The Avengers

One month before it opens, The Avengers is already selling out movie theaters.

Yes, Batman, already.

AMC Theatres announced Thursday that geeked-up moviegovers had cleaned it out of $40 tickets for a one-day-only, superhero-movie marathon set to culminate with The Avengers’ midnight May 4 release.

The chain said it was adding screenings to the 10 North American locations hosting next month’s so-called "Ultimate Marvel Marathon," featuring 12 straight hours of Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America and Avengers action.

With demand now for The Avengers officially not just high, but fanatical, the movie’s box-office prospects are not just great, but perhaps epic.

Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock says it’s "entirely possible" that the Robert Downey Jr.-led Avengers could top The Dark Knight for bragging rights as the biggest-opening superhero movie ($158.4 million).

But, no, Batman, you’re not being dismissed.

Bock foresees a scenario where The Avengers defeats The Dark Knight, and tops Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which, with a $169.2 million Friday-Sunday debut last year, is Hollywood’s all-time opener, but only hangs onto the record until The Dark Knight Rises opens July 20.

Asks Bock of the latter film: "Is $200 million even possible?"

Well, now, that we know members of fandom are more than willing to sign up and sit down for superhero-endurance tests, we won’t doubt their powers.