Across the nation, movie theaters are selling out as film fans prepare for the latest installment in the Batman series, and Chattanooga theater managers — while not expecting sellouts — say they are ready for a busy weekend.

Some Hollywood watchers are predicting a record-breaking premiere for “The Dark Knight,” which has won critical acclaim, especially for the performance of Heath Ledger, the actor portraying the Joker, the clown-faced villain. Mr. Ledger died in January of a drug overdose after filming ended.

“There some movies that are just staples throughout generations, and Batman has always been a great movie,” said 19-year-old Glenn Garrett of East Ridge, who planned to see the movie’s premiere midnight Friday.

“I like this series because it’s sort of a dark version that shows the pasts of some of the characters, not just them going out crime fighting,” he said.

“The Dark Knight” is expected to take in more than $130 million during its three-day weekend opening, according to the entertainment magazine The Hollywood Reporter. “Hellboy II” and “Hancock,” other summer blockbusters, each took in around $150 million during their first-week showings, according to the site www.boxofficemojo.com.

In Chattanooga, movie theaters are prepared for that big premiere. The area’s largest theater, The Rave in East Ridge, can show the movie on all 18 screens if needed for the midnight premiere, said Gregg Delich, the theater’s general manager, but he’s not expecting that big of a showing.

“We’ve had a midnight showing Friday just about every week this summer,” Mr. Delich said.

Like the city’s four Carmike theaters, the Rave is selling advance tickets and the movie will premiere at midnight tonight. Managers at the Rave said they expect long lines about 11 tonight as fans line up.

Carmike Wynnsong 10 assistant manager Aaron Flack said the premiere had sold only about 40 tickets Wednesday afternoon, but he estimated more sales as the day grew closer.

Friends Mr. Garrett, Casey Cotter, 19, of Chattanooga, and Austin Young, 17, of Fort Oglethorpe, all said they were excited about the film.

“I think I want to see it the night it comes out,” Miss Cotter said. “I’m really excited to see Heath Ledger in it since he died.”

Another movie, “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” features Mr. Ledger, and it is due for release sometime in 2009. But the fans said the actor isn’t the only reason to see this movie.

“This (series) shows where Batman came from, and it answers some questions you’ve always thought about,” Austin said.

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