Box Office: 'Skyfall' on track for $100 million opening?

Can a James Bond movie gross $100 million over just three-days?  Never say never, but Sam Mendes' "Skyfall" could come awfully close.

The critically acclaimed 23rd 007 film opened in 436 IMAX theaters yesterday grossing $2.2 million. It then debuted at midnight nationwide taking in $2.4 million.  That means "Skyfall" already had $4.6 million before regular engagements started today.  Pre-release polling has been off the charts for the Eon Productions, MGM and Sony Pictures thriller for weeks and based on the intensity of today's matinees, some rival studios are projecting a $105-110 million weekend. Others are guessing something closer to $80-90 million, but either way it will absolutely be the biggest opening for a James Bond movie in the United States ever.

In the rest of the world "Skyfall" is already a smash finding $323 million and $85 million in the U.K. alone (the later figure more than "The Avengers" total British cume).  The last two Bond films, "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace," made $167.4 and $168.3 million in the U.S. respectively.  

There are no other wide openings this weekend. "Lincoln" opens in 11 theaters.  "A Royal Affair" debuts in just Los Angeles and New York.

Look for complete box office estimates all weekend long on HitFix.

Gregory Ellwood
Editor-in-Chief, Co-Founder

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With over a decade of experience in the movie industry, Ellwood survived working for two major studios and has written for Variety, MSN and the LA Times. A co-founder of HitFix, Ellwood spends his time relaxing hitting 3’s on the basketball court and following his beloved Clippers.