MUMBAI: Happiness refuses to die down at the Sony and MGM headquarters as their latest James Bond-starrer Skyfall has rung in 2013 by crossing the $1 billion mark in global ticket sales.
Directed by Sam Mendes, the film reached the milestone on Sunday when its worldwide tally hit $1 billion, by far the best showing of any Bond film not accounting for inflation.
The film, that has grossed $289.6 million domestically and $710.6 million internationally, has become the highest grossing film in Sony‘s history and the first to jump $1 billion.
Otherwise too, Skyfall continued to break records in the UK during the weekend when it grossed $1.4 million for a total take of $161.6 million and become the first film ever to cross the 100 million pound mark.
The film, from Eon Productions, is the 23rd installment in the iconic British spy franchise. Skyfall also stars Javier Bardem, Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes.
Skyfall is the third movie of 2012 to cross $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales after Disney and Marvel‘s The Avengers ($1.51 billion) and Warner Bros‘ The Dark Knight Rises ($1.08 billion). Including Skyfall, only 14 films have grossed $1 billion or more.