‘Dark Knight’ earns over $60 million

The domestic box office went into overdrive on Friday as Warner Bros.’ Batman sequel “The Dark Night” stood ready to deliver the best opening day gross ever, taking in an estimated $60 million to $63 million in ticket sales from a record 4,366 theaters.

Universal’s film adaptation of musical “Mamma Mia” was no wallflower, either. The Meryl Streep-Amanda Seyfried starrer — the ideal counter-programming — looked headed to gross an estimated $9 million to $10 million from 2,976 theaters on Friday.

“Dark Knight,” toplining Christian Bale and directed by Christopher Nolan, could nab the highest opening ever for a non-holiday weekend if business stays as strong as expected on Saturday and Sunday. Previous record-holdover for both opening day and best opening for a non-holiday weekend is “Spider-Man 3.”

“Spider-Man 3″ made $59.8 million on its opening Friday, and $151.1 million for the weekend.

The critically acclaimed “Dark Knight” is Nolan’s follow-up to “Batman Begins,” which grossed $15 million on its opening day in June 2006, and $48.7 million for the weekend.

“Dark Knight’s” transformation into the event film of the summer confirms that Warners and Nolan have successfully relaunched a franchise that has seen several stops-and-starts. “Dark Knight’s” appeal is due at least in part to the late Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker. Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine also star.

In terms of its weekend opening, “Mamma Mia” should open in the neighborhood of “Hairpsray,” which debuted to $27 million on the same weekend a year ago. One mitigating factor could be the oxygen being taken up by “Dark Night.”

If Friday’s surge in theater traffic continues through the weekend, the frame could bring the best box office gross overall for a non-holiday weekend.

“Dark Knight’s” Friday haul includes an estimated $18.5 million in midnight shows, beating the previous midnight record set by Fox’s “Star Wars, Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith” which grossed $16.9 million from 3,663 venues.

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK