A shadow has been cast over the release of The Dark Knight Rises, after a shooting in a Colorado theater left 12 dead and numerous wounded.

The box office hit grossed $30.6 million in Friday midnight screenings but despite Warner Bros. expectations, there has been a sense of disappointment after the shooting.

“I’m at a loss for words, which is rare," said Hollywood.com's Paul Dergarabedian.

Warner Bros. issued a statement to the "families and loved ones at this tragic time."

The shooter, later identified as James Holmes, 24, was reported to have opened fire on the crowd during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises, injuring 69 people and killing 12.

Reports from The Wrap said there was a possibility that the movie might be pulled from theaters, but the studio confirmed with E! News that the film will remain on the big screen.

The midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises has surpassed this year’s top grossing film, The Avengers, by $12 million.

Exhibitor Relations’ Jeff Bock thinks these events will effect the movies outcome in the box office.

“In the end, it's going to affect it, it can't help but affect it."  He continues to add, "When Heath Ledger died, people went to see [The Dark Knight] as tribute.  This [the shooting] is a real tragedy. [The victims] they didn't do anything. They just wanted to see a movie."