"Dark Knight" Rules Box Office: Paving Way for Another Batman Movie?

The Dark Knight ruled the North American box office for a fourth weekend today to become the third-biggest movie of all time.

I’m not surprised. It’s a great movie. Coupled with the huge Batman fan base and personal drama of all involved, including Heath Ledger, Christian Bale and now Morgan Freeman, it just makes for an all-around must-see.

The Batman sequel earned an estimated $26 million during the three days beginning on Friday, bringing its total to a whopping $441.5 million after 24 days.

It now ranks at No. 3 on the all-time list, behind Titanic with $601 million and Star Wars with $461 million.

Is there another Batman movie in the works? Director Chris Nolan has said he’s not interested, but Watchmen director Zach Snyder says he’d like to see Frank Miller’s classic graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns adapted for the big screen (check out his comments on io9.com here). If not Nolan, I’m sure someone will snap up the opportunity.

Image: The Dark Knight, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2008; Source: Hollywood Reporter