Skyfall a US hit after taking record $90m at box-office

ADDING in $2.2 million from Thursday night previews at IMAX and other large-format theatres, “Skyfall” has taken in $90 million in America, according to studio estimates on Sunday.

That lifts the worldwide total for “Skyfall” to $518.6 million since it began rolling out in Europe in late October.

The third instalment starring Daniel Craig as British super-spy Bond, “Skyfall” outdid the $67.5 million US debut of 2008’s “Quantum of Solace,” the franchise’s previous best opening. “Skyfall” more than doubled the $40.8 million debut of Craig’s first Bond film, 2006’s “Casino Royale.”

“Skyfall” already has passed the $407.7 million overseas total for “Quantum of Solace” and by Monday, it will top the $432.2 million international haul for “Casino Royale.”  The Craig era has reinvigorated one of Hollywood’s most-enduring franchises, whose first big-screen Bond adventure, “Dr. No,” debuted 50 years ago.