The latest installment in the Christopher Nolan Batman saga, The Dark Knight, pulled in a record-breaking $18.5 million in midnight showings, according to Variety.  That’s $1.6 million more than Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith and $3.4 million more than its predecessor, Batman Begins, made its entire first day in theaters. Dark Knight also edged out Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End by being shown in 4,366 theaters, four more than the last film in the Pirates saga. 

The $18.5 million midnight tally does not include 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. showings. 

The movie seems a decent bet to challenge the domestic opening day record of $59.8 million and opening weekend record of $151.1 million, both set by Spider-Man 3 (see “Spidey 3 Obliterates Records, Competition”) and to displace Iron Man (see “Iron Man Proves His Mettle”) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the current champs of the 2008 box office (see “Indy Grabs B.O. Treasure”). To date, each movie has grossed over $300 million at the domestic box office.