Warner Bros. Pictures refuses to report the first weekend gross of the Batman film, insisting that the 'box office numbers will be released on Monday' to respect the victims.
- July 21, 2012
AceShowbiz -
The weekend box office report of "The Dark Knight Rises" won't be published, it has been confirmed. Following the headline-grabbing shooting tragedy during the midnight screening of the Batman film in Colorado, Warner Bros. Pictures has decided not to report the opening weekend gross of the movie.
Warners explains that the action is taken to respect the victims. In an official statement released Friday afternoon, July 20, the studio announces, "Out of respect for the victims and their families, Warner Bros. Pictures will not be reporting box office numbers for 'The Dark Knight Rises' throughout the weekend."
Furthermore, the studio confirms that the "box office numbers will be released on Monday" when the final figure comes out. Before announcing the decision, the Burbank studio reported that "TDKR" has collected $30.6 million from around $3,700 midnight locations. It also took in $2.3 million late night gross from IMAX cinemas.
In the wake of the tragedy, the maker of "The Dark Knight Rises" Christopher Nolan has issued a statement, condemning the brutal massacre. Branding the incident "unbearably savage," the English director said, "Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families."
