Warner Bros has announced the box office takings for its new film The Dark Knight Rises.

The much anticipated movie launched last Friday, but its debut was rocked by the Denver shootings which took place at a midnight showing of the Batman film in Aurora, leaving 12 people dead.

Despite the tragic start to its launch, the latest in the franchise took in $160.8 million at the US and Canadian box offices over the weekend.

The figure is at the lower end of industry estimates for the film which was forecast by experts to bring in anywhere from $170 million to $198 million.