“The Dark Knight” became the second movie in Hollywood history to top $500 million at the domestic box office, raising its total to $502.4 million.

The film hit that mark in just over six weeks, half the time it took “Titanic,” which reached $500 million in a little more than three months. “Titanic,” the biggest modern blockbuster, remains No. 1 on the domestic charts with $600.8 million.

Dan Fellman, head of distribution at Warner Bros., said he expects “The Dark Knight” to finish at about $530 million, though it could reach $550 million if business persists as strongly as it has.

The film was co-written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is part of Nolan’s Batman film series and a sequel to 2005’s Batman Begins. Christian Bale reprises the lead role. The plot of the film focuses on Batman’s fight against a new villain, the Joker (Heath Ledger) and his relationships with district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) and his old friend and love interest assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

Batman is the darkest hero of the comic world, and perhaps his popularity is due to the fact that he is not a meta-human; he has no special abilities or powers other than his strength and intelligence, which have been developed through hard work and training.