Fans go berserk over "The Dark Knight"

Arguably this summer's highest anticipated movie, the latest installment in the Batman franchise "The Dark Knight" opens on Friday in theaters across the world.

In a frenzy, fans in the U.S have bought so many late night tickets for the July 18th release of the movie that theaters in places like Chicago, Sandiego and Minnesota are scheduling 6 A.M screenings for those who get in at midnight or 3 A.M

The Dark Knight has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and is being touted as the "Citizen Kane" of comic book superhero movies. It scored an unprecedented 100% 'fresh' rating at rottentomatoes.com, one of the top movie review website.

Maverick director Christopher Nolan and Uber-Hot Christian Bale reunite for the follow-up to 2005's "Batman Begins". As the whole world already knows, Heath Ledger joined the cast playing the Joker... and his performance is generating Oscar buzz, something extraordinary for a comic book villain. Ledger's performance as the psychotic Joker is being regarded as his masterpiece act before his sudden death in January.

There are huge chances he would be nominated for the posthumous Oscar, a rare feat previously and infamously achieved by the likes of James Dean.