Billion-Dollar Bond: Skyfall Becomes First 007 Film to Cross the Box-Office Mark

Sam Mendes-directed flick is the No. 3 highest grossing movie of 2013

By Josh Grossberg Dec 31, 2012 3:00 PMTags
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James Bond's latest adventure is called Skyfall, but when it comes to the box office, 007 is soaring.

The Sam Mendes-helmed 23rd Bond flick, starring Daniel Craig as the suave superspy, officially grossed over $1 billion worldwide as of Sunday—the first film in the 50-year franchise to ever reach that milestone, according to stats compiled by Box Office Mojo.

Skyfall's record tally comes from $289 million worth of domestic ticket sales combined with an astounding $710 million worldwide haul after just two months in theaters.

Not only is that the highest-grossing Bond entry for MGM and Sony, not to mention one of the best reviewed in the canon (including a big thumbs up from former Bond Roger Moore), but it's also the third-highest grossing film of 2012. The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises came in Nos. 1 and 2 respectively, with a $1.5 billion and $1.08 billion global take.

And with Skyfall poised to open in China early next year, it has a pretty good shot at surpassing TDKR—no doubt helped by the fact that one of its major set pieces is set in Shanghai.

Batman, better watch your back!