Skyfall rakes it in to become biggest film at UK box office this year

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

Sam Mendes’ Bond film Skyfall has become the biggest film at the UK box office this year, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises accruing £57 million in 12 days.

It is now officially the biggest Bond movie of all time, smashing the £55.6 million achieved by Casino Royale in 2006.

The film, which stars Daniel Craig as 007, had the biggest opening weekend in Bond history taking £20.1 million and falling just shy of the record set last summer by Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2.

The film starring Dame Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe has proved a hit with critics as well as the box office.

The 23rd James Bond adventure opened in 587 cinemas across the UK and Ireland on Friday 26 October and opened in the US today.

“We could not be more proud of this amazing achievement. Kudos again to all involved with this film, which clearly delivers on every level,” said Gary Barber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM.

Craig has signed up to return as 007 in two more Bond films, despite saying a recent interview that he "has been trying to get out of the role from the very moment [he] got into it", and Mendes has not ruled out directing a subsequent 007 film.