QUANTUM of Solace has set a new opening record for a James Bond movie in America, taking an estimated $70.4 million in its opening weekend (from November 14-16, 2008), according to its distributor, Columbia Pictures.

The 22nd 007 adventure, directed by Marc Forster, has already smashed UK opening records and been a hit across the globe, but the US figures are over $10 million more than the best box office forecasts.

The previous best James Bond performer at the US box office was Die Another Day, which took $47.1 million during its first weekend in November 2002, while Daniel Craig’s 007 debut in 2006’s popular Casino Royale opened to $40.8 million.

Industry pundits had therefore forecast an opening in the $60 million range, particularly as the film had failed to generate that many positive reviews from American critics.

The film, which follows on immediately after the events of Casino Royale, finds James Bond out for revenge and battling a villain (French actor Mathieu Amalric) who is looking to control natural resources.

Internationally, Quantum of Solace has now earned $251.6 million in 73 countries, prompting Rory Bruer, president of Columbia Pictures distribution to exclaim: “It’s totally extraordinary. Everybody is really loving the movie!”

Elsewhere at the US box office, last week’s winner Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa dropped to No. 2, with another extremely healthy $36.1 million to bring its 10-day total to $118 million. The DreamWorks Animation sequel is now the 19th movie to cross the $100 million mark this year.

Another British film, meanwhile, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire debuted with a whopping $35,043 average in just 10 venues. It has received largely positive reviews.

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