The latest James Bond flick 'Quantum of Solace' generated some lackluster reviews, but despite that has set an opening-weekend record for the 46-year-old film franchise- selling an estimated $70.4 million in tickets in North American theaters, for Sony Corp. and Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

 'Quantum' is the second Bond movie to star Daniel Craig as the British super spy, and its sales highlight the popularity of edgier updates to aging movie franchises. Already premiered abroad, the film has made more than $231 million in worldwide sales, surpassing 2006's 'Casino Royale', which debuted with $40.8 million in receipts. According to Sony, the film's global cumulative gross through Sunday was $322 million.

Rory Bruer, Sony's president for domestic distribution said: "It's an extraordinary opening that speaks to how much audiences have embraced Daniel Craig as Bond." In his reaction to the record sales, Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box-office tracker Media By Numbers, said in an interview:

"The numbers are amazing. 'Casino Royale' ushered in a whole new era of Bond and 'Quantum of Solace' definitely capitalized on that. The re-imaging of the franchise has really worked." Though Sony Pictures and MGM released 'Quantum' overseas in late October, the film arrived in the United States unusually late, and this move may have contributed to strong domestic sales.

By withholding the hotly-anticipated picture from fans in the world's largest movie market, the studios stoked an online frenzy. And now, the stronger-than-expected opening must be a relief to the two studios!