'Dark Knight' Takes Box Office After Massacre

'Ice Age 4' Earns $21 Million

It was a solemn weekend at the box office as The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan's final film in his Batman trilogy, earned $162 million in the wake of a deadly movie theater shooting that left 12 people dead.

Read: 'Dark Knight Rises' Paris Premiere Cancelled

Despite the tragedy, The Dark Knight Rises still had one of the biggest opening weekends of all time. And it could have been even bigger: expectations for the film had it earning $190 million.

Some studios and box office analysts agreed to remain quiet about the film industry's performance this weekend out of respect to the victims' families.

"Putting an emphasis on grosses at this time just doesn’t feel appropriate,” said Phil Contrino, editor of Boxoffice.com."

Read: 'Ice Age 4' Beats Up 'Spider-Man' At The Box Office

Just after midnight Friday morning an armored gunman walked into a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, and opened fire. 12 people were killed and dozens were injured in what is now the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

But security fears didn't keep people from heading out to the movies. The rest of the box office performed decently, with Ice Age 4: Continental Drift earning $21 million and The Amazing Spider-Man placing third with $11 million.