‘Skyfall’ dominates box office
Posted November 12, 2012 7:22 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
James Bond can don the tuxedo and break out the Dom Perignon after the super spy returned to theatres in record fashion over the weekend, blowing away box office rivals with US$87.8 million dollars in ticket sales for Skyfall — the biggest opening in Bond franchise history.
The best North American opening for the 50-year-old Bond franchise adds to a strong tally of $428.6 million for Skyfall overseas. Globally, the movie starring Daniel Craig as 007 has now earned $518.6 million since first hitting international theaters on Oct. 26, distributor Sony Pictures said.
Skyfall handily beat Walt Disney Co animated movie Wreck-It Ralph, the story of a video game character who destroys everything in his path. The family film that topped last week’s charts grabbed $33.1 million from Friday through Sunday and slipped to second place.
Bond’s allure proved unbeatable in Skyfall, the third movie starring Craig and the first in four years. The last Bond film, Quantum of Solace in 2008, opened with a then-record $68 million at North American theatres.
Bond’s return has been hailed by the critics as a triumph for the 23-film franchise after a tepid response to Quantum of Solace.
Ninety-two percent of Skyfall reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes website were positive, and audiences polled by CinemaScore awarded the film an “A” grade. The film has already exceeded the Quantum lifetime box office total.
The $200-million movie was produced by MGM, Sony and Eon Productions. Its release comes 50 years after the franchise premiered with Dr. No in 1962, and the producers highlighted the anniversary in the film’s marketing. The 22 previous Bond films have grossed $5 billion at box offices over five decades.
