Dark Knight on top for third week

Updated 09.53 Mon Aug 04 2008

Keywords: film, Batman, US, The Dark Knight, box office

The Dark Knight has lead the US box office for a third weekend.

The Batman blockbuster, which has earned $43.8 million (£22.2m), fended off a challenge from The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which followed closely with $42.5 million (£21.6m) in weekend earnings.

The Dark Knight has so far taken a total of $394.9 million (£200.3m)

Meanwhile, political comedy Swing Vote came in at number six with just $6.3 million. It marks another disappointment for it's star Kevin Costner, who hasn't seen a $100 million movie since 1992's The Bodyguard.

The Dark Knight has so far taken a total of $394.9 million (£200.3m) and Warner Bros said it expects the film to add at least $100 million (£50.8m).

This would surpass the $461 million (£234.1m) haul of 1977's Star Wars.

But it's yet to top the $601 million (£305.2m) record held by Titanic in 1997.