Global box office boom for Bond

New James Bond film Skyfall has shot to the top of the box office rankings around the world and notched up one of the biggest UK openings of all time.

But the 23rd Bond movie failed to topple the record set by Harry Potter, with 007 scoring the second biggest Friday-to-Sunday opening weekend in UK history.

The movie, starring Daniel Craig, took an estimated £20.1 million in the UK, making it the biggest opening of the year so far, reported Deadline. But it failed to smash the UK record set by Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2, the final film in the boy wizard series, which was released in 3D last year.

In the UK, Skyfall also beat the opening weekends of previous Bond films with Craig in the title role, Casino Royale and the follow-up Quantum Of Solace.

The movie notched up 77.7 million US dollars (£48.3 million) across the globe, and was number one in every country where it opened.

Directed by Sam Mendes, Skyfall also stars Dame Judi Dench as secret service boss M, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Javier Bardem - as Bond's nemesis Silva - and Ben Whishaw, as Q.

Its world premiere, attended by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London last week.

Later, the filmmakers announced Skyfall had "made history" as "the biggest Bond opening weekend of all time" in the UK.

Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed with the reaction to Skyfall this weekend. It is particularly thrilling as the UK is home to James Bond and it being the 50th anniversary year."

Jeff Blake, chairman of Sony Pictures worldwide marketing and distribution, said: "To have Skyfall embraced at such unprecedented levels is tremendously exciting."