Hot Cannes Property: Natalie Portman, Lynn Ramsay Team On … 
Brad Pitt Hits Cannes With ‘Killing Them … 
Longtime TV Exec Rod Perth Named NATPE President & CEO 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘House’ Ends Run On High-Ish … 
Does Cable News Clarify Or Confuse The Public’s … 
Mark Burnett’s Company Launches Scripted Unit, Taps … 
‘Mary Mother Of Christ’ In Lionsgate Deal 
Icon UK Group Joins ‘The Butler’; Forest … 
Best Buy Shares Up Pre-Market As Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates 
HBO Developing Comedy Series Starring Catherine Keener And … 
Will ‘Paperboy’ Heat Domestic Buying At Cannes? … 
Millennium Films Buys Spec Thriller ‘Playing … 
Will ‘American Idol’s’ Jessica Sanchez … 
Legendary’s Thomas Tull Among Just 3 Contenders … 
Harvey Weinstein Unveils ‘The Master’, … 
CBS’ ‘Rules Of Engagement’ Renewed For … 
Facebook Shares Fall Below Offering Price Even As Market … 
UTA Signs ‘Intouchables’ Star Omar Sy 
Weather Wreaks Havoc In Cannes; Wind Damage Forces … 
Cable Execs Warn That Dish Network’s Ad-Zapping DVR … 
Hulu Unveils Summer Slate Of Original And Exclusive Shows 
UPDATED: This weekend’s big box office news was overseas: MGM/Sony’s Quantum Of Solace, the 22nd James Bond motion picture, had record-setting launches in the UK, France and Sweden this weekend. Total Fri-Sat-Sun take was $38.6 million on 2,123 prints, generating more than $18,000 per print. The pic expands into 57 additional markets next weekend. But Bond made box office history on its opening day in the UK, taking a staggering £4.9 million and making it the biggest Friday opening of all time. 
This shattered the previous record held by Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire, which took £4.0m. The latest 007 installment, which claims to be the longest running franchise in film history (if you don’t count Godzilla or Tarzan), also beat the opening day figure of £2.9m for Casino Royale, the first to star Daniel Craig. Quantum Of Solace did £15.4 million for its UK weekend launch and the biggest standard 3-day opening of all time there, passing Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire‘s £14.934 million. This is 35% bigger than the £11.4 million launch of Casino Royale and a massive 70% of the UK box office this weekend. France’s weekend estimate of €8.2 million beat Casino Royale‘s 5-day €7.0 by 16% for the biggest Bond launch ever there, and in just 3 days. MGM/Sony expect Quantum to have three great days ahead in France, with the All Saint’s holiday school break running through November 5th. And Sweden’s 18.1 million SEK 3-day weekend is that country’s 4th biggest FSS ever, behind only Lord of the Rings 3 (20.4), and 31% more than Casino Royale‘s 13.821 million SEK launch. The 22nd Bond will release in the U.S. on November 14th and its first choice tracking was almost double what it was for Daniel Craig’s debut as Bond in Casino Royale. But this is 007 without the established Bond cliches and stereotypes. Reviewers said the current Bond movie looked more like Bond-as-Bourne since it dropped Moneypenny, dropped Q, dropped the wit, dropped the gadgets, and dropped the line “The name is Bond, James Bond”.
That said, rival studio chatter says this may be the costliest film ever made minute by minute: $261 million for a 105-minute movie, which comes out to almost $2.5 million per minute. (As opposed to, say, the $300M pricetag for 165-minute-long Pirates Of The Caribbean 3.) But Sony sources say that number is “off base by more than $60M. Plus we have tax credits from filming.” Produced for EON Productions by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the 22nd Bond was directed by Marc Forster with screenplay by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Oscar-winner Paul Haggis. The film picks up the storyline just one hour after the end of Casino Royale, marking the first direct sequel produced by EON Productions/Danjaq, LLC, which is owned by the Broccoli family and has produced 21 Bond films since 1962.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
Loading ...
Parts of the movie were being filmed in Austria.
Those Austrians don’t work cheap. That’s why!
$20,000 dollar hookers and lots of cocaine is how I get my costs up
Certainly does make you wonder. Apparently it’s an action-packed Bond, though (and from the number of people I’ve talked to in the UK who’ve seen it, they say the Bourne/Bond comparison is WAY off base in that it still very much feels like a Bond film).
The critical focus is sort of stupidly bent toward the lack of the Q, Moneypenny characters, etc. The filmmakers have been very clear in pre-release junkets that the characters will return to the franchise when the story necessitates it, as opposed to shoehorning them in. Apparently the Bond “line” as it were was indeed shot, but cut from the film due to that same fact – it was there for the sake of being there.
As a fan, I’m certainly not appreciating the two week gap between the UK and NA releases!
If all the things that made James Bond movies what they were, why call this James Bond. Why not call it something else, after all, that is what it is.
will see it, but don’t pretend it is another in the James Bond series when it just “ain’t.”
Why was cost so high? Probably all the location filming
But don’t forget they’ll get a lot of the money back through the lucrative (and blatant) product placement, as well as other tie ins.
AW take the heart out if a Bond movie..the preposterous
reality, the gajets, the wit
Miami nice
I am looking forward to seeing this film in the states!
Lump all 3 of the later Bond lead men – and the stories – together, and they wouldn’t match Roger Moore or Sean Connery in ANY one of theirs!
Nice to see the film industry subsidized with 6 million taxpayer dollars though… SHEESH!
expensive locations to film. they don’t film the whole movie in canada to save money like those big action films
Daniel Craig’s James Bond makes Timothy Dalton’s James Bond seem fun-loving and laid-back in comparison.
Old dude. Hot chick. Bla. Bla.
No Gadgets? I thought that this was a bond film? I hope that they don’t ruin a franchise like they did with Mission Impossible. Keep it what makes it Bond.
How can there Bond without Moneypenny, Q, wit, gadgets, and “Bond, James Bond”. I’m lost!
Answer to Enrique’s Question: stunts.
They should start making 3 bond movies at a time like the lord of the rings to cut the costs 3 movies for 400 M, since there are already 22 it will never stop…
Reviewers said the 22nd Bond movie looked more like Bond-as-Bourne since it dropped Moneypenny, dropped Q, dropped the wit, dropped the gadgets, and dropped the line “The name is Bond, James Bond”.
All of that was used to excess in “Die Another Day” and it’s what ruined Pierce Brosnan’s final turn as Bond. This new Bond is fine the way it is.
Actually, the Godzilla franchise is the longest franchise in film history (beating Bond by 8 years). But this looks good.
I always find it incredibly stupid to say movies break a box office “record”. The price to see a movie keeps going up, so any recent popular movie will break the record. Big deal. Why not talk about bums in seats?
“Casino Royale” was definitely the best of the post-Connery movies. Daniel Craig is at least the best Bond since Connery and, possibly, may even prove to be equal thereto.
Casino Royale was far less campy and relied far more on the quality of the script and character development than sophomoric word gags, flashy explosive special effects and stunts than any Bond movie produced to date. That was what in fact held the audience’s interest and made it a success.
If this sequel, as it is called, continues to follow the new trend of reliance upon higher quality writing as against the alleged comparative dirth special effects, stunts and worn out/overused bond cliches, then I am looking forwarding to seeing this new film. I hope that it is as impressive and “rewatchable” as this last one.
“But this is 007 without the established Bond cliches and stereotypes.”
HA! The reviewers state this as if it is a bad thing.
Give me Connery and oddjob anyday. The new Bond is a politically correct wuss.
I have to jump in here.. This and the Casino are the closest Bond movies to actually follow the style of the the Flemming books.. They are the best of the lot going all the way back to 62. Bond was a brutal assasin and Craig’s Bond is the best Bond to date. I was a fan of the books and the movies never got it right until Casino. The whole “one liner male model” thing was ridiculous. They’ve finally got it right and these are the best Bond films ever made. Those who are looking for the Hollywood simpleton crap will be disappointed and those who know the Flemming books will love the film.
Wow. I have to admit, I have not seen this much hatred to a film in a franchise since the dreaded Star Wars prequels. I’ll throw my hat in and say Casino Royale was far and away the best Bond yet, and Quantum of Solace looks to be a worthy next step. Bravo to Daniel Craig. Ok, now commence ripping me to shreds.
This is definitely the ugliest James Bond ever. Were did the producers find this guy?
Bond is not the longest running film franchise. Godzilla has him beat with 28 movies (vs. 22 for Bond) over 54 years (vs. 46 for Bond).