A tracking firm says “The Dark Knight” has set a box office record for a midnight debut.

Media By Numbers says the new Batman movie from Warner Bros. brought in $18.5 million Friday from its midnight screening in 3,040 theaters.

That bested the 2005 performance of “Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith,” which took in $16.9 million at its debut.

“The Dark Knight” figure did not include any of its 3 a.m. or 6 a.m. showings.