Box Office Report: 'Dark Knight Rises' Eyeing North of $25 Million in Midnight Runs

Warner Bros.' The Dark Knight Rises is rolling out in style around the globe.

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Box Office Preview: 'Dark Knight Rises' Earns Massive $25 Mil in Advance Sales

Studio insiders say the final installment in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is expected to gross north of $25 million in Thursday midnight runs -- one of the best showings of all time and easily besting the $18.7 million earned by The Avengers earlier this summer, even though Dark Knight Rises doesn't have the advantage of being released in 3D (The Dark Knight grossed just north of $18 million in midnight shows).

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Dark Knight Rises, from Warners and Legendary Pictures, opened in more than 3,700 theaters at 12:01 a.m. Friday. By Friday morning, it will be playing in more than 4,400 theaters, the widest release ever for a Warner Bros. picture and on par with The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the widest release of all time.

Overseas, Dark Knight Rises grossed a stellar $10.4 million in its first day of play in nine territories, including an $3.7 million in Australia. The movie is pacing 83 percent higher or more than The Dark Knight in many of the markets.

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Dark Knight Rises -- returning Christian Bale in the role of caped crusader -- grossed $3.1 million on its first day of play in Korea, 131 percent ahead of the opening day gross of Dark Knight.

Domestically, Dark Knight Rises has raked in $30 million in advance sales, an unprecedented number. The big question: Can it beat the $207 million three-day debut of Avengers earlier this summer and become the top opening film of all time? (Avengers' opening number included $35 million in 3D upcharges.)

Online ticket service Fandango reported on Thursday that it has sold out more than 2,000 shows, including all Imax midnight runs.