Screentime
James Bond Becomes Theaters’ New Hope for a Box Office Jolt
- Film grosses $27 million internationally through Friday
- Daniel Craig’s last turn as British spy hits U.S. on Oct. 8
With consumers shunning theaters because of Covid-19, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. tried to find a new outlet for one of its crown jewels. The studio talked to streaming services, including Apple Inc. and Netflix Inc., about a cash offer for the latest unreleased James Bond film “No Time to Die.”
Fortunately for cinema fans and theater chains, the studio reverted back to its original plan to release the picture on the big screen. “No Time to Die” has been opening internationally this week to strong reviews and impressive ticket sales, given the pandemic. It’s billed as the last Bond film to star Daniel Craig, who is retiring from the role.