007 shoots to the top of the box office - but 'Skyfall' fails to topple 'Harry Potter' gaining only the second-biggest UK opening of all time

Daniel Craig is a Bond with a steely presence in Skyfall (Francois Duhamel)

New James Bond movie Skyfall has smashed UK records to give it the biggest opening weekend in 007 film history.

The 23rd Bond film took £20.1 million, notching up the second biggest three-day opening for any film in the UK.

But Skyfall failed to topple the £23 million UK record set last summer by Harry Potter's finale in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2.

Daniel Craig's Skyfall, which has been a hit with critics, topped box office rankings around the world after opening on Friday.

The movie, which has not been shown yet in the US, notched up 77.7 million US dollars (£48.3 million) across the globe, and was number one in every country where it opened, Deadline reported.

In the UK, as well as making history as "the biggest Bond opening weekend of all time", Skyfall set a new record as the most attended film on a Saturday.

The movie, which stars Dame Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe, claimed the biggest opening of the year so far in the UK.

Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said of the film topping the UK box office: "We are absolutely overwhelmed with the reaction to Skyfall this weekend.

"It is particularly thrilling as the UK is home to James Bond and it being the 50th anniversary year."

Jeff Blake, chairman of Sony Pictures worldwide marketing and distribution, said: "To have Skyfall embraced at such unprecedented levels is tremendously exciting."

Craig has signed up to return as 007 in two more Bond films, in the longest running and most successful franchise in film history.

His Bond debut Casino Royale took £13.4 million in its opening weekend in the UK, while 2008 film Quantum Of Solace raked in £15.4 million.

The royal world premiere of the Sam Mendes film took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London last week, attended by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

PA