No Time to Die— the most eagerly anticipated 007 of all time given almost years of delays due to the pandemic–has finally landed in British cinemas.

The film received a glittering world premiere at London’s Albert Hall, September 29, and simultaneous screenings in over 60 venues around the world.

The 25th installment of the franchise is released this weekend across cinemas in the U.K, Brazil, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

The film, which already launched in Korea on Wednesday, topping box-office, will open in the U.S. October 8.

The excitement is great in the U.K., where Bond is part of the nation’s cultural fabric and where box office results have  been among the franchise’s strongest.

Opening on over 700 screens, the film has been welcomed by a theatrical industry still in recovery mode following lockdowns.

“I think we’re going to look back on this movie as a watershed moment,” said Tim Richards, founder and CEO of  Vue International cinema chain, speaking at a special No Time to Die screening over three screens at Vue’s flagship West End venue. “This is the time when we actually get back to business, to pre-COVID levels of business.”

Richards said the event was about offering thanks to those who helped save the operator, including its bankers, lawyers and advisors. Also among the guests were Terry Gilliam and British politician Sajid Javid, currently minister for health.

Shortly after the special screening, Vue West End was one of numerous cinemas opening its doors to fans at 0:01 a.m. on Thursday morning for No Time to Die‘s first public showings.