LOS ANGELES (AP) - James Bond's "Skyfall" has
extended its worldwide box-office rule to North America, hauling in a
franchise-record $87.8 million in its first weekend at U.S. theaters.
Adding in $2.2 million from
Thursday night previews at IMAX and other large-format theaters,
"Skyfall" has taken in $90 million domestically, according to studio
estimates Sunday.
That lifts the worldwide
total for "Skyfall" to $518.6 million since it began rolling out
overseas in late October. Internationally, the 23rd Bond flick added $89
million this weekend to raise its overseas revenue to $428.6 million.
The third installment
starring Daniel Craig as British super-spy Bond, "Skyfall" outdid the
$67.5 million U.S. debut of 2008's "Quantum of Solace," the franchise's
previous best opening. "Skyfall" more than doubled the $40.8 million
debut of Craig's first Bond film, 2006's "Casino Royale."
"Skyfall" already has
passed the $407.7 million overseas total for "Quantum of Solace" and by
Monday, it will top the $432.2 million international haul for "Casino
Royale."
The Craig era has
reinvigorated one of Hollywood's most-enduring franchises, whose first
big-screen Bond adventure, "Dr. No," debuted 50 years ago.
"It's quite a testament to
Bond, considering it's the 50th anniversary. What a great anniversary
present," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution at Sony, which produces
the Bond films along with MGM.
"Skyfall" was the weekend's
only new wide release, but Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" had a huge
start in a handful of theaters. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis as the 16th
president, "Lincoln" took in $900,000 in 11 theaters for a whopping
average of $81,818 a cinema. By comparison, "Skyfall" averaged $25,050
in 3,505 theaters.
"Lincoln" centers on the
months leading up to the president's assassination in April 1865, as he
maneuvers to pass the 13th amendment abolishing slavery and end the
Civil War. Distributor Disney will expand "Lincoln" into nationwide
release of about 1,600 theaters Friday and may widen the film further
over Thanksgiving week.
The film has strong Academy
Awards prospects for two-time directing winner Spielberg, two-time
acting recipient Day-Lewis and the rest of the cast, which includes
Oscar winners Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones.
"The performances are some
of the greatest of recent time," said Dave Hollis, head of distribution
for Disney. "I don't know if you're ever going to think about it again
without seeing our actor as Lincoln. Daniel is extraordinary in the
role."
"Skyfall" took over the top
spot at the weekend box office from Disney's animated comedy "Wreck-It
Ralph," which fell to No. 2 with $33.1 million, raising its domestic
total to $93.7 million.
While "Skyfall" marked a
new high for Bond's opening-weekend revenue, the film has a long way to
go to match the biggest audiences 007 has ever drawn. Adjusted for
inflation, Sean Connery's 1965 Bond adventure "Thunderball" would have
taken in an estimated $508 million domestically in today's dollars, with
its 1964 predecessor "Goldfinger" not far behind at $444 million,
according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.
The Bond films over the last two decades have come in around the $200 million range domestically in inflation-adjusted dollars.
Still, Craig's Bond is
setting a new critical standard for the franchise. While "Quantum of
Solace" had a so-so critical reception, "Skyfall" and "Casino Royale"
are among the best-reviewed Bond films, with critics and fans enjoying
the darker edge Craig has imprinted on 007.
"'Skyfall' is to the Bond
franchise what 'The Dark Knight' was to the Batman franchise," said
Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "By taking it to a whole other
level, this is a different kind of Bond that can be taken really
seriously."
Directed by Sam Mendes, the
Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind "American Beauty" and Craig's
director on "Road to Perdition," ''Skyfall" continues the current
franchise's exploration into the emotional traumas that have shaped
Bond's cool, aloof manner.
The film reveals secrets
out of the past of Bond's boss, British spymaster M (Judi Dench), and
pits 007 against a brilliant but unstable former agent (Javier Bardem)
who's out for revenge.
Hollywood remains on a
brisk pace this fall as the busy holiday season approaches. Overall
domestic revenues totaled $172 million, up 26 percent from the same
weekend last year, when "Immortals" led with $32.2 million.
For the year, domestic revenues are at $9.1 billion, up 4.3 percent from 2011's, according to Hollywood.com.
Estimated ticket sales for
Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to
Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also
included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Skyfall," $87.8 million.
2. "Wreck-It Ralph," $33.1 million.
3. "Flight," $15.1 million.
4. "Argo," $6.7 million.
5. "Taken 2," $4 million.
6. "Here Comes the Boom," $2.6 million
7. "Cloud Atlas," $2.53 million.
8. "Pitch Perfect," $2.5 million.
9. "The Man with the Iron Fists," $2.49 million.
10. "Hotel Transylvania," $2.4 million.
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