Let the box-office record-breaking begin. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the highly-anticipated sequel The Dark Knight broke the midnight screening box office record, tallying an estimated $18.5 million from those sessions. The midnight shows bowed in 3,040 theaters.

The film broke the previous record held by 2005's Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, which took in $16.9 million from 2,915 theaters.

"We're very proud of the film," said Dan Fellman, Warner's head of distribution. "It's the magic of the movie business, how one film just stands out above the others."

That $18.5 million record-breaking tally also does not include grosses from 3 AM and 6 AM screenings that were added in many venues to meet the whopping demand.