Great Depression Update: The Dark Knight Sets Box Office Record

The economy is so, so bad that a movie made $155.3 million over the weekend and could set future records.

Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight" soared over the North American box-office with a record-breaking opening weekend, estimates showed, with audiences flocking to watch the late actor Heath Ledger in his final film role.

The movie, which features a mesmerizing performance from Ledger as Batman's arch-rival the Joker, took an estimated 155.3 million dollars in ticket sales, Exhibitor Relations said.

The mark shattered the 151.1 million earned by "Spider-Man 3" in May 2007, a record that many pundits believed could not be beaten by "The Dark Knight."

Prior to "The Dark Knight," "Spider-Man 3" had led the all-time opening weekend figures from 2006's "Pirates of the Caribbean 2" (135.6 million) and 2007's "Shrek the Third" (121.6 million).

Not to take anything away from the rest of the cast, but I wonder if Ledger's awesome performance and death brought out some movie-goers who would not normally go see the movie.