The Covid-delayed No Time To Die has delivered a post-pandemic assault on box office records with $100 million-plus in receipts.
With $119 million from 54 markets, according to box office reports the new James Bond film is the first $100m opening for a US film without the inclusion of Chinese market sales since the outbreak of Covid-19.
That was on the back of a record setting $34.8m for the opening weekend in the UK and Ireland for the British spy hero.
For the UK and Ireland, it is the highest-grossing film of 2021 so far and since the pandemic began, after being in cinemas for only four days.
Screenings in Universal markets accounted for $92.4m of the take and $26.7m for MGM. Another for $6.8m was from IMAX screenings. No Time To Die, playing in 772 cinemas, dominated the UK and Ireland box office with 94 per cent of the total takings.
The successful opening weekend vindicates the producers’ decision to repeatedly delay its release until box office conditions were more favourable than at the height of the Covid lockdowns that forced cinemas across the globe to close.
The cinema is still not back to normal but the Bond figures offer some good news.
Internationally, Bond films have less pull than other global franchises such as Star Wars but its performance is still a key indicator for industry experts.
The film cost about $250 million to produce.
Last Tuesday, London rolled out the red carpet for the film’s premiere, attended by Oscar winners and British royalty. It was the city’s biggest red carpet event since the start of the pandemic.
See photos from the premiere:
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Lashana Lynch, Daniel Craig and Lea Seydoux attend the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’ at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on September 28, 2021. Photo: Getty -
Actor Rami Malek arrives at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Photo: Getty -
A military band plays at the Royal Albert Hall, London, before the start of the star-studded but much-delayed world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’. Photo: AFP -
English singer-songwriter Jay Kay attends the world premiere. -
Lashana Lynch, who co-stars in ‘No Time to Die’, attends the world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall, London. -
Lead actor Daniel Craig gives the trademark James Bond stare on arriving at the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’. Photo: Getty -
The opening performance at the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’ is performed by The Royal Marines Band at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Photo: Getty -
Aquaman actor and producer Jason Momoa attends the premiere. Photo: Getty -
'No Time to Die' is believed to be Daniel Craig's final Bond movie. Photo: EPA -
Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas attends the world premiere. Photo: Getty -
American singer-songwriters Finneas O'Connell, left, and Billie Eilish pose for photographers upon arrival for the world premiere. Photo: AP -
Naomie Harris attends the premiere. Photo: Getty -
The Royal Marines Band perform at the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. -
English actor Daniel Craig walks on the red carpet after arriving at the star-studded but much-delayed world premiere of the latest James Bond film. Photo: AFP -
Lea Seydoux attends the world premier event in London. Photo: Getty -
Star Daniel Craig poses during the premiere. 'No Time to Die' will be his fifth James Bond film since starting with 'Casino Royale'. Photo: Reuters -
British actress and TV writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge attends the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. -
Dame Judi Dench attends the premiere. Photo: Getty -
US-British film producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson pose on the red carpet. Broccoli is the daughter of ‘James Bond’ producer Albert Broccoli. Photo: AFP -
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, poses for photographers upon arrival at the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’ at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on September 28, 2021. Photo: AP -
Barbara Broccoli; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Prince Charles, Prince of Wales; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Michael G Wilson attend the premiere. Photo: Getty -
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are greeted by Michael G Wilson at the event. Photo: Getty -
Charles, Price of Wales, and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, walk on the red carpet, followed by producer Barbara Broccoli, Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. Photo: AP -
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and her husband Charles, Prince of Wales attend the premiere. Photo: Getty
