Before I stat my prediction let's take a look at what TDKR has going for it that should lead people to beleive it will surpass TDK's numbers, and then take a look at that it has going against it
For it:
-Sequal to a $1 billion movie
-Last film in a trilogy
-Is considered the clear cut "Most Anticipated Movie" of the year (where TDK wasn't. Indy 4 had that title with most media outlets)
-Has Catwoman (finally a female role that doesn't suck.... hopefully)
-Has JGL.... ladies love JGL (moreso that TDK's equivalent: Aaron Eckhart
-Has a football scene. Americans love football.
-Nolan has grown Worldwide (TDK made $468 million overseas, Inception made $532 million - not bad for a non-Batman, non-sequal, completely original movie)
Against it
-More competition around release time (although to be fair most people though X-Files 2, Hellboy 2, The Mummy 4, and Star Wars Clone Wars would put up more of a fight)
-No Joker (Bane may be badass but he's no Joker)
-No unfortunate death of a lead actor (yet.... <- terrible joke I know)
-No Ledger in general... ladies love Ledger
All that being said here is my prediction:
Opening Day - $105 million (Potter Will fall)
Opening Weekend - $220 million (Potter Will fall)
Total U.S. - $750 million (So close but "Dancing with Smurfs in Space" did not fall)
Total Overseas - $1.4 billion (did I mention Nolan has grown overseas?)
Total Worldwide - 2.15 billion (not bad for a non-3D, non-bright blue, non-fairy tale movie about a brooding man in black)
My prediction may seem overzealous, but that's honestly what I see happening for TDKR in a best case scenerio. That being that
1. It's hyped from now until release time (that second trailer better be 10x better than the first one was)
2. It isn't banned in any countries (come on China. Why you no rike Batman? <- bad joke I know)
3 the movies released in August suck (which they usually do).
4 and MOST important of all..... it can't suck (please for the love of all that is sacred in this world, please do not suck TDKR!)