29/10/2012 - 23rd Bond film shoots down £20.1 million

Sam Mendes’ Skyfall [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile] has taken £20.1m in its opening weekend in the UK, making it the highest opening weekend ever for a Bond film ever, easily outstripping the £15.4m Quantum Of Solace made in 2008 and the £13.4m Casino Royale collected in 2006. Only the £23.75m Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile] earned in 2011 is higher in all time highest UK opening weekends.

In all, the film opened at number one in 25 territories on October 26 and grossed a whopping $77.7m in three days including $9.1 million in France, $8.6m in Russia, $1.4m in Belgium, $2.7m in Norway, $2.6m in Sweden, $1.5m in Finland, $2.6m in Denmark and $2.5m in Poland. The film will open on November 9 in the lucrative US market.

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.”

“This staggering box office result clearly demonstrates that the filmmakers behind Skyfall, director Sam Mendes and producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, have delivered a film that the fans have been eagerly awaiting,” said Gary Barber, Chairman and CEO of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Skyfall writer John Logan has commenced work on the next two instalments of the Bond franchise that will tell one tale spread over two films. Mendes may consider returning.

Skyfall is the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. The film is from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.