'The Dark Knight Rises' tops worldwide box office

The Dark Knight Rises at number 1

The Dark Knight Rises has sailed to the top of the box office worldwide as it took a record haul in it's opening week in the U.S.

Opening this week with a $248.8 million worldwide total, 'The Dark Knight Rises' unseated 'Ice Age : Continental Drift' which came in at second place, and in a distant 3rd, 'The Amazing Spider-Man'.

It is estimated that that the Batman shootings reduced the box office tally of 'The Dark Knight Rises', however it still managed to pull in $160,8 million at the U.S box office.

In total, 19 territories opened this week with Warner Bros' final Batman film, but box office predictions for the coming week have been revised lower due to the shootings.

Internationally 'The Dark Knight Rises' made $88 million outside the U.S.

We have released our box office numbers later than normal as an industry-wide blackout delayed the release of the weekend's tally.