MUMBAI: The new James Bond has taken the Indian box-office by storm as Casino Royale released across India on 17 November. The film starring Daniel Craig in his debut as 007, has grossed Rs 149.4 million (Rs 14.94 crores) in three days (17-19 November, 2006) at the box-office. With this, it has become the fastest foreign film in India to cross the Rs 100 million (Rs 10 crore) mark in just three days!
The 21st James Bond adventure has had its best opening weekend performance for a foreign film in India, surpassing Spider-Man 2’s Rs 78 million (Rs 7.8 crores) at the box-office, which is a whopping 92 per cent more. The movie opened across 452 screens on 427 prints across India.
On its opening day (17 November), the film had the largest opening day for any Foreign film in India, which is Rs 47.4 million (Rs 4.74 crores). Moreover, on Sunday (19 November), Casino Royale had its highest single day collection ever – Rs 52 million (Rs 5.2 crores) – for a foreign film in India.
Sony Pictures Releasing India managing director Uday Singh says, “Casino Royale has exceeded our expectations at the box-office. This unprecedented opening is the largest for a foreign film in India. Backed by a 360 degree marketing campaign, synergy partnerships from the Sony Group Companies and our brand alliances, we took this franchise to a wider audience base. Critical acclaim from the media further helped in building the buzz.â€ÂÂ
In an exclusive tête-à -tête with Businessofcinema.com, prior to the release of the film, Singh had said that the company expects Casino Royale to gross Rs 400+ million (Rs 40+ crores) at the Indian box office. And the stage has sure been set.
International Box Office performance
Internationally, (excluding US and Canada, which are referred to as the domestic market) Casino Royale opened on 3,063 screens across 27 markets, during the weekend 17-19 November, 2006, grossing an estimated $42.2 million. This performance made it the number one overseas attraction for the weekend.
Casino Royale is the biggest Bond opening ever in the UK, grossing 46 per cent more than the last title, Die Another Day. A three-day-weekend gross of about $22 million, makes it the second-best opening ever for Hollywood in the UK.
In Russia, the weekend estimated debut of $3.8 million from 633 screens makes it the eighth-biggest launch for non-Russian films.
The film opened to the number one spot in Greece, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Poland and the UAE (the second largest launch in that market).
With key Western European territories and Japan still to come and given the strong international following for Bond pictures, Casino Royale looks poised for a long haul at the box-office.
However, according to media reports, Casino Royale took a beating with a very small margin to Warner Brothers’ animation film Happy Feet at the US box office. The latter, which has voices Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Hugh Jackman, collected $42.3 million in ticket sales as compared to Bond’s $40.6 million.
BOND 22 IN THE MAKING WITH CRAIG; TO RELEASE IN NOVEMBER 2008
Meanwhile, work has already begun on the 22nd James Bond film. Titled Bond 22, the film will yet agian star Daniel Craig and Eva Green and is slated for a release in November 2008.
According to media reports, the film will explain how Vesper (Green) had an Algerian boyfriend, and had been sent on this mission, until she begins to feel guilty. The movie will show Vesper in love with Bond, whereas what she had with her Algerian boyfriend will be portrayed as an affair. The Algerian boyfriend surfaces in Bond 22 as the baddie.
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