Demand for Dark Knight tickets high

If you’re planning on seeing Dark Knight in theaters next weekend, you might want to go ahead and order your tickets now. According to an article in this morning’s New York Times, demand for tickets via on-line outlets such as Fandango is extremely high.

The demand is so high that some theaters are adding an extra late-night/early-morning showing of the film at 6 a.m. on July 18th. This showing would be the third such showing, following a midnight and a 3 a.m. opening. And the high demand isn’t just in larger metropolitan areas like Chicago or San Diego. A theater in Eagan, Minn. has also added the 6 a.m. showing.

The all-night sell-outs will be part of 1500 late-night showings of Dark Knight that will take place next Friday morning according to on-line ticket retailer Fandango. 

And it’s not just the late-night showings that will be sold-out next weekend. About 38 percent of ticket buyers polled by Fandango said in a recent survey that they intended to take some or all of July 18 off to see The Dark Knight.

Several factors are working together to make Dark Knight a must-see event.

One is Warner Brothers’ marketing blitz for the film that goes far beyond the typical trailers and web-site. Warner Brothers has created a viral campaign unrivaled by any movie in recent memory, including a nationwide tour of the Harvey Dent for D.A. campaign.

The second is the continued success of Batman Begins on DVD. The film did a solid $200 million at the box-office but has had a second life on DVD. The sales and rentals for the film have been strong, leaving many fans eager for the next installment. And the ending of the last film has energized many fans since leaving the theater.

Finally, there is the interest in the career-defining performance by Heath Ledger as the Joker. As we’ve previously reported, early buzz is that Ledger could earn an Oscar nod for his work in Dark Knight. This, coupled with it being the last complete performance by the actor, have many curious and eager with anticipation over the upcoming film.

All of these factors, plus the fact that the first film was one of the best superhero movies ever made, have come together to create an event atmosphere for Dark Knight‘s opening weekend.

“In the public mind, opening weekends have been eventized,” said Thomas Tull, the chairman of Legendary Pictures and an executive producer of The Dark Knight.

According to Movietickets.com, about one in four of the respondents to a survey of moviegoers under 25 polled between June 24 and June 28 said The Dark Knight was the next movie he or she expected to see in theaters.

So, order your tickets now if you want to see Dark Knight when it opens in theater next weekend.