Weekend Box Office: Holy Batman, Batman!

Not to be a snake in everyone's boot, but the all-time opening weekend record is not in the bag for The Dark Knight just yet. The $155.3 million weekend estimate is just that -- a studio estimate -- and when the final numbers come out later this afternoon, Spider-Man 3's $151.1 million may still be on top of the heap. So everyone should chill for a few more hours.

Still -- $150 million! In one weekend! For a movie that's dark and scary and complicated and dead serious! That's pretty amazing, though my hopes for this wonderful film's box office staying power were dampened somewhat when I saw it a second time yesterday and heard the banter of the couple next to me, which consisted of statements like "Do you know what's going on? I don't know what's going on," and "I don't even understand who the bad guy is." (?!??) I guess you can't please everyone.

Anyway. $150 million +. First person to call it a disappointment because it's not the world's first $200 million opening weekend gets a kick in the crotch.

The weekend's counterprogramming saw mixed results. Mamma Mia!'s $27.6 million is an undeniable victory, though I think the market was begging for something not action- or family-oriented. I'm not sure what to say about Space Chimps' $7.4 million, seventh-place bow. I don't think anyone could have expected much more from a movie called Space Chimps.

The Dark Knight did a number on the superhero-themed holdovers, kicking Hellboy II down to the tune of 71%, and Hancock a somewhat gentler 57%. Hancock should see $200 million by the end of the week; Hellboy II probably won't get to $70 million domestic, though it should beat its predecessor's $60 million take.

The full top 10 estimates after the jump.

1 - The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.) - $155.34 ($35,579) - $155.34
2 - Mamma Mia! (Universal) - $27.61 ($9,275) - $27.61
3 - Hancock (Columbia) - $14.00 ($3,707) - $191.50
4 - Journey to the Center of the Earth (New Line) - $11.91 ($4,208) - $43.07
5 - Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Universal) - $10.04 ($3,125) - $56.45
6 - Wall-E (Disney) - $9.81 ($2,964) - $182.48
7 - Space Chimps (Fox) - $7.35 ($2,927) - $7.35
8 - Wanted (Universal) - $5.10 ($2,094) - $123.35
9 - Get Smart (Warner Bros.) - $4.09 ($1,913) - $119.57
10 - Kung Fu Panda (Dreamworks Animation) - $1.75 ($1,162) - $206.51

Nice work, Box Office Mojo!

Next week's the one I've been holding my breath for: The X-Files: I Want to Believe. This old-time X-Files fan has his fingers crossed. It's up against Step Brothers, another Will-Ferrell-acts-like-an-infant monstrosity.