He may have failed to win critical acclaim, but James Bond
still is the top entertainer for moviegoers. The latest 007 movie, “Quantum of
Solace,” saw a No. 1 debut at the North American box office this weekend, by
selling an estimated $70.4 million in tickets and setting an opening-weekend
record for the long established franchise, according to studio estimates
released on Sunday. With such earnings, the Bond flick easily outshone the
previous first-weekend record for a 007 film, held by 2002’s “Die Another Day,”
starring the legendary Pierce Brosnan.
In addition, “Quantum of Solace” took in almost $30 million more
than its prequel, 2006’s “Casino Royale,” which introduced actor Daniel Craig as
the new James Bond, notwithstanding fans and critics’ initial negative
comments.
The most recent Bond movie was made available overseas in
late October by MGM and Sony and was released in the United States only this Friday,
after topping box offices everywhere. Therefore, this measure may have had a significant
contribution to the impressive domestic sales, which were also boosted by the
fact that “Quantum of Solace” was the only film that saw a North American
release over the weekend.
The movie’s worldwide cumulative gross through Sunday was
$322 million, with approximately $64.1 million in Britain
and about $26 million in Germany.
“Quantum of Solace” helped Hollywood
total revenues register an increase of 54 percent compared to the same weekend
last year, when “Beowulf” was No. 1 at the box office with $27.5 million. The
top 12 films grossed $142.9 million, with strong earnings by “Quantum of
Solace” and family flick “Madagascar:
Escape 2 Africa.”
The DreamWorks animation film came in second with $36.1 million,
taking its 10-day total to $118 million.
Universal Pictures’ “Role Models” was No. 3 with $11.7
million, followed by the teenage hit “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,”
which grossed $5.9 million.
Clint Eastwood’s “Changeling” took in $4.2 million, enough
for the fifth position at the box office. The movie starring Angelina Jolie as
a desperate mother looking for her missing son in 1920s Los Angeles has reached a cumulative gross of
$27.6 million.
“Zack and Miri Make a Porno” earned $3.2 million this
weekend and came in sixth, while “Soul Men,” starring the late Bernie Mac and
Samuel L. Jackson was No. 7, with $2.43 million, barely surpassing “The Secret
Life of Bees,” which grossed $2.4 million.
“Saw V” was No. 9 with an anemic $1.8 million and “The
Haunting of Molly Hartley” rounded out the Top 10 with $1.6 million.
Fox Searchlight's "Slumdog Millionaire" scored big in limited release, by grossing $350,434 in 10 theaters, with a remarkable average of $35,043 a cinema.
