Despite a few U.S. jitters, Batman fans pack theaters

NEW YORK (AP) ― The three 18-year-olds, friends since middle school, are about to go off separately to college this fall. But on Sunday, these avid fans of the Batman film franchise had no doubt where they wanted to be: together, at the movies, watching “The Dark Knight Rises.’’

“What happened in Colorado was horrible, but that guy was just a psycho,’’ said Sahil Agrawal, of Queens in New York City, waiting with friends David Kim and Danny Wong for an Imax showing on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. “This wasn’t going to change our plans.’’

The three were typical of hordes of fans who packed theaters across the country over the weekend, keeping plans to see the final installment of the phenomenally successful Batman trilogy despite Friday’s horrific shooting in Colorado. Despite the occasional jitter ― reflected in the choice of a back-row seat, perhaps, or a glance to see what security was in place ― moviegoers seemed determined to look beyond the shooting.

“I’m not going to let some nut who shoots people dictate what I’m going to do,’’ said Ron Bondy, 36, in Bismarck, North Dakota, a sentiment echoed by fans all over the country.

Not that there weren’t some evident qualms. At the same theater in Bismarck, Jen Jackson had insisted upon one thing to her husband: They were going to sit in the back row in case they needed to get out fast. The 29-year-old architect was also forgoing the popcorn ― not as a precaution, but because nerves had stolen her appetite.

“I’ll be honest, I’m kind of scared,’’ said Jackson. She had hesitated to come at all. But her husband, Patrick, standing alongside her, was pragmatic: “I don’t think anything would happen in Bismarck.’’

And Sunday evening at a Pittsburgh-area theater, some moviegoers ― whom a police official called “jumpy’’ in the wake of the shooting ― rushed to the exits when a fight broke out outside. The showing was halted, and customers were given passes to attend another time. No one was arrested.