How No Time To Die’s Box Office Compares To Craig’s Other Bond Movies

No Time To Die is going to struggle to break even during its box office run, but how does it compare to Daniel Craig’s other James Bond movies?

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No Time To Die is not having the smoothest time at the domestic box office, but how does the 25th 007 film compare to Daniel Craig’s other 4 James Bond movies? Craig ends his tenure as the longest-serving James Bond after 15 years and 5 films. He first exploded onto screens back in 2006 with Casino Royale, followed two years later by direct sequel (a first for Bond) Quantum of Solace. It was 2012 before he donned the tux again in time for the series’ 50th anniversary in Skyfall. Craig then reunited with Skyfall Director Sam Mendes for 2015’s Spectre.

Since the release of Spectre Bond fans have been waiting patiently for the next installment. No Time To Die’s original release date of November 2019 was pushed back first to February 2020 and then April 2020 after director Danny Boyle left No Time To Die over creative differences. Boyle was replaced by Beasts of No Nation director Cary Joji Fukunaga. While a film should never be rushed to meet a release date, no one could have known that these initial postponements would have significant ramifications for the film’s box office potential, pushing it straight into the path of a worldwide pandemic.

It was the first major film that moved its release date as a result of COVID-19, a situation that would repeat itself twice more. The film was moved to November 2020, then April 2021, before finally settling on October 2021 (and September 30th for the UK). These continual delays added significant marketing costs onto the film’s shoulders, as well as interest charges and fines against the No Time To Die’s immense costs.

How Much No Time To Die Has Made At The Box Office So Far

No Time To Die has taken just shy of $100 million after two weeks at the domestic box office, with $99,002,672 million in ticket sales. Its domestic opening weekend of $55.2 million was considered a disappointment considering the length of time it had been delayed and the perceived build-up of anticipation from audiences to see the film. Many box office analysts thought that it could at least hit $60-$70 million. In its second weekend, the film dropped to $23.8 million, a respectable 57% off its opening, and a standard drop for a blockbuster.

No Time To Die faces heavy competition in the coming weeks with the release of Dune and Eternals, which are set to steal a lot of its screens. In particular, Dune has had good international box office and is highly anticipated. No Time To Die’s soft opening was attributed to Bond films appealing to older audiences who may still be apprehensive about visiting the theatre during COVID. Additionally, its runtime of 2 hours and 43 minutes limits the number of potential showings a day.

How No Time To Die’s Box Office Compares To Craig’s Other Bond Movies

Unadjusted for inflation Daniel Craig’s Bond movies have made significantly more at the box office than previous installments in the James Bond Franchise. Casino Royale opened to a modest $40.8 million back in 2006 and didn’t even manage to be the number 1 film that weekend, coming 2nd to Happy Feet. However, it held on very well, falling only 25% in its second weekend ($30 million). It set Craig’s era as James Bond off to a fantastic start, finishing with a then franchise high of $167.3 million domestically, and $594.4 million worldwide (off a $102 million budget). Its lifetime gross increased to $606 million.

Quantum of Solace was rushed into production and was another Bond film that suffered from poor timing, coinciding with the 2007-2008 writer’s strike. Its $67.5 million opening was a big jump from Casino Royale, but it didn’t have that film’s legs, dropping 60% in its second weekend. It ended with only $2 million more than its predecessor domestically, and $3 million less worldwide ($169.3 million/$591.6 million). Its $230 million budget also more than doubled Casino Royale’s.

2012’s Skyfall was considered a return to form after the problems faced by Quantum of Solace, and audiences agreed, to the tune of $88.3 million in its domestic opening weekend. It held well in its second weekend ($41 million/53 % drop) and only dropped 14% in its third. It ended its impressive run with new franchise records of $304.3 domestically, and a whopping $1.11 billion worldwide (the first and only Bond film to ever cross $1 billion). Its box office take can be attributed to the quality of the film, and the 4-year gap between movies building audience anticipation. Furthermore, 2012 was the series’ 50th Anniversary, and EON pulled out all the stops to make the film an unmissable event for fans worldwide.

Spectre arrived in November 2015 to continue Daniel Craig’s James Bond story. While successful financially (if not so well received by fans), it was not able to beat Skyfall’s box office. Its $70 million opening was respectable without being spectacular, and its second-weekend take of $33 million was similarly acceptable. It managed to inch past $200 million domestically in its twentieth week of release (Skyfall managed it in less than three weeks). Overall it made $879.5 million worldwide in its theatrical run.

Is No Time To Die A Box Office Success or Failure?

No Time T0 Die’s second-weekend drop is roughly in line with Quantum of Solace and Spectre, which are considered by fans to be where Craig’s tenure as James Bond went wrong in terms of quality. No Time To Die has stronger reviews than those films, which bodes well for repeat viewings. While it faces competition from Dune and Eternals, it could still manage to have reasonable legs.

Additionally, while its domestic numbers can be considered a disappointment in relation to its anticipated opening, its $447,302,672 million worldwide gross is very strong after only two weeks, placing it at no. 6 on the list of 2021’s highest-grossing films. It will soon pass Godzilla vs. Kong to become no. 5 on that list and, worldwide, has outgrossed most of the Hollywood blockbuster movies of 2021. Black Widow has effectively ended its theatrical run with $379 million, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is slowing down with $414 million, and Free Guy has made $328 million. So far this year only F9’s box office has managed to reach numbers akin to previous franchise installments (though still less than The Fate of the Furious and Furious 7).

The issue for No Time To Die though is its price tag. It has a budget of $250 million (some estimates have it as high as $300 million) before marketing/distribution costs as well as fines/interest is factored in. Given this, it is estimated that it would need to make between $800-900 million before it can break even. Even with a potentially strong showing in China, that is simply too far of a stretch for this James Bond film.

While ballooning budgets for films is inherently unsustainable and risky, the producers really were between a rock and hard place in terms of its release. It was the right decision to delay No Time To Die at the start of the pandemic, as it would have otherwise stood to lose up to $300 million. However, given the astronomical costs involved it would have had a hard time making a profit in its theatrical run even without COVID-19.

Whatever the final box office numbers for No Time To Die are, it’s important to remember that James Bond is one of the most successful and enduring cinematic franchises of all time, a feat that the box office of one movie cannot diminish. Equally important is the fact that these films continue to make money decades after their initial release. Daniel Craig’s time as James Bond was very profitable, and ancillary revenues, re-releases, boxsets, merchandise, and advertising deals all add up. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that that with each new James Bond film a fresh generation of life-long Bond fans are born. In this context, No Time To Die will be a financial success eventually, it’s just a matter of time.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/no-time-die-james-bond-daniel-craig-box-office/