Batman makes more in first weekend than Illinois film industry did in 2007

Batman makes more in first weekend than Illinois film industry did in 2007

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As you’ve certainly heard by now, The Dark Knight broke all kinds of box office records over the weekend, earning $158.3 million. That number seemed to ring a bell for me, so I started trying to remember where I’d seen it recently. Then I remembered this press release from Illinois Department of Commerce touting the record-breaking profits the Illinois film industry saw in 2007. Adding all the profits the statewide industry saw from filmings that included The Dark Knight, Wanted, and Fred Claus (not to mention the television projects they regularly film here) the record breaking total was $155 million. The three films mentioned have grossed more than $375 million at the box office so far. Some in the industry are predicting that The Dark Knight could earn more than $400 million in the domestic market alone.