‘Skyfall’ breaks James Bond box office records

The new James Bond movie Skyfall has smashed UK records to give it the biggest opening weekend in 007 film history.

Following on from the first movie 50years ago, the 23rd film has proven to be more popular than ever taking in £20.1m, notching up the second-biggest three-day opening for any film in Britain.

Skyfall, which has been a huge hit with the critics, also topped box office rankings around the world after opening on Friday.

The movie, which has not yet been shown in the US, took $77.7m (£48.3m) across the globe, and was number one in every country where it opened.

In the UK, as well as making history as the biggest Bond opening weekend of all time, Skyfall set a new record as the most attended film on a Saturday.

The movie, which stars Daniel Craig, Dame Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe, claimed the biggest opening of the year so far in the UK.

However, the much-hyped Skyfall failed to beat the £23m UK record set last summer by Harry Potter’s finale in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2.

Despite that, Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said: “We are absolutely overwhelmed with the reaction to Skyfall this weekend.

“It is particularly thrilling as the UK is home to James Bond and it being the 50th anniversary year.”

Jeff Blake, Chairman of Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, said: “To have Skyfall embraced at such unprecedented levels is tremendously exciting.”

Craig has signed up to return as 007 in two more Bond films, in the longest-running and most successful franchise in film history.

His Bond debut Casino Royale took £13.4m in its opening weekend in the UK, while 2008 film Quantum Of Solace raked in £15.4m.

The royal world premiere of the Sam Mendes film took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London last week, attended by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.