The 007 actor showed up as the tentpole began rolling out Thursday night after being delayed numerous times because of the pandemic.
‘No Time to Die’ marks Daniel Craig’s final turn as James Bond. NICOLA DOVE/ MGM/DANJAQ /COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION
Those turning out Thursday night to see one of the first showings of No Time to Die at the AMC theater in Burbank, CA were treated to a surprise visit from 007 himself.
No Time to Die — marking Craig’s fifth and final turn playing the big screen’s most famous spy — was the first of numerous Hollywood tentpoles whose release was delayed again and again due to the pandemic.
MGM and EON Productions waited until they could open the movie exclusively in cinemas — even though it meant holding off for more than 18 months — versus making the movie available immediately in the home.
No Time to Die‘s cast also includes Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes and Christoph Waltz, alongside series newcomers Ana de Armas, Lashana Lynch and Malek.
In North America, No Time to Die will be playing in 4,407 theaters as of Friday, the widest footprint of any Bond pic, following Thursday evening previews in select theaters across the country and special Wednesday-night screenings in some Imax locations.
Tracking suggests that the 25th installment in the franchise will clear at least $60 million in its domestic launch; others believe the number could be closer to $70 million.
But it’s important to remember that the Bond films have always relied in part on older audiences, a demo more reluctant to return to theaters until the pandemic has ended.
No Time to Die is being distributed in America by United Artists Releasing and by Universal, where the big-budget film opened to $121 million last weekend from its first 54 markets
