The Dark Knight (July 11)
Plot: Having survived the multi-front assault of Scarecrow and Ra’s Al Ghul in Batman Begins, the caped crusader Batman (played once again by Christian Bale) now has to protect Gotham City from a new threat: a pasty-faced freak who calls himself The Joker.

Why it’ll help kill blockbusters: It’s going to be impossible to promote The Dark Knight without playing up the untimely death of star Heath Ledger, which will either turn potential audiences off or, more disturbingly, bring them in.

Why it might help save them: Batman Begins was a solid adventure flick, and director Christopher Nolan is a mainstream filmmaker with a rare command of craft and storytelling. In a summer of superheroes, The Dark Knight may be the super-est.

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