharge.

The Dark Knight Rises' projected Friday number included $30.6 million in midnight earnings, a record for a superhero film at midnight and the best midnight gross for a film in 2D..

Moviegoers across the country are encountering ramped up security measures, such as bag checks. The projections could change if attendance begins to drop off dramatically.