HEATH Ledger`s highly-anticipated final completed film, The Dark Knight, is expected to break box office records after opening across Australia yesterday.
The film, starring Ledger as Batman`s chilling arch-enemy, The Joker, will be shown on 472 screens around the country - 20 more than the recent hit Sex and the City.
Momentum is growing for Ledger, who died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in New York in January aged 28, to be nominated for a rare posthumous Academy Award for his creepy rendition of the role.
Excited fans today rushed to get tickets, with Hoyts at Sydney`s Entertainment Quarter selling 863 tickets.
"For a Wednesday, that`s very busy compared to what we`re used to," manager Rohan Brooker said.
"To already have that many pre-booked is exceptional."
Greater Union spokeswoman Melissa Kesby said while there were no exact national figures, all signs pointed to The Dark Knight being "huge".
"All indications at the moment are that it will be a blockbuster," Ms Kesby said.
"And that it is up there with Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and Indiana Jones."
Figures from the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia show Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as the highest grossing film to date in the country, bringing in $28.6 million so far this year. It`s followed by Sex and the City.
With The Dark Knight showing in Australia days ahead of its US release, distributor Village Roadshow has urged cinema operators to get their staff to wear night goggles to catch people out using cameras in screenings.
Mr Brooker said his cinema was one that was complying with the request.
Village yesterday said it did not want to comment on the security issue.
The Dark Knight had its world premiere in New York on Tuesday, attended by Ledger`s family - his father Kim, sister Kate and mother Sally Bell.
"The Dark Knight is everything we hoped it would be and more," Kim Ledger said after the premiere.
"Heath loved the experience of creating this character and working on the film. We are so proud of our boy."
The end credits of The Dark Knight include a farewell note to the late actor, along with special effects technician Conway Wickliffe, who was killed last September in a stunt-car accident.
"In memory of our friends Heath Ledger & Conway Wickliffe," reads the tribute included in the credits.
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