Everyone knew that "The Dark Knight Rises" was going to be huge, but just how big...well that's up for debate 

It is way too premature to declare Christopher Nolan's final Batman film a blockbuster on the level of "Avatar" and "The Avengers," but news Friday that the country's second largest theater chain, AMC, is adding more midnight showings to meet demand, signals it could hit those rarified heights. 

AMC also said that is was increasing the number of screenings of its marathon showings of all three Batman films in the Nolan trilogy, a fan event that coincides with "The Dark Knight Rises" premiere on July 19. 

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In addition, the theater chain said it was adding a handful of 3:45-4 a.m. showtimes of "The Dark Knight Rises" in IMAX. It did not reveal how many more showings would be offered. 

It did unveil some lofty sales numbers, however. AMC said moviegoers have purchased more than 23,000 advance tickets to "The Dark Knight Trilogy" marathon, putting it on pace to shatter the chain's marathon-event record of more than 30,000 tickets for "The Ultimate Marvel Marathon" in the run-up to "The Avengers" release in May.

In addition, AMC has sold more than 100,000 advance tickets for "The Dark Knight Rises," three weeks in advance of the movie's opening. 

Sounds like Gotham City should put some champagne on ice.