“It’s uncharted waters” is how Warner Bros. distribution president Dan Fellman described the fulminating rise of “The Dark Knight,” the new Batman installment which has won critics and fans over, smashing one box office record after another in the meanwhile.

“The Dark Knight” has done the unthinkable, surpassing the $300 million mark in a short 10 days, the least it has taken any film to amass such an impressive sum. The previous record was set by 2006’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” which earned $300 million in what now seems a long period: 16 days.

It all started though with a midnight debut record set Thursday, July 17, when midnight screenings in theatres across North America brought the film its first $18.5 million. Friday, it earned another $48.7 million, Saturday, an additional $47.6 million and the fiesta continued Sunday, with another $43.6 million in ticket sales.

This all contributed to a record-breaking $158 million opening. By Tuesday, Christian Bale’s Caper Crusader and Heath Ledger’s insane Joker had helped “The Dark Knight” exceed $203 million in a mere five days, the fastest a movie has ever jumped the $200 million mark.

This achievement was soon followed by what is now called the best second weekend, with $75.6 million worth of tickets, surpassing the $72 million raked in by 2004’s “Shrek 2.”

The newly set records continue though, as “The Dark Knight” also managed to help shape the top-grossing overall box office weekend, with $253 million. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” set the previous record in 2006 when it opened and the three-day take rose to $218 million.

Another title “The Dark Knight” now bears is that of second-biggest movie of the year, close behind the $315 million haul of “Iron Man.”

“The Dark Knight” is next expected to cross the $400 million touchstone, which “Shrek 2” surpassed in 43 days.

Warner Bros. distribution president Dan Fellman has predicted “The Dark Knight” will accomplish this feat in just 18. “Where we go from there, it’s uncharted waters,” Fellman said.