James Bond soars with record $87.8M 'Skyfall'
LOS ANGELES — 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.
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” 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, “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.
