Skyfall opens huge in the US, surpasses the half billion dollar mark worldwide

By Rick Marshall November 12, 2012

James Bond is back in a big way at the box office.

The 23rd movie in the long-running franchise based on Ian Fleming’s debonaire super-spy, Skyfall shattered the opening-weekend record for the series with $87.8 million in ticket sales. The film’s predecessor, Quantum of Solace netted $67.5 million on its opening weekend in 2008 (Casino Royale had a $40.8 million opening weekend in 2006). The film premiered in the UK on October 26, and has since earned $428 million internationally, bringing the films total earnings to over $518 million.

Not only is Daniel Craig’s return as James Bond a roaring success, the film’s opening weekend also ranks as the fourth-best opening for any film this year. Only The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Hunger Games have brought in more money during their first three days in theaters.

For the hardcore stat geeks out there, the debut of Skyfall also ranks as the seventh-best opening weekend for the month of November, falling behind two installments of the Twilight franchise and four of the Harry Potter films, according to Box Office Mojo.

Along with all of the film’s success at the box office, it also seems to be winning over critics, with our own Skyfall review calling it “an excellent anniversary present for Bond fans” and “among the best of the Bond films ever made.”

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