'Dark Knight' Shooting: In Gesture of Sympathy, Studios May Not Report Box Office Grosses This Weekend

In an unprecedented move, no box office numbers could be reported for any film this weekend as Hollywood studios and independent distributors navigate the aftermath of the Colorado theater massacre that left a dozen moviegoers dead and dozens injured.

our editor recommends

Saddened But Undaunted, Moviegoers Line Up for 'The Dark Knight Rises'

'Dark Knight Rises' Director Christopher Nolan: Colorado Shooting 'Devastating'

'Dark Knight' Shooting: Warner Bros. Won't Report Grosses Out of Respect for Victims

Warner Bros. said late Friday afternoon that it wouldn't report weekend grosses for The Dark Knight Rises out of respect for the victims of the shooting, which occurred during a midnight screening of the film in the Denver suburb of Aurora.

PHOTOS: Batman's Onscreen Villains: 10 Greats From the Joker to Bane

Throughout the evening, other studios and independent distributors began indicating they would refrain from reporting grosses as well over the weekend. Ditto for Rentrak, the service that collects box office data from theater owners across the country.

That doesn't mean studios won't know how their films are doing, including Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures -- who partnered on Dark Knight Rises -- since the data will still be available via Rentrak.

Box office observers reported late Friday evening that traffic for Dark Knight Rises may have slipped as the evening wore on. But the movie could still score the second-best opening of all time with a three-day gross in the $170 million to $180 million range.