"The Dark Knight Rises"
Warner Bros. heavily promoted "The Dark Knight Rises" prior to its release. The film was poised to break box office records. Warner Brothers

In the wake of the Dark Knight shooting rampage, much of the media's coverage was on the film's box office performance -- and some feel that the media's attention should have remained focused on the victims of the horrific violence.

The midnight massacre, which took place at a multiplex in Aurora, Colo., left 12 dead and over 50 injured -- making it one of the largest mass shootings in U.S. history. Among those killed are a 6-year-old-girl and a 26-year-old American Navy veteran.

The eruption of violence raises various questions about brutality in the media and gun control laws. It also serves as a reminder about the numerous mass killings that have occurred throughout recent U.S. history. Yet the proportion of news stories that focused on how box office revenue might be affected by the tragedy has been uncomfortably high for some.

Over the weekend, while dozens of victims were fighting for their lives, CBS asked, Will Massacre Hurt Dark Knight Rises Box Office? FOX News put forth the same question, releasing the story, Could Colorado Theater Massacre Hurt 'The Dark Knight Rises' At The Box Office? We here at the International Business Time also jumped on the bandwagon.

In a video released by the Associated Press, celebrity and culture author Jo Piazza drew an eyebrow-raising conclusion that the shooting may actually boost ticket sales for the film.

Unfortunately, I have to say that the effects of the shooting in Aurora are only going to help 'The Dark Knight Rises' box office, said Piazza. I think that the American public does indeed have a macabre fascination with tragedies like this ...

The report outraged many film fans.

It is bad enough that the tragedy occurred without a stupid thoughtless article like this worrying if it will affect the box office sales ..., observed one reader.

God forbid the entertainment industry loses precious dollars over a silly little shooting! wrote another.

In a savvy PR move, Warner Brothers declined to release news of the film's box office take in the immediate wake of the tragedy, holding box office reports until Monday.

Out of respect for the victims and their families. Warner Bros. Pictures will not be reporting box office numbers for 'The Dark Knight Rises' throughout the weekend. Box office numbers will be released on Monday, the studio announced.

It's an unusual show of harmony in a business where studios jostle and elbow one another for the right to proclaim in ads: 'The No. 1 movie in America!', wrote David Germain of the Associated Press about the studio's decision.

By the time the box office numbers were released on Monday, ABC went public with the headline 'Dark Knight Rises' Director Calls Colorado Shooting a 'Senseless Tragedy;' Film Still Selling at Box Office.

Michael Roberts of the Denver-based blog Westword published a story criticizing the amount of attention surrounding the film's revenue.

...excuse me for being repulsed by stories speculating about whether the bloodshed will hurt the movie's chances for a blockbuster opening weekend, said Roberts, questioning why it seemed to be too much to ask that questions about the size of the mint 'The Dark Knight Rises' will generate ... wait at least until the ten bodies currently in theater nine at the Aurora Century 16 are removed?