Batman franchise The Dark Knight continued to make cinematic history this past week, becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time as it briskly soared past the $400 million mark, studio estimates revealed.

With its weekend haul of $26.1 million, Dark Knight eclipsed Shrek 2, the previous all-time #3 record holder, and is now looking ahead to pass the #2 highest grossing film ever, the original Star Wars at $461 million. Looming on the horizon is the all-time highest grossing film, Titanic, at $601 million.

Coming in second at the box office this weekend is Pineapple Express, the buddy comedy about two stoners on the run after they witness a murder, took in $23.2 million over the weekend and $41.3 million since it’s release last Wednesday.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor took third place with $16.5 million in its third week out. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, the sequel to the 2005 film about a tale of a pair of well worn traveling jeans and the girls who own them, came in at $10.7 million since its first weekend since it’s release Wednesday. The Will Ferrell comedy Step Brothers was fifth with $9.13 million, bringing its total to $81.1 million.

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Box Office Grosses
Week Ending August 10, 2008

Rank Title Weekend Total Gross
1 The Dark Knight (2008) $26.1M $442M
2 Pineapple Express (2008) $23.2M $41.3M
3 The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) $16.5M $71M
4 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008) $10.7M $19.6M
5 Step Brothers (2008) $9.13M $81.1M
6 Mamma Mia! (2008) $8.21M $104M
7 Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) $4.87M $81.8M
8 Hancock (2008) $3.32M $222M
9 WALL•E (2008) $3.14M $210M
10 Swing Vote (2008) $3.13M $12M

Source: IMDB.com