Heath Ledger

The Dark Knight Tops $500 Million at Box Office

Rachel Paula Abrahamson — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:09:36 -0400

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The Batman sequel is the second movie to ever hit the half-billion mark

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After forty-five days in release, The Dark Knight continues to make movie history!

The Dark Knight– which was the fastest flick to earn $400 million – has become the second movie in history to gross over $500 million at the box office the
Associated Press reported on Sunday.

The Batman sequel has raked in over $502.4 million in just over six weeks - half the time it took Titanic, which reached the half-billion mark in a little more than three months the AP reported.

See photos from the Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight ranks second behind Titanic's $601 million gross.

Dan Fellman, head of distribution at Warner Bros., said he expects The Dark Knight to finish at about $530 million, though it could reach $550 million.

"I keep raising the number because it just keeps holding better than expected," Fellman told the AP.

"It's wonderful!" Christian Bale told Usmagazine.com of the movie's box office success. "But I'm not a business man. I just enjoy doing what I do and whatever happens after that is gravy."

The Dark Knight is expected to reach about $505 million by Labor Day, the AP reported.

Tropic Thunder remained the No. 1 movie at the box office for the third straight weekend, raking in $11.5 million. Vin Diesel's sci-fi thriller Babylon A.D. debuted at No. 2 with $9.7 million. The Dark Knight at No. 3, took in $8.8 million, while Disaster Movie premiered at No. 7 with $6.2 million.

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Dark Knight Tops Box Office, Ranks as Third-Biggest Film Ever

Henry Seltzer — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:37:36 -0400

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The Batman sequel earned an additional $26 million this weekend

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The Dark Knight is continuing to make movie history.

After earning $26 million in the top spot for the fourth weekend in a row, the Batman sequel is now the third-biggest film of all time.

The Dark Knight – which was the fastest flick to earn $400 million – has grossed a total of $441.5 million over 24 days.

Titanic, with $601 million, and Star Wars, with $461 million, rank first and second on the all-time list. (Adjusted for inflation, The Dark Knight ranks No. 49, with Gone With the Wind topping the chart.)

See photos from The Dark Knight.

Warner Brothers expects the Health Ledger-Christian Bale film to earn around $520 million.

Pineapple Express was the No. 2 movie at the box office this weekend, raking in $22.4 million over three days and $40.5 million since its release on Wednesday.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor ranked No. 3 with a weekend gross of $16 million.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 came in at No. 4 with $10.8 million for the weekend and $19.7 million since Wednesday.

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Mary-Kate Olsen Off the Hook in Heath Ledger Investigation

Alissa R — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:07:35 -0400

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Feds officially drop a drug inquiry into the late actor's death

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Mary-Kate Olsen is off the hook.

Federal prosecutors have decided not to pursue a criminal case into how Heath Ledger obtained the slew of painkillers that caused his death in January.

See a photo retrospective of Heath Ledger's life.

Prosecutors in the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan had been overseeing a Drug Enforcement Administration probe into whether the drugs were obtained illegally.

But the prosecutors nixed the investigation "because they don't believe there's a viable target" because no charges have been filed, an official told the Associated Press Wednesday.

Olsen, 22, was at the center of controversy after Ledger's masseuse had called the actress three times — before phoning 911 — when she discovered Ledger's body.

On Monday, Olsen's attorney issued a statement, stating the actress had "nothing to do" with how Ledger obtained the drugs.

Olsen had also demanded immunity before answering questions about Ledger's death.

See photos of Mary-Kate Olsen's craziest outfits of all time.

The DEA had obtained a subpoena in April that could have forced Olsen to talk, but it is no longer valid because it was contingent upon prosecutors pursuing the case, the AP reports.

The official told the AP that the case could still be revived if evidence of a crime emerges.

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The Dark Knight Sets Another Record — $400 Million in 18 Days

Mandi Illuzzi — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:57:28 -0400

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It beat the previous record-holder, Shrek 2, which took 43 days to earn the same amount

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The Dark Knight had made the record books again.

The latest Batman installment has earned more than $400 million in just 18 days, according to distributor Warner Bros. (On Monday, the thriller — starring the late Heath Ledger as the Joker — had raked it $400.3 million.)

See photos from The Dark Knight.

It took the previous record-holder, Shrek 2, 43 days to cross the $400 million mark.

The movie is currently No. 8 on the all-time box-office charts and is expected to move to No. 7 today.

"It's wonderful!" Christian Bale recently told Usmagazine.com of the movie's box office success. "But I'm not a business man. I just enjoy doing what I do and whatever happens after that is gravy.

"I hope people are as excited about the movie as I am," he added. "The good thing is I don't feel like a con man. The movie really does live up to the hype."

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Lawyer: Mary-Kate Olsen Doesn't Know Source of Heath Ledger's Drugs

Mandi Illuzzi — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:39:56 -0400

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She "had nothing whatsoever to do with the drugs... and she does not know where he obtained them," her attorney tells Us

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Mary-Kate Olsen "had nothing whatsoever to do with the drugs found in Heath Ledger's home or his body, and she does not know where he obtained them," her attorney, Michael C. Miller, tells Usmagazine.com.

The New York Post reported Monday that Olsen, 22, is refusing to talk to federal investigators about Ledger's death until she is granted immunity from prosecution.

Olsen's attorney tells Us: "Regarding the Government's investigation, at Ms. Olsen's request, we have provided the Government with relevant information including facts in the chronology of events surrounding Mr. Ledger's death and the fact that Ms. Olsen does not know the source of the drugs Mr. Ledger consumed."

Miller adds: "We don't know the source of the information being quoted in the media regarding the Government's inquiry, but these descriptions are incomplete and inaccurate."

The masseuse who found Ledger's body in January first called Olsen, 22, before contacting police. The Dark Knight star, 28, had died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs and OxyContin.

See a photo retrospective of Heath Ledger's life.

Olsen could face a grand-jury subpoena to testify, according to the Post.

Investigators have already spoken to Ledger's ex Michelle Williams, the masseuse, bodyguards, housekeepers and associates, the newspaper reports.

"Everyone has been very eager to help, saying what a great guy Heath Ledger was, everyone except Mary-Kate, who has refused to speak," a source told the Post.

Unlike inquiry into Ledger's death by the New York Police Department, which was completed with Olsen's cooperation, federal investigators are seeking information from the actress about where he got his drugs and medicines.

See photos Mary-Kate Olsen's craziest outfits.

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Dark Knight Earns a Record $300 Million in 10 Days

Alissa R — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:01:37 -0400

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The latest Batman installment is poised to become the highest-grossing film in U.S. history

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The Dark Knight is continuing to break box office records: It earned more than $300 million in just 10 days!

The latest Batman installment grossed $75.6 million in its second weekend in theaters, bringing its domestic earnings to $314,425,000, the Associated Press reports.

See 18 photos from The Dark Knight.

The previous record holder: 2006's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which made $300 million in 16 days.

Warner Bros. believes the movie - which earned a record $158.4 million in its opening weekend — could reach the $400 million mark in 18 days, catapulting it past 2004's Shrek 2. (It took the toon 43 days to earn that much.)

The Dark Knight is also poised to beat Titanic's $600 million earnings, making it the highest-grossing film in U.S. history.

"I hope people are as excited about the movie as I am," he added. "The good thing is I don't feel like a con man. The movie really does live up to the hype."

Read Us Weekly's review of The Dark Knight.

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Heath Ledger as "The Joker" in the film "The Dark Knight."

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Report: Christian Bale "Flew off the Handle" After Mom Insulted Wife

Alissa R — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:55:48 -0400

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"Things got out of control and he now says he wishes he just left the room," says London paper

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Christian Bale lashed out at his 61-year-old mother after she insulted his wife, Sibi, London's Daily Mail reports.

Citing "sources close to the actor," the paper claims he "flew off the handle" at London's Dorchester hotel Sunday after Jenny Bale said "some outrageous things."

The source added: "Christian was stressed, but he didn’t lay a finger on anyone. He just got very loud.

"Christian's attitude is that this was his mother's fault because she became very provocative in an argument they were having," the source added. "Things got out of control and he now says he wishes he just left the room.

"Normally Christian would just call a friend and go out to a pub to cool off," the source said. "But he was literally trapped into this confrontation with his mother and sister because there was an army of fans and paparazzi outside."

Bale, 34 — who is expected to attend the premiere of The Dark Knight in Barcelona on Wednesday — was arrested Tuesday after turning himself into police for questioning.

His attorney denied the assault claims, adding that the actor "left the station without any charge being made against him by the police."

His sister Sharon said Tuesday: "The police are dealing with it. It is an extremely sensitive situation. There is nothing more I can say."

See 18 photos from The Dark Knight.

Meanwhile, TMZ.com reports that the actor recently lost his cool on the set of Terminator 4 when the director of cinematography reportedly screwed up a shot.

The site claims he screamed "I will kick your a--," along with other profanities.

The actor also snapped at an Us Weekly reporter at the NYC premiere of The Dark Knight on July 14.

Asked if co-star Heath Ledger would nab an Oscar for his role as the Joker, Bale snipped, "Anybody’s an a--hole, who would try to predict that," before walking off.

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Christian Bale arrives at the UK film premiere of 'The Dark Knight' at Odeon, Leicester Square on July 21, 2008 in London.

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Dark Knight: Best Weekend Box Office Opening Ever

Alissa R — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:02:07 -0400

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The thriller, starring the late Heath Ledger, earned $158 M

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Raking in $155.34 million in its first weekend, The Dark Knight has delivered the best weekend box office opening ever.

The record was previously set by 2007's Spider-Man 3, with $151 million.

Read Us Weekly's review of The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight - starring the late Heath Ledger as the Joker - earned an estimated $66.4 million on its opening day. It took in $18.5 million in Friday midnight shows alone.

The last Batman installment, 2006's Batman Begins, grossed $15 million on its opening day and $48.7 million for the weekend.

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The Dark Knight Tops $500 Million at Box Office

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The Dark Knight Sets Another Record — $400 Million in 18 Days

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Dark Knight Earns a Record $300 Million in 10 Days

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