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and The Changeling--want to see Madagascar and have no desire to see
Role Models and/or High School Musical 3
James Bond, Armed With Record, Takes Charge at Box Office With ‘Quantum of Solace’ - NYTimes.com
@import url(https://graphics8.nytimes.com/css/article/screen/print.css);
James Bond, Armed With Record, Controls Box Office
LOS ANGELES — James Bond brushed off some lackluster reviews to sell an
estimated $70.4 million in tickets at North American theaters, setting an
opening-weekend record for this 46-year-old film franchise.
“Quantum
of Solace,” starring Daniel Craig as 007, arrived in the United States
unusually late; MGM and Sony Pictures released it overseas in late October. The move may have contributed to
strong domestic sales. By withholding the hotly anticipated picture from fans in
the world’s largest movie market, the studios stoked an online frenzy.
The movie’s global cumulative gross through Sunday was $322 million,
according to Sony. “It’s an extraordinary opening that speaks to how much
audiences have embraced Daniel Craig as Bond,” said Rory Bruer, Sony’s president
for domestic distribution.
The stronger-than-anticipated opening is a relief to the two studios because
of the picture’s outsize cost. The combined production and marketing budgets are
estimated at about $400 million, although Sony places the number lower because
of tax credits. MGM in particular was counting on a strong opening; a hit of
this size helps shore up its financial footing.
Many critics poured cold water on “Quantum of Solace,” complaining that
filmmakers strayed too far from the franchise’s signature story elements. The
movie depicts a bitter and emotional 007 seeking revenge for the death of a
lover. Assisted by a Russian-Bolivian agent (Olga Kurylenko), he stops a
criminal (Mathieu
Amalric) from taking control of a country’s water supply.
Domestic sales for “Quantum of Solace” were sharply higher than those for “Casino
Royale,” the 2006 franchise entry that marked Mr. Craig’s debut in the role.
That film sold $40.8 million in tickets during its first weekend in theaters.
The previous high watermark was set by “Die
Another Day,” which opened with $47.1 million in 2002.
The DreamWorks Animation film “Madagascar:
Escape 2 Africa” was No. 2 at the weekend box office with $36.2 million in
sales (for a new domestic total of $118.1 million). “Role
Models,” an R-rated comedy from Universal Pictures, was third with $11.5
million ($37.8 million over all), and “High
School Musical 3: Senior Year” (Disney)
was fourth with $5.7 million ($84.3 million over all).
“Changeling” (Universal), the period drama starring Angelina
Jolie, rounded out the Top 5 with $4.2 million ($27.6 million over
all).
