JAMES BOND’S ‘SKYFALL’ SMASHES RECORDS

Sony Pictures’ and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s "Skyfall," the 23rd film in the James Bond series, opened overseas in 25 markets and grossed a staggering $77.7 million, #1 everywhere. Setting the pace was of course the UK, which opened to an enormous estimated $32.4 million (£20.1M). Smashing the all-time Saturday attendance record Saturday, this is the biggest opening of 2012 and the 2nd biggest Friday-to-Sunday opening weekend in history there, behind just the 3D Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2. This launch was 76% bigger than Daniel Craig’s first turn as 007, "Casino Royale," and 30% bigger than "Quantum Of Solace." Of the $77.7M on "Skyfall," IMAX is estimating a weekend gross of $3.5M in 79 locations in 15 territories which include the UK, France, Russia, Korea, Bulgaria, Middle East, Kazakhstan and Brazil.