With sales surpassing $300 million this week, The Dark Knight has rapidly reached status as this summer's biggest blockbuster hit. According to Media By Numbers LLC, the Time Warner Inc. release passed $314.2 million this week and set five box-office records last week, including best opening-weekend sales with $158.4 million.

The Dark Knight is the sequel to 2005's Batman Begins, with Christian Bale reprising his lead role as Batman and Heath Ledger starring as his arch-nemesis the Joker. Originally, Warner Bros. created a viral marketing campaign for The Dark Knight, developing promotional Web sites and trailers highlighting screenshots of Ledger as the Joker, but after his death in January, the studio refocused its promotional campaign.

But just how much did the media's coverage of Ledger's death play in the role of skyrocketing of ticket sales? Take a look at almost any news coverage of The Dark Knight's ticket sales and try to find a story that doesn't mention Heath's tragic death. With the buzz of an upcoming Oscar nomination for his role as the Joker, it's safe to say that between Heath's award-winning acting skills and the media coverage of his very untimely (or timely for Time Warner?) death, ticket sales will continue to rise and could possibly even beat the current title-holder of largest grossing domestic movie - Titanic with $600.7 million.

What are your thoughts - do you think sales would have been as strong minus Ledger's tragedy?