At the Box Office, It\'s a James Bond Weekend

LOS ANGELES - The 50-year-old James Bond movie franchise - a survivor of Austin Powers parodies, egregious product placement, Jason Bourne, polyester and Denise Richards in the role of a nuclear physicist - just delivered its best opening-weekend results ever.

“Skyfall” took in an estimated $87.8 million over the weekend in North American theaters, easily enough for No. 1 and a new high for Ian Fleming's long-in-the-tooth superspy - even when adjusting for inflation, according to Hollywood.com, which compiles box office data. (“Skyfall” did have the advantage of playing in 3,505 theaters.)

“Skyfall,” which cost Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Sony Pictures Entertainment about $200 million to make, has taken in an additional $428 million overseas, where 20th Century Fox has distribution rights. The Imax sneak-peek showings in North America chipped in $2.2 million more.

“Part of it is movie magic - the team here knocked it out of the park - and par t of it is franchise DNA,” said Rory Bruer, Sony's president of worldwide distribution. “From the inception of Bond until now, most men fantasize about being him and most women fantasize about dating him.”

The “Skyfall” results are also a stark reminder for Hollywood, ever in search of blockbusters, that nothing beats old-fashioned storytelling and filmmaking. “Skyfall” earned stellar reviews - on par with Steven Spielberg's Oscar-contending “Lincoln,” according to RottenTomatoes.com - by delivering a coherent plot, bringing back classic characters, embracing 007's historically playful tone and eschewing computerized effects in favor of live-action shoots.

In many ways, “Skyfall” listened to Bond fans, many of whom were upset with the 2008 “Quantum of Solace. Perhaps feeling pressure from the younger Jason Bourne spy series, “Quantum of Solace” stripped out much of the Bond quirk. Audiences gave †œSkyfall” an A score in exit polls.

Starring Daniel Craig in his third outing as 007 and Javier Bardem as a throwback villain, “Skyfall” was directed by Sam Mendes from a script by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.

“Bond has a resonance that keeps him cool, and Sam Mendes clearly paid particular attention to that,” said Greg Foster, chairman and president of Imax Filmed Entertainment.

That “Skyfall” made it to screens at all is something of a Hollywood miracle. The film was delayed due to lengthy financial troubles at MGM that resulted in bankruptcy. Sony helped save the day, agreeing to co-finance and distribute the thriller for a continued stake in the series. MGM and its producing partner, EON Productions, own roughly 75 percent of “Skyfall,” with Sony holding the remaining 25 percent.

The studios delivered a marketing campaign that included Mr. Craig's much-discussed stunt at the London Olympics, supposedly parachuting into the opening ceremony with Queen Elizabeth II in his arms. For Sony's marketing wizards, “Skyfall” is their 9th No. 1 release of 2012.

Can they make “Skyfall” the biggest Bond of all time in America? It will be difficult: “Thunderball” (1965) holds that rank, taking in $508.2 million in North America, after adjusting for inflation, according to Hollywood.com.

For the weekend, “Wreck-It Ralph” (Walt Disney Studios) was second, selling an estimated $33.1 million in tickets, for a two-week total of $93.7 million. Two well-reviewed dramas were third and fourth: “Flight” (Paramount Pictures) took in about $15.1 million, for a two-week total of $47.8 million, and “Argo” (Warner Brothers) grossed $6.7 million, lifting its five-week total to an estimated $87.1 million.

“Taken 2” (Fox) chugged along in fifth place, with about $4 million, for a six-week total of $131.3 million.

Also notable was “Lincoln,” which arrived in only 11 theaters as a buzz-building technique - perhaps the smallest initial release ever for one of Mr. Spielberg's films - and took in $900,000.