July 26th, 2008 
admin So much for Christian Bale’s family feud getting in the way. The survey says: The Dark Knight will likely break even more box-office records its second weekend in North America.
And that’s despite the infamous squabble over money with his mother Jenny, 61, and sister Sharon, 41, at a London hotel Sunday that eventually led to his arrest and became front page news around the world. Released on bail for suspicion of two minor common verbal assaults, the former child actor has been allowed to travel and will return to his home in the U. S. before his September court appearance in London.
Back at the dream factory, The Dark Knight has already set a record for highest first-weekend total with a grab of more than $158.4 million, flashing by the former champion: Spider-Man 3, which was released last year.
Bale’s dark night notwithstanding, the Caped Crusader will probably also swing by the second week top spot holder: the $72.2 million set by Shrek 2 in 2004.
Bale hasn’t addressed the accusations or explained the incident that occurred Sunday other than calling it “a deeply personal matter”. Most reports suggest there has been turmoil between the three of them since Bale’s father, Dave (who died in 2003) divorced Bale’s mother over two decades ago. That was around the time Bale made his movie breakthrough at 13, starring in Steven Spielberg’s Empire Of The Sun. His father accompanied him to L. A. for the filming.
Whether The Dark Knight will suffer in box-office from his faulty family reunion is up in the air. But most experts think there will be little impact now that the assault seems far less serious than originally speculated.
In North America, The Dark Knight’s only challenger this weekend is The X-Files: I Want To Believe. The second film based on the award-winning series is expected to rake in about $45 million, not even close to Batman’s second go-round, which should put it in some high-profile blockbuster box office territory.
Besides Shrek 2 at $72.2. million, there is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest at $62.3 million. Next is Spider-Man 3 at $58.2 and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at $57.5 million.
[Christian Bale (L), Maggie Gyllenhaal (C) and Aaron Eckhart pose during a photocall for "The Dark Knight" film in Barcelona July 23, 2008. Credit: Gustau Nacarino/Reuters]
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