LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Directed by Sam Mendes and starring Daniel Craig as the never-aging superspy, "Skyfall" to date has grossed $518.6 million worldwide. Of the film's $90 million domestic gross, $2.2 million was earned in exclusive Thursday runs in IMAX and other large-format theaters.

"Skyfall" marks relative Bond newcomer Daniel Craig's third time donning the tuxedo. In addition to nabbing the biggest domestic opening for a James Bond pic, it also marked Sony's ninth No. 1 opening this year.

More recent additions to the Bond series, "Quantum of Solace" debuted to a series-best $67.5 million in mid-November of 2008, and "Casino Royale" -- marking Craig's first turn as 007 -- opened to $40.8 million in November 2006.

"Skyfall," the 23rd installment in the Bond series is certain to surpass the $586.1 million earned by "Quantum of Solace" and the $594.2 million grossed by "Casino Royale" in their entire worldwide runs.

"It's been a wild, fantastic ride," Sony president of worldwide distribution Rory Bruer says. "The holds have been extraordinary and people will want to see this film again and again."

It was a good weekend for the U.S. box office in general. Revenue was up an impressive 27 percent over the same weekend a year ago thanks to "Skyfall" and a strong crop of holdovers including "Wreck-It Ralph," "Flight," "Argo" and "Taken 2."

"Skyfall" generated spectacular numbers for IMAX theaters, which took in $13.1 million, the best debut for a non-summer opening.

"Skyfall's" domestic opening was buoyed by an A CinemaScore coupled with good reviews. The film skewed older, with 75 percent of the audience over age 25. Males made up 60 percent of those buying tickets.

In "Skyfall," James Bond must save both M, played by Judi Dench and MI6 from former operative-turned-villain Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem). The movie also stars Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Berenice Lim Marlohe and Albert Finney.

"Skyfall" cost about $200 million to make after rebates.

A far quieter debut arrived in Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln." Opening in only 11 cities before it expands nationwide November 16, Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" likewise earned an A CinemaScore and strong reviews. The DreamWorks film is distributed domestically by Disney.

The Top Ten Movies at the nation's box offices this past weekend were:

1. "Skyfall"
2. "Wreck-It Ralph"
3. "Flight"
4. "Argo"
5. "Taken 2"
6. "Here Comes the Boom"
7. "Cloud Atlas"
8. "Pitch Perfect"
9. "The Man with the Iron Fists"
10. "Hotel Transylvania"

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