Riddle me this, riddle me that, which movie took the box office by storm and starred a man dressed as a bat? Opening in first place, The Batman met pre-weekend projections and banked $128.5 million at US theaters according to Box Office Mojo.

While that figure does trail behind 2012's The Dark Knight Rises--$160 million on its US opening weekend--these are understandably different and difficult times for films to be released theatrically. In the current pandemic era, The Batman is officially the biggest blockbuster of 2022 and the second-biggest domestic opening of the pandemic era behind last year's Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The film could also have long legs over the next few weeks, as its bladder-busting three-hour runtime, positive critical reception, and strong word-of-mouth from people who saw it are all crucial factors to consider. This is also the first proper theatrical release from Warner Bros. since 2020's Tenet, as The Batman won't be arriving on HBO Max for at least 45 days after its initial release.