BATMAN BEGINS - THE DARK KNIGHT REACHES $400M MARK IN RECORD TIME

The Dark Knight has broken yet another box office record after becoming the fastest-ever film to make more than $400 million (£204 million).

The Batman Begins sequel took only 18 days to reach the landmark, less than half the time taken by the previous record holder Shrek 3.

Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film now looks likely to become the second highest-grossing film ever in the US by overtaking Star Wars' $460 million in domestic earnings.

However, box office tracking company Media by Numbers said it was unlikely The Dark Knight would break the $601m (£307m) barrier set in the US by James Cameron's Titanic in 1997.

Having topped the US box office for three weeks thus far, The Dark Knight has just crowned its second week at the top of the UK and Ireland box office, with almost £50 million in takings.

Last week, the new Batman film celebrated passing the $300 million (£151 million) mark faster than any other film in history, reaching the milestone just ten days after being released.

The previous record had been held by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which took 16 days.

Christopher Nolan's film has already broken records for midnight preview screenings, the highest non-holiday Monday and Tuesday grosses of all time, the best opening weekend in the US, and reaching $200 million (£100 million) in five days, three days faster than the Pirates sequel.