The Dark Knight Rises has posted the fourth biggest opening weekend in local box office history.
The latest film in the Batman franchise grossed $15.1 million at Australian cinemas, trailing the final two Harry Potter films and The Twilight Saga: New Moon on the all-time list (see table below). The previous biggest opening weekend this year was The Avengers ($13.28 million).
The Dark Knight Rises, the third Batman film directed by Christopher Nolan, was shown on 628 screens, delivering an impressive screen average of $24,048.
The release of the box office data was delayed at the request of the film's distributor Warner Bros. A massacre at a Colorado screening of The Dark Knight Rises killed 12 people and wounded 58 over the weekend.
The film has already grossed more than $US160 million in the US since its release on July 20, and more than $US88 million in foreign territories, according to Box Office Mojo.
Among other local mainstream releases, Ted held second spot ($2.83 million), followed by Ice Age 4: Continental Drift ($1.16 million), The Amazing Spider-Man ($930,772) and Brave ($590,011).
Among Australian releases, documentary I Am Eleven grossed $20,128 across 7 screens, bringing its tally to $85,072. Ryan Kwanten-comedy Not Suitable For Children grossed another $85,779 in its second weekend across 42 screens while Rolf de Heer's The King is Dead! took $14,127 across five screens in its second weekend.
Contact this reporter at bswift@www.if.com.au or on Twitter at @bcswift.