Mumbai: Quantum of Solace, the latest in the James Bond franchise, opened in the US and Cananda last week and has grossed $70.4 million in its opening weekend across 3451 theatres.

According to Media By Numbers, the movie collected $27 million on Friday, $26.1 million on Saturday and $17.3 million on Sunday at the box-office. The debut was 73 per cent higher than that of 2005’s Casino Royale ($40.8 million) and was the best ever opening for a Bond film soundly beating 2002’s Die Another Day, which earned $47 million in its first weekend.

The movie released in India on 7 November, a week prior to its US release, and collected Rs 170 million in its opening weekend here. The movie has so far raked in $322 million worldwide. Quantum of Solace is the second Bond movie to star Daniel Craig as the British super spy.

In the US, Madagascar Escape 2 Africa stood at number two spot and has collected $118 million in 10 days. Fox Searchlight’s Slumdog Millionaire debuted in 10 theatres but has had a massive per-theatre average of $350,434. Slumdog Millionaire has been directed by Danny Boyle. Since its opening on 12 November, the movie has grossed $418,131.