Box Office: Quantum of Solace is the Biggest Bond Ever with $27M Friday; Possible $71.5M Weekend

Posted on Saturday, November 15th, 2008 by Steve Mason

Craig…Daniel Craig. The actor is now responsible for the biggest James Bond opening as Quantum of Solace (Sony) has followed spectacular overseas openings with a monstrous $27M opening day in the US. That is about 30% better than the previous best single day for a Bond film.

ALL-TIME BEST SINGLE DAY GROSSES FOR THE 007 FRANCHISE
1. Friday, November 14, 2008 – Quantum of Solace - $27M (estimated)
2. Saturday, November 23, 2002 – Die Another Day - $19M
3. Friday, November 22, 2002 – Die Another Day - $16.6M
4. Friday, November 18, 2006 – Casino Royale - $15.4M
5. Friday, November 17, 2006 – Casino Royale - $14.7M

That will possibly translate to a $71.5M opening weekend, 75% better than Craig’s first outing, 2006’s Casino Royale ($40.8M), and up 52% from the all-time best Bond opening, 2002’s Die Another Day ($47M opening).

Sony’s decision to reboot the 007 franchise, after Pierce Brosnan’s Die Another Day became the biggest Bond movie ever with $167M domestic, was aggressive and inspired. Screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, and then, later, Oscar winner Paul Haggis (Crash) faithfully adapted Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale and the quickly-approaching-50 Brosnan “got the hint” and “stepped down” from the role. The filmmakers wanted a younger, tougher, grittier 007 instead of the lightweight, foppish version of the character created by the former Remington Steele star.

Daniel Craig formally accepted the Bond “crown” at an October 2005 press conference and Martin Campbell signed on to direct, and the result was a reinvention of the franchise. Not everyone loved the idea. In fact, a pro-Brosnan website called DanielCraigisnotBond.com was started as a means to protest, and it is online to this day. The proprietors of this website may be responsible for the most misguided and ineffective boycott in the history of entertainment.

As I wrote Thursday, I believe that Quantum of Solace will be the first James Bond film to crack $200M domestic, and the worldwide box office could reach a staggering $700M. This film will have no competition for adult audiences next weekend with only Bolt and Twilight opening, and Quantum will demonstrate excellent “playability” well past Thanksgiving.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Dreamworks/Paramount) has started its 2nd weekend solidly with an estimated $8.7M Friday, and it will likely reach $35.6M for the 3-day. That would make for a 10-day cume of $117.5M, and Mad 2 has a real chance at becoming the biggest grossing non-Shrek movie in Dreamworks Animation history.

David Wain’s Role Models (Universal) is holding well, adding $3.65M Friday. The R-rated comedy has a shot at $10.77M or so, representing just a 44% drop, which will be enough for 3rd place for the frame. Clint Eastwood’s Changeling (Universal) is a probable 4th with almost $5.5M by Monday morning and a new cume of $28.8M. I expect High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Disney) to round out the top 5 with just under $4.5M for the weekend.
SATURDAY 12:00 p.m. (Pacific): Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Dreamworks/Paramount) came in at $8.1M for its 2nd Friday, lower than the $8.7M I projected last night.

My revised 3-day number for Mad 2 is $33.2M, which is very good, but that would represent 47% dip from last weekend’s meteoric $61M start. On dynamic to watch today is the effect of those 840 or so sneak previews of Bolt (Disney), many in 3D. That could conceivably take a bite out of Madagascar’s Saturday, and it will definitely boost Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney). After managing just $295,000 on Friday, the long-running Chihuahua could finish the frame with as much as $2.36M.

Even with the lower projection for Escape 2 Africa, its 10-day cume would still be a spectacular $115M. That would give it the all-time 4th-best opening 10 days for an animated movie not released in the Summer or for a holiday weekend.

ALL-TIME TOP 10 TEN GROSSES FOR ANIMATED NON-SUMMER SEASON/NON-HOLIDAY RELEASES
1. The Incredibles - $143.2M
2. Ice Age: The Meltdown - $115.75M
3. Monsters, Inc. - $122.1M
4. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - $115M (projected)
5. Shark Tale - $87.3M
6. Ice Age - $87.2M
7. Dr. Suess’ Horton Hears A Who - $86M
8. Happy Feet - $99.2M
9. Chicken Little - $80.4
10. Bee Movie - $71.7M

Dreamworks has to be thrilled. After 2 weekends, Madagascar 2 will be up 60% from where last November’s Bee Movie was at the same point. Mad 2’s 10-day gross is also up 15% from the original Madagascar, which had banked $100.3M after 10 days, and that was a Memorial Day release. With Thanksgiving coming up, I am now more certain than ever that Escape 2 Africa will become the all-time biggest non-Shrek movie from Dreamworks Animation.

EXCLUSIVE FANTASY MOGULS REVISED FRIDAY ESTIMATES
1. NEW – Quantum of Solace (Sony) - $27M, $7,824PTA, $27M cume
2. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $8.1M, $1,993 PTA, $89.9M cume
3. Role Models (Universal) - $3.76M, $1,345 PTA, $30.1M cume
4. High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Disney) — $1.32M, $414 PTA, $79.8M cume
5. Changeling (Universal) — $1.23M, $650 PTA, $24.6M cume
6. Zack and Miri Make a Porno (Weinstein) — $1.07M, $484 PTA, $24.3M cume
7. Soul Men (MGM) - $690,000, $337 PTA, $7.7M cume
8. The Secret Life of Bees (Fox Searchlight) — $655,000, $452 PTA, $31.9M cume
9. Saw V (Lionsgate) — $565,000, $282 PTA, $54.1M cume
10. The Haunting of Molly Hartley (Freestyle) - $500,000, $315 PTA, $11.5M cume
11. Eagle Eye (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $465,000, $383 PTA, $97.7M cume
12. Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney) - $295,000, $182 PTA, $89.5M cume

EXCLUSIVE FANTASY MOGULS EARLY 3-DAY ESTIMATES
1. NEW – Quantum of Solace (Sony) - $71.55M, $20,733PTA, $71.55M cume
2. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $33.21M, $8,170 PTA, $115M cume
3. Role Models (Universal) - $11.1M, $3,967 PTA, $37.5M cume
4. High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Disney) — $4.77M, $1,490 PTA, $83.2M cume
5. Changeling (Universal) — $4.22M, $2,229 PTA, $27.6M cume
6. Zack and Miri Make a Porno (Weinstein) — $3.26M, $1,477 PTA, $26.5M cume
7. Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney) - $2.36M, $1,459 PTA, $91.6M cume
8. The Secret Life of Bees (Fox Searchlight) — $2.33M, $1,609 PTA, $33.6M cume
9. Soul Men (MGM) - $2.17M, $1,061 PTA, $9.1M cume
10. Saw V (Lionsgate) — $1.72M, $861 PTA, $55.3M cume
11. Eagle Eye (Dreamworks/Paramount) - $1.53M, $1,264 PTA, $98.8M cume
12. The Haunting of Molly Hartley (Freestyle) - $1.5M, $945 PTA, $12.5M cume

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  • kfizz
    I think they way it works is. A movie that blows people away with a reboot has a better showing in its 2nd film it may not be the better but in the case of the dark knight its true.
  • Joeda L
    I think what kfizz says is true. However the reason why the films are so successful is not just because they are franchise reboots. I think that a good starting film for a franchise builds anticipation for the next film. If a movie is good, the filmmakers have set a high expectation for the sequel. Viewers believe that the quality is carried on over to the next film and so a pleasant cinematic experience is almost a safe bet.
  • TheDaftPunk
    That's a shame, Casino Royale was a lot better than QoS, and people usually equate success with quality. Oh yeah, those people at DanielCraigisnotBond are completely nuts.
  • Movie Reviewer Guy
    QoS was just one monotonous action sequence after another. Complete let down. They completely "Bourned" it down.
  • Marc
    Of course Casino Royale was better than Quantum of Solace, but it's still a lot better than the Brosnan era. We need a realistic and gritty Bond, not a gadget whore with a couple of lame one-liners. Daniel Craig is the perfect Bond and he's on his way to become a major star (outside of the Bond franchise).
  • Miriam Gonzalez Fan Club
    Lines All Over Manhattan Last Nite For Qos. Rumor Is The Next Bond Will Be Set In Nyc.
  • lost soldier
    So, can the next Bourne flick be about James Bond set out to track down Bourne?

    The Bourne Trixinatum: Bourne vs. Bond

    I'd go see that.
  • Delta Assault
    They can't do that movie, Bourne already got killed by Max Payne.
  • zinkywinks
    I saw Bond a week ago and it was horrible. It's kind of sad.
  • MrCavanagh
    This post needed more words in "quotation".
  • bobby
    CASINO ROYALE WAS WAY BETTER!! TO ME THIS MOVIE WAS A COMPLETE LET DOWN.. IM HOPING THE NEXT ONE WILL RECAPTURE THE WAY THE OLD JAMES BOND MOVIES WERE.. LIKE DR.NO,THUNDERBALL,AND GOLDFINGER...

    EITHER STEVEN SPIELBERG OR QUENTIN TARANTINO SHOULD DIRECT THE NEXT ONE!!! NOW THAT WOULD SWEET!!
  • kbillyradio
    Saw QoS last night and thought it was wonderful. It doesn't stand very well as it's own self contained film, but as a continuation of Casino Royale it was great. I don't miss a lot of the gadgets or characters like Q and Moneypenny, while I enjoy those I didn't miss them in this particular film nor the previous one. At the end of QoS you truly get a sense that Bond has begun and that should excite any and every James Bond fan. Not to mention the fact that the film had several brilliantly staged and edited sequences. Marc Forster really put his auteuristic stamp on the franchise. I welcome the producers at EON to continue choosing directors with a unique voice to bring to this franchise.
  • MozThaGreat
    CasinoR had such elegance and classic bond suave, QoS had
    elegance too this was just an action movie, come on they
    didnt even use same Aston Martin DBS from CasinoR
    and this was 15 min later, how did they miss that. they
    definetly need to bring martin campbell back for next bond
    film.
  • Crypto
    zinkywinks: what's kind of sad? Do you mean the fact that your personal opinion (which may not be shared by everyone else) is that the new Bond film is bad?

    I wish more people would realize that films are not categorically "bad" or "good" (thus making them "sad", in the latter case). Everyone has their opinion and yet some people couch it in categorical statements.

    Now *that* is sad.
  • Captain Awesome
    "They completely “Bourned” it down."

    Man, that's why I like these new Craig Bond films. I got tired of the old guys doing nothing and throwing out cheesy one-liners. It's good to have a spy actually act like one for once.
  • MrCavanagh
    Exactly. I thing the opera house scene alone had Bond acting like more of a spy than the last two Brosnan movies combined.
  • Shogun Seth
    I just saw it, and I really liked it. I guess I could understand how people who liked the old Bond movies could be disappointed...no invisible car, no terribly cheesy dialog, no lasers or space bases…I don’t say that to make fun of those people that like the old movies, but I never really cared for them. The “Craig” Bond movies I really like, not just as “James Bond” movies, but I think they stand on their own legs. I hope the amount of money this one makes forces the next one to be set in the same tone and not start to introduce gadgets and “villains” out of 60’s Batman comics…..
  • I watched this movie last evening but wasn't as good as the previous ones.The action scenes weren't up to the mark as well as the villain was not a strong opponent of bond! This goes into one of the bad movies of Bond.
  • jose antonio
    daniel craig is ugly , quantum of solace is a crap

    sean connery the best james bond
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