'No Time To Die' collects $56 million at the US box office in its first week, globally crosses $300mn

After more than two years of built-up anticipation and COVID-related delays, Daniel Craig’s final James Bond movie 'No Time to Die', debuted at US theatres, but fell short of expectations at the Box Office.

The film raked in just about $56 million over three days. The film, however earned overall $89.5 million overseas, bringing its foreign box office take to $257 million and thus its global collection to $313.2 million worldwide.

In fact, the best Bond opening ever didn't even crack $100 million. 'No Time to Die' grossed about $14 million less than Spectre’s $70 million bow, and is far behind Skyfall’s franchise record-setting debut of $88.4 million in 2012. It is even below 2008’s 'Quantum of Solace', which earned $67.5 million.

Questions are now being asked on whether the Box Office collection a result of the pandemic or has 007 lost his touch? James Bond isn't Marvel when it comes to opening weekends. Bond has always had an older audience which is typically less inclined to rush out for the first weekend.

Unlike many films released during the pandemic, a streaming or hybrid release was never even a consideration for "No Time to Die." In addition to being the longest Bond film ever at two hours and 43 minutes, it was also an expensive one with a reported production budget of around $250 million. And that doesn't include marketing costs, which reportedly exceeded $100 million.