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Skyfall
The poster shows James Bond wearing a tuxedo and holding a gun, standing in front of an image that looks like it was taken from the inside of a gun barrel, with the London skyline visible behind him. Text at the bottom of the poster reveals the film title and credits.
UK theatrical release poster
Directed bySam Mendes
Written by
Based onJames Bond
by Ian Fleming
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRoger Deakins
Edited by
Music byThomas Newman
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing[1]
Release dates
  • 23 October 2012 (2012-10-23) (London)
  • 26 October 2012 (2012-10-26) (United Kingdom)
  • 9 November 2012 (2012-11-09) (United States)
Running time
143 minutes[3]
Countries
  • United Kingdom[4]
  • United States[1]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$150–200 million
Box office$1.109 billion[5]

Skyfall is a 2012 spy film and the twenty-third in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions. The film is the third to star Daniel Craig as fictional MI6 agent James Bond and features Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva, the villain, with Judi Dench returning as M. The film was directed by Sam Mendes and written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan. In the film, Bond investigates a series of targeted data leaks and co-ordinated attacks on MI6 led by Silva. It sees the return of two recurring characters, Miss Moneypenny (played by Naomie Harris) and Q (played by Ben Whishaw), after an absence of two films. Ralph Fiennes, Bérénice Marlohe, and Albert Finney are among the supporting cast.

Mendes was approached to direct after the release of Quantum of Solace in 2008. Development of the film was suspended throughout 2010 after Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which caused screenwriter Peter Morgan to leave the project. Production resumed in December 2010 after Purvis, Wade, and Logan were hired and a November 2012 release date was announced in January 2011. Principal photography began that November after the film's title was revealed and lasted until March 2012, with filming locations including London, Shanghai, Istanbul, and Scotland.

Skyfall premiered at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 October 2012, and was released theatrically in conventional and IMAX formats in the United Kingdom three days later and in the United States on 9 November, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond film Dr. No (1962). Skyfall received positive reviews, with praise for Mendes's direction, cast performances, action sequences, cinematography, and musical score. The film was nominated for five awards at the 85th Academy Awards, winning two, and received numerous other accolades. Skyfall grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide becoming the fourteenth film to pass the billion dollar mark, the seventh-highest-grossing film of all time at the time of its release, the highest-grossing James Bond film of all time, and the second-highest-grossing film of 2012. The next film in the series, Spectre, was released in 2015.

Plot

[edit]

In Istanbul, MI6 agents James Bond and Eve Moneypenny pursue mercenary Patrice, who has stolen a hard drive containing details of undercover NATO agents. As Bond and Patrice fight atop a moving train, M orders Moneypenny to shoot Patrice, despite not having a clear shot; Moneypenny inadvertently hits Bond, who falls into a river. Bond is presumed dead and Patrice escapes with the hard drive.

Three months later, due to a public inquiry into M's handling of the stolen hard drive, she is pressured to retire by Gareth Mallory, the chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament and a former SAS officer, however she remains adamant that she is still useful. On her way back to MI6, MI6's servers are hacked, and M receives a taunting computer message moments before the MI6 building explodes. Bond, who used his presumed death to retire, learns of the attack and returns to service in London. He fails a series of physical, medical, and psychological examinations, but M approves his return to the field, ordering him to identify Patrice's employer, recover the hard drive, and kill Patrice. He meets Q, MI6's new quartermaster, who gives him a radio beacon and a Walther PPK pistol.

In Shanghai, Bond follows Patrice and witnesses him killing a target. The two fight and Patrice dies before Bond can learn his employer's identity. Moneypenny joins Bond in his investigation, on Mallory's orders. Bond finds a casino token Patrice intended to cash in for the assassination, leading him to a casino in Macau. There, Bond is approached by Sévérine, Patrice's accomplice. Recognising her tattoo, he concludes she was a sex slave "rescued" by a criminal who now employs her, a man Bond wishes to meet. She warns him he is targeted by her bodyguards, but promises to help if Bond kills her employer. Bond thwarts the attack and joins Sévérine on her yacht. They travel to an abandoned island off the coast of Macau, where the crew captures and delivers them to Sévérine's employer, Raoul Silva. Silva, a former MI6 agent, turned to cyberterrorism and orchestrated the attack on MI6. Silva kills Sévérine. Bond uses Q's radio beacon to alert MI6 reinforcements, who capture Silva for rendition to Britain.

At MI6's new underground headquarters, Q attempts to decrypt Silva's laptop, but inadvertently gives it access to the MI6 servers, allowing Silva to escape. Bond and Q conclude that Silva wanted to be captured as part of a plan to kill M, whom he hates for disavowing and betraying him to the Chinese government during the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, leaving him to be tortured and end up disfigured by a suicide attempt by cyanide pill. Silva escapes his cell and Bond chases him through the London Underground and thwarts Silva's attack at a Parliament inquiry where M is present.

Instructing Q and Bill Tanner to leave an electronic trail for Silva to follow, Bond uses his Aston Martin DB5 to take M to Skyfall, his childhood home in the Scottish Highlands. They meet Skyfall's gamekeeper Kincade, and the trio rigs the house with booby traps. When Silva's men arrive, Bond, M, and Kincade kill most of them, but M is wounded. Silva arrives by helicopter with more men and heavy weapons, so Bond sends M and Kincade through a priest hole to hide in a nearby chapel, and rigs propane tanks to explode. As the house and the helicopter are destroyed, Bond escapes down the same tunnel.

Silva survives the destruction of the house, following Kincade and M to the chapel. Confronting M, Silva forces his gun into her hand and presses his temple to hers, begging her to kill them both. Bond arrives and kills Silva by throwing a knife into his back. M then succumbs to her wounds and dies in Bond's arms.

Following M's funeral, Moneypenny formally introduces herself to Bond and tells him she is retiring from fieldwork to become secretary for Mallory, the newly appointed M. Bond meets Mallory, and tells him he is ready to get back to work.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

Development of Bond 23 began in 2009 but was suspended throughout 2010 because of MGM's financial troubles.[8] Pre-production resumed following MGM's exit from bankruptcy on 21 December 2010, and in January 2011, the film was officially given a release date of 9 November 2012 by MGM and the Broccoli family, with production scheduled to start in late 2011. Subsequently, MGM and Sony Pictures announced that the UK release date would be brought forward to 26 October 2012, two weeks ahead of the US release date, which remained scheduled for 9 November 2012.[9] The film's budget is estimated to have been between US$150 million[10][11] and $200 million,[5] compared to the $200 million spent on Quantum of Solace.[12] Skyfall was part of year-long celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the first Bond film, Dr. No.

Pre-production

[edit]

After the release of Quantum of Solace in 2008, producer Barbara Broccoli commented that Skyfall, untitled at the time, may continue the plot of the Quantum organisation, introduced in Casino Royale and continued in Quantum of Solace.[13]

In August 2011, the Serbian newspaper Blic stated that Bond 23 would be titled Carte Blanche and would be an adaptation of the recent continuation novel by Jeffery Deaver.[14] On 30 August, Eon Productions officially denied any link between Bond 23 and Carte Blanche, stating that "the new film is not going to be called Carte Blanche and will have nothing to do with the Jeffery Deaver book".[15] On 3 October 2011, fifteen domain names including jamesbond-skyfall.com and skyfallthefilm.com were reported to have been registered on behalf of MGM and Sony Pictures by Internet brand-protection service MarkMonitor. Skyfall was confirmed as the title at a press conference on 3 November 2011, during which co-producer Barbara Broccoli said that the title "has some emotional context which will be revealed in the film".[16] The title refers to the name of Bond's childhood home, "Skyfall", and the setting for the film's finale.[17]

Casting

[edit]

The main cast was announced at a press conference held at the Corinthia Hotel in London on 3 November 2011,[18] fifty years after Sean Connery had been announced as James Bond in the film Dr. No.[19] Daniel Craig returned as James Bond for the third time,[20] saying he felt lucky to have the chance.[21] Mendes described Bond as experiencing a "combination of lassitude, boredom, depression [and] difficulty with what he's chosen to do for a living".[22] Judi Dench returned as M for her seventh and final time.[23] Over the course of the film, M's ability to run MI6 is called into question, culminating in a public inquiry into her running of the service.

Javier Bardem was cast as the principal villain, Raoul Silva, a cyberterrorist seeking revenge against those he holds responsible for betraying him.[24][25] Bardem described Silva as "more than a villain", while Craig stated that Bond has a "very important relationship" to Silva.[26] Mendes admitted that he had lobbied hard for Bardem to accept the part, and saw the potential for the character to be recognised as one of the most memorable in the series. He wanted to create "something [the audience] may consider to have been absent from the Bond movies for a long time",[27] and felt that Bardem was one of the few actors able to become "colourless" and exist as more than just a function of the plot.[28] In preparing for the role, Bardem had the script translated into his native Spanish, which Mendes cited as a sign of his commitment.[29] Bardem dyed his hair blond for the role, after brainstorming ideas for a distinct visual look with Mendes,[30] which led some commentators to suggest a resemblance to Julian Assange.[31][32][33] Bérénice Marlohe was cast as Séverine, saved from the Macau sex trade by Silva and now working as his representative.[34][35] Marlohe described her character as being "glamorous and enigmatic",[20] and that she drew inspiration from GoldenEye villain Xenia Onatopp (played by Famke Janssen).[36]

Ralph Fiennes was cast as Gareth Mallory,[37] a former lieutenant colonel in the British Army and now Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee,[38] which regulates MI6.[39] At the end of the film, Mallory becomes the head of MI6, assuming the title of 'M'. During production, Fiennes stated that he could not say anything specific about the role other than that it was a "really interesting part which is really quite fun".[40] Fiennes had previously been considered to play Bond during the casting of GoldenEye.[41][42] Naomie Harris was cast as the returning character of Miss Moneypenny.[33] Harris's role was initially presented as that of Eve, an MI6 field agent who works closely with Bond. Despite media speculation that Harris had been cast as Miss Moneypenny,[43][44] this was not confirmed by anyone involved in production, with Harris herself dismissing claims that Eve was in fact Moneypenny.[45] According to Harris, Eve "[believes] she is Bond's equal, but she is really his junior".[46] Another returning character was Q, played by Ben Whishaw.[47] Mendes had initially declined to confirm which part Whishaw would play,[20] and later said the idea of the re-introduction was his, saying, "I offered ideas about Moneypenny, Q and a flamboyant villain and they said yes". To play the part of Kincade, Mendes cast Albert Finney.[48] The producers briefly considered approaching Sean Connery to play the role in a nod to the 50th anniversary of the series, but decided not to as they felt Connery's presence would have been seen as stunt casting and might disengage the audience. Skyfall also marked the final film role of Finney before his death in 2019.[49]

Crew

[edit]
Director Sam Mendes at the film's premiere in Paris, October 2012

Mendes first signed on to direct the project shortly after Quantum of Solace was released, and remained as a consultant during the uncertainty surrounding MGM's financial situation. It was Craig's idea that Mendes should be the next Bond director, as Mendes had previously worked with Craig on Road to Perdition. In 2009, Mendes saw Craig's performance on Broadway in A Steady Rain.[50] Later, at Hugh Jackman's Christmas party,[51] Craig got drunk, encountered Mendes, and offered him the job.[50] The next morning, Craig had to explain to Broccoli: "I think I might have offered Sam Mendes the next movie".[51] Mendes was at first hesitant, as the job had little appeal to him, but he did not reject the offer immediately because of Craig's involvement and enthusiasm; Mendes described Craig's casting and performance in Casino Royale as being what he felt the Bond franchise needed. He agreed to direct after meeting producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, and seeing the early direction the film was going to take.[50] Media speculation was that Mendes had commissioned rewrites of the script to "[remove] action scenes in favour of 'characterful performances'" with the hope of securing an Academy Award.[52] Mendes denied this, saying that the action scenes were an important part of the film.[19]

Roger Deakins signed on as cinematographer, having previously worked with Mendes on Jarhead and Revolutionary Road.[53] Dennis Gassner returned as production designer, the costume designer was Jany Temime, Alexander Witt was director of the second unit, the stunt co-ordinator was Gary Powell and Chris Corbould supervised the special effects, while the visual effects supervisor was Steve Begg. All had worked on previous Bond films.[54] Daniel Kleinman returned to design the title sequence after stepping aside to allow graphic design studio MK12 to create the Quantum of Solace sequence.[55]

Writing

[edit]

Peter Morgan was originally commissioned to write a script, but left the project when MGM filed for bankruptcy and production of the film stalled. Despite his departure, Morgan later stated that the final script was based on his original idea, retaining what he described as its "big hook".[56] Mendes denied this as "just not true", insisting that Morgan's approach had been discarded once he had agreed to direct.[57] Robert Wade later said that "Neal and I were pretty steeped in Fleming. I think Peter was more interested in Le Carré. It just didn't work."[58] Morgan cowrote the treatment Once Upon a Spy with Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, which had M being blackmailed by a Russian oligarch, who would be a former KGB agent she had an affair with while stationed in West Berlin during the Cold War. The script would have ended with Bond being forced to kill M.[59][60][42] Mendes disliked most of the script but asked to keep the ending with M's death.[59]

Purvis and Wade then wrote a new script drawing from You Only Live Twice (1964) and The Man with the Golden Gun (1965), in which Bond is presumed dead after an accident and travels back to London to an uncertain MI6. The original screenplay would have more closely followed the literary series' story arc with Bond becoming an amnesiac and unknowingly impregnating his lover Lily in Turkey, who would have tracked him down to London after he returned to MI6. It would have featured Bond tracking down a Francisco Scaramanga-esque villain into the Andes Mountains, and would have had a "Heart of Darkness feel."[61] The screenplay was delayed because of MGM's financial problems. At the end of 2010, Purvis and Wade completed a draft titled Nothing is Forever in which a villain called Raoul Sousa kills M with a bombing aboard the Barcelona Metro and leaves a bureaucrat named Mallender as the new M. They still disliked the third act, and so later revised it to include the ending in Scotland.[62] The final script was rewritten by John Logan, who kept most of Purvis and Wade's basic story.[63] Logan recounted being brought into the project by his long-time friend Mendes, describing the process between Mendes and the writers as "very collaborative", and that writing Skyfall was one of the best experiences he had had in scripting.[64] British playwright Jez Butterworth also provided uncredited contributions.[65]

Location scouting

[edit]

In April 2011, Mendes and Broccoli travelled to South Africa for location scouting.[66] With the film moving into pre-production in August, reports emerged that shooting would take place in India,[67] with scenes to be shot in the Sarojini Nagar district of New Delhi[68] and on railway lines between Goa and Ahmedabad.[69] The production crew faced complications in securing permission to close sections of the Konkan Railway.[70] Similar problems in obtaining filming permits were encountered by production crews for The Dark Knight Rises and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.[71] Permission was eventually granted to the Bond production crew; the production ultimately did not shoot in India.[72]

Filming

[edit]
The Aston Martin DB5 featured in the film
The MI6 Building in London

Principal photography was scheduled to take up to 133 days,[73] although actually took 128.[74] It began on 7 November 2011 in London,[19][75] with Deakins using Arri Alexa digital cameras to shoot the entire film. It was the first Bond film to be shot digitally.[76] Scenes were shot in London Underground stations,[77] Smithfield car park in West Smithfield,[78] the National Gallery, Southwark,[79] Whitehall, Parliament Square,[80] Charing Cross station,[81] the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich,[82] Cadogan Square[78] and Tower Hill.[83] St Bartholomew's Hospital[79] was used for the scene in which Bond enters MI6's underground headquarters, while the Old Vic Tunnels underneath Waterloo Station served as the MI6 training grounds. The meeting between Q and Bond was filmed when the National Gallery was closed at night.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change offices were used for the scene near the end, when Bond stands on the roof.[78][84] Vauxhall Bridge and Millbank were closed to traffic for filming the explosion at the MI6 headquarters at Vauxhall Cross.[84] Unlike for The World Is Not Enough, which featured an explosion at the building filmed at a large-scale replica, this explosion was added digitally during post-production.[85] The finale was planned for Duntrune Castle in Argyll,[86] but shortly after filming began[87] the location was changed to Glencoe.[84] Although supposedly in Scotland, Bond's family home was constructed on Hankley Common in Surrey[88] using a plywood and plaster full-scale model of the building.[89]

The Varda Viaduct was used for the scene in which Bond is shot.

Production moved to Turkey in March 2012, with filming continuing until 6 May.[90][91] Adana stands in for the outskirts of Istanbul.[92] Some Turkish teenagers infiltrated a closed set in railway sidings in Adana, during film rehearsals of the fight on top of a train, before they were caught by security.[93] The train scene depicted in trailers showed the Varda Viaduct outside Adana, during which Bond stunt double Andy Lister dived backwards off the 300-foot (91 m) drop, with a crane on a train carriage holding a safety line.[84]

Parts of Istanbul—including the Spice Bazaar, Yeni Camii, the Grand Post Office, Sultanahmet Square and the Grand Bazaar—were closed for filming in April.[90] Affected store owners were reportedly allowed to open their shops, but not allowed to conduct business, instead being paid TRY₺750 ($418) per day as compensation.[90] Production was criticised for allegedly damaging buildings while filming a motorcycle chase across rooftops. Wilson denied this, pointing out that the crew had removed sections of rooftop before filming, and replaced them with temporary replicas.[94] The production team negotiated with 613 part-owners of Calis Beach in Fethiye to film along the coastline.[84]

Mendes confirmed that China would feature in the film, with shooting scheduled for Shanghai and "other parts" of the country.[19] Logan asserted that they deliberately sought locations that were "in opposition" to London, with an exotic quality as "places for Bond to be uncomfortable".[84] Scenes with the principal actors were not filmed on location in Shanghai, but in the UK. The Virgin Active pool in London's Canary Wharf acted as Bond's hotel pool,[79][84] Ascot Racecourse stood in for Shanghai Pudong International Airport,[95][96] and London's Broadgate Tower was used as the entrance and lobby of the Shanghai office building. The Golden Dragon casino in Macau was constructed on a sound stage at Pinewood Studios, with 300 floating lanterns and two 30-foot-high dragon heads lighting the set.[84] The production received permission to shoot second unit aerial footage of Shanghai from a helicopter loaned by the Chinese government.[84] The first official image from the film was released on 1 February 2012, showing Craig on set at Pinewood within a recreation of a Shanghai skyscraper.[97]

The lair of villain Silva was inspired by Hashima, an abandoned island off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan.[98][99] In the film, the fictionalised island is located near Macau. Mendes explained that the sequence was created with a combination of large sets of the city streets and computer-generated establishing shots.[100] The Hashima setting was included after Craig met with Swedish film-maker Thomas Nordanstad while shooting The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in Stockholm. Nordanstad, who produced a short 2002 documentary on the island entitled Hashima, recalled Craig taking extensive notes during the meeting, but was unaware of his interest in it until Skyfall was released.[101]

The film was later converted into the IMAX format for projection in IMAX cinemas. Deakins was unaware that the film was to be released on IMAX until after he had made the decision to shoot the film with the Arri Alexa cameras, and was unhappy with the IMAX tests made from his footage as the colours "didn't look great".[76] After exploring the IMAX system further and discovering that the IMAX Corporation was using their proprietary re-mastering process, Deakins had further tests made without the process and found that "the images looked spectacular on the big IMAX screen", quelling his doubts about the format.[76]

Music

[edit]
Thomas Newman composed the film's score.
Main article: Skyfall (soundtrack)

Thomas Newman, who had previously worked with Mendes as composer for American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead and Revolutionary Road, replaced David Arnold as composer,[102] becoming the ninth composer in the series' history. When asked about the circumstances surrounding his departure from the role, David Arnold commented that Newman had been selected by Mendes because of their work together, rather than because of Arnold's commitment to working with director Danny Boyle as composer for the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics.[103][non-primary source needed] The soundtrack album was released on 29 October 2012 in the United Kingdom and on 6 November 2012 in the United States.[104]

In October 2012, British singer-songwriter Adele confirmed that she had written and recorded the film's theme song with her regular songwriter, Paul Epworth.[105][106] She later posted the cover for the "Skyfall" sheet music on Twitter, crediting the songwriting to herself and Epworth, with arrangements to both Epworth and orchestrator J. A. C. Redford.[107][non-primary source needed] The song was released online at 0:07 am BST on 5 October 2012, a day dubbed "James Bond Day" by the producers as it marked 50 years to the day of the release of Dr. No.[108]

The song was nominated for and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was the first time a Bond song had won, and the fourth time one had been nominated.[109][110][a] "Skyfall" also won the Brit Award for Best British Single at the 2013 BRIT Awards.[111]

The film also features Charles Trenet's 1938 song "Boum!" during scenes in which Silva shows Bond around his abandoned island, and The Animals' 1964 cover of John Lee Hooker's song, "Boom Boom" when Silva assaults Skyfall in the film's finale.[112]

Release and reception

[edit]

The premiere of Skyfall was on 23 October 2012 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The event was attended by Charles, Prince of Wales, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.[113] Charles asked that money raised at the premiere be donated to charities that served former or serving members of the British intelligence agencies.[114] The film was released in the UK three days later on 26 October and into US cinemas on 8 November.[115] Skyfall was the first Bond film to be screened in IMAX venues[116] and was released into IMAX cinemas in North America a day earlier than the conventional cinema release.[117]

Skyfall attracted some criticism from the US Sexual Violence Resource Center which, without having screened the film, expressed concern that Bond "abuses his power and authority" in a scene that suggests Bond initiates sexual intercourse with Sévérine, a former victim of sex trafficking.[118]

Box office

[edit]

Skyfall earned $1.109 billion worldwide,[5] and at the time of its release was the highest-grossing film worldwide for Sony Pictures and the second-highest-grossing film of 2012.[119][120] On its opening weekend, it earned $80.6 million from 25 markets.[121] In the UK the film grossed £20.1 million on its opening weekend, making it the second-highest Friday-to-Sunday debut ever behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.[122] It also achieved the second-highest IMAX debut ever behind The Dark Knight Rises.[121] The film set a record for the highest seven-day gross with £37.2 million, surpassing previous record holder Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (£35.7 million).[123] By 9 November 2012 the film had earned over £57 million to surpass The Dark Knight Rises as the highest-grossing film of 2012, and the highest-grossing James Bond film of all time in the UK.[124]

After 40 days of release the total UK gross stood at £94.28 million, making Skyfall the highest-grossing film in the UK, surpassing the £94.03 million of Avatar.[125] By 30 December 2012, it had become the first film to gross more than £100 million ($161.6 million) in the UK. That same day, the film also crossed the $1 billion milestone worldwide, making it only the fourteenth film and first Bond film to do so.[126] It was also the seventh-highest-grossing film ever made at the time, pushing it past the inflation-adjusted amount of $1.047 billion earned by Thunderball.[127][128]

Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem and Bérénice Marlohe in Paris at the film's French premiere, October 2012

Skyfall set an opening weekend record in Switzerland ($5.3 million) and recorded the second-largest opening weekend of the year for a Hollywood film in India ($5.1 million), as well as grossing $14.3 million on its opening weekend in France.[129] In Austria, it achieved the second-highest opening weekend ever ($3.4 million) behind The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, while in Finland, it scored the largest opening weekend when excluding previews ($1.47 million).[130]

In North America, the film opened in 3,505 cinemas, the widest opening for a Bond film.[131] The film earned $2.4 million from midnight showings on its opening day and a further $2.2 million from IMAX and large-format cinemas.[131] Skyfall went on to gross $30.8 million on its opening day in the US and Canada,[132] and $88.4 million in its opening weekend, the biggest debut yet for a Bond film.[133] By the end of its theatrical run, the film earned $304.4 million in the United States and Canada, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2012 in these regions.[5][134]

Critical response

[edit]

Skyfall received "generally positive reviews from critics and fans", according to the GlobalPost.[135] On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an approval rating of 92% based on 384 reviews, with an average rating of 8.20/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Sam Mendes brings Bond surging back with a smart, sexy, riveting action thriller that qualifies as one of the best 007 films to date."[136] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 81 out of 100 based on 49 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[137] CinemaScore polls reported that the average grade filmgoers gave the film was an "A" on an A+ to F scale.[138]

A number of critics, including Kate Muir, reviewing for The Times, Philip French, writing in The Observer, IGN's Daniel Krupa and the reviewers for the Irish Independent and the Daily Record, all asked whether Skyfall was the best Bond film.[139] The Daily Telegraph's film reviewer, Robbie Collin, considered Skyfall to be "often dazzling, always audacious",[31] with excellent action sequences in a film that contained humour and emotion.[31] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter thought that Skyfall was "dramatically gripping while still brandishing a droll undercurrent of humor",[2] going on to say that it was a film that had "some weight and complexity to it".[2] Variety's Peter DeBruge suggested that the film's greatest strength lay in its willingness to put as much focus on characterisation as it did action set-pieces, allowing the two to co-exist rather than compete for the audience's attention,[140] while Manohla Dargis, reviewing for The New York Times, considered Skyfall to be "a superior follow-up to Casino Royale"[141] which is "opulent rather than outlandish and insistently, progressively low-key".[141]

Kim Newman, reviewing the film for Empire, concluded, "Skyfall is pretty much all you could want from a 21st Century Bond: cool but not camp, respectful of tradition but up to the moment, serious in its thrills and relatively complex in its characters but with the sense of fun that hasn't always been evident lately".[142] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 4 out of 4 stars, describing it as "a full-blooded, joyous, intelligent celebration of a beloved cultural icon".[143] Reviewing for the New Statesman, Ryan Gilbey saw that "nostalgia permeates the movie",[144] going on to say that "sometimes the old ways are the best".[144]

A number of reviewers praised Daniel Craig's lead performance. Roger Ebert believed that in Skyfall, "Daniel Craig [takes] full possession of a role he earlier played well in 'Casino Royale,' not so well in 'Quantum'";[143] Philip French commented that "Craig manages to get out of the shadow of [Sean] Connery";[145] while Daniel Krupa thought Craig's Bond was a "defining performance" for "a great actor".[146] Edward Porter, writing in The Sunday Times, considered that "Craig has developed an authoritative Bond persona, dry and intelligent".[147] Ryan Gilbey thought Craig had "relaxed into Bond without losing any steeliness".[144]

The supporting cast also received praise. Roger Ebert reflected that Skyfall "at last provides a role worthy of Judi Dench, one of the best actors of her generation. She is all but the co-star of the film, with a lot of screen time, poignant dialogue, and a character who is far more complex and sympathetic than we expect in this series".[143] Jenny McCartney, writing in The Sunday Telegraph, agreed, describing Dench as "compellingly luminous" in the film, and the one that "the camera caresses most meaningfully and often".[148] McCartney thought Javier Bardem played Silva "with worrisome élan",[148] while Henry K Miller considered his character "the most authentically Bondian Bond villain in decades".[149] A number of critics noted the strength of the supporting cast; Kim Newman found the "warmth and gravitas" of Finney's performance noteworthy,[142] while other reviewers, including Edward Porter, Daniel Krupa and The Playlist's Oliver Lyttelton, singled out Ralph Fiennes as Mallory and Ben Whishaw as Q.[150]

Ann Hornaday, writing for The Washington Post, thought Sam Mendes had reinvigorated the series, with Skyfall being "sleek, crisp, classy ... exhibiting just the right proportion of respect for legacy and embrace of novelty".[151] Henry K. Miller of Sight & Sound agreed, and praised Mendes, who he thought was worthy of directing more Bond films.[149] Kim Newman also praised Mendes's direction of the action sequences.[142] The work of cinematographer Roger Deakins also received praise: Newman commented that he "delivers the most impressive visuals this series has had since the 1960s",[142] and Miller described the film as "dazzlingly photographed".[149]

The film did not escape criticism, with reviews pointing to its two and a half-hour running time, and the final third of the film being "protracted", and not matching the first two thirds in its momentum as the underlying flaws in the film.[152][153] Xan Brooks of The Guardian, in an otherwise positive review, criticised the "touchy-feely indulgence" of "the bold decision to open Bond up – to probe at the character's back-story and raise a toast to his relationship with M".[154] Daniel Krupa also singled out Naomie Harris as "awkward" and having "virtually non-existent chemistry" with Craig.[146] Similarly Philip French in The Observer tempered his praise for the film by highlighting "some lazy repetition" and argued, "the badinage is often perfunctory and Bond is as usual captured too easily and too easily escapes".[145] Edward Porter, writing in The Sunday Times, considered that while aspects of the film were "achieved with wit and panache",[147] he found that the climax to the film was slightly disappointing, although the "weaknesses in the final stages are not serious, however, and the film's brief epilogue is wonderful".[147]

In 2025, The Hollywood Reporter listed Skyfall as having the best stunts of 2012.[155]

Home media

[edit]
The UK DVD release of Skyfall was advertised by a train covered in 007 vinyls.[citation needed]

Skyfall was released on DVD, Blu-ray and digital HD in the US and Canada on 12 February 2013,[156] and in the UK on 18 February 2013 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment.[157] It was later released on Ultra HD Blu-ray on 22 October 2019 along with the other three Daniel Craig Bond movies in a box set, and individually on 25 February 2020.

Accolades

[edit]
Main article: List of accolades received by Skyfall

At the 85th Academy Awards, Skyfall received nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Sound Mixing; and won Best Original Song (the first Bond theme to be so honoured) and Best Sound Editing.[158] The film's other nominations include eight British Academy Film Awards (winning two),[159] seven Critics' Choice Movie Awards (winning three),[160][161] and a Golden Globe Award (which it won).[162][163]

See also

[edit]

Notes

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References

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Skyfall

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from Grokipedia
Skyfall is a British spy action film and the twenty-third entry in the series produced by , directed by and starring as the titular agent , with as , as the villain , and supporting roles by , , , , , and . The film follows Bond as he teams up with to protect from a cyber-terrorist attack by , a former agent seeking revenge for his betrayal, leading to intense pursuits across , , and , culminating in a confrontation at Bond's childhood home, Skyfall Lodge. Released on 26 October in the United Kingdom and 9 November in the United States, it marked the 50th anniversary of the Bond franchise and was produced by and , with principal photography occurring at locations including , , , , , and . Critically acclaimed for its direction, cinematography by , and Adele's theme song, Skyfall holds a 92% approval rating on based on 388 reviews, praised as one of the best entries in the series for revitalizing the franchise with themes of , , and personal . Commercially, it became the first film to gross over $1 billion worldwide, earning $1,108,561,013 at the against a $200 million budget, making it the highest-grossing film in the series and the seventh-highest-grossing film of all time at release. At the , Skyfall received five nominations and won two Oscars: Best Original Song for "Skyfall" by and , and Best Sound Editing, becoming the first Bond film to win multiple . It also secured two BAFTA Awards for Outstanding British Film and Best Original Music Score, along with numerous other accolades, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song.

Synopsis

Plot

The film opens with James Bond and field agent Eve Moneypenny pursuing the mercenary assassin through to recover a hard drive containing the identities of undercover agents embedded in terrorist organizations. During a high-speed train chase atop moving cars, orders Eve to fire at Patrice, but she inadvertently hits Bond, who falls hundreds of feet into a river and is presumed dead. Meanwhile, the cyber-terrorist hacks into 's systems, publicly identifying several agents and triggering their executions, while also orchestrating a bombing that destroys the MI6 headquarters above ground, forcing the agency underground. faces a parliamentary led by Gareth Mallory over her handling of the crisis and her decision in the field, exacerbating her personal and professional accountability. Months later, Bond resurfaces in a remote Turkish coastal town, having survived but struggling with physical injuries, alcohol dependency, and that impair his marksmanship and fitness during mandatory evaluations. Despite failing the assessments, reinstates him covertly and assigns him to the hard drive, starting with Patrice's . Bond travels to , where he eliminates Patrice atop a amid lights, discovering a that leads him to a Macau gambling den. There, he encounters Sévérine, Patrice's former associate and lover, who reveals her own captivity under and agrees to help Bond in exchange for protection; she transports him by yacht to Silva's abandoned island lair in the . Silva, a flamboyant and brilliant former MI6 agent turned cyber-terrorist, reveals his backstory: he was captured and abandoned by M during an operation in Hong Kong, enduring torture by the Chinese that drove his vendetta against her for betrayal. Bond defeats Silva in a rigged game, capturing him for transport to London, but the young quartermaster Q unwittingly connects Silva's laptop to MI6's network, allowing him to escape and launch an assault on M's inquiry, killing several and wounding Mallory. Bond evacuates M amid the chaos and takes her to his childhood home, Skyfall, in the Scottish Highlands, where gamekeeper Kincade aids in rigging the isolated estate with improvised traps and explosives to lure Silva. In the ensuing siege, Bond and Kincade eliminate Silva's henchmen, but Sévérine is executed by Silva earlier; Silva himself dies impaled on a knife during a confrontation with Bond, while M succumbs to a prior gunshot wound. With MI6's security bolstered and Mallory assuming the role of the new M, Bond affirms his readiness to resume active duty, inheriting M's symbolic porcelain bulldog.

Cast

Daniel Craig portrays James Bond, marking his third appearance as the titular agent 007 in the series, where the character is shown as a more physically and emotionally vulnerable operative recovering from a near-fatal mission.
Judi Dench returns as , the authoritative head of and Bond's superior, in what serves as her seventh and final performance in the role across the franchise.
Javier Bardem plays , a cunning and vengeful cyber-terrorist and former agent whose manipulative schemes target M's past decisions, establishing him as one of the series' most psychologically complex villains. In supporting roles, appears as Eve Moneypenny, initially introduced as a capable field agent who accidentally wounds Bond during a mission and is later demoted to her traditional position as M's personal secretary, reviving the classic Bond universe character after a 10-year absence from the films since (2002).
stars as Gareth Mallory, a former military officer who chairs a parliamentary into 's security failures and eventually succeeds M as the agency's head, integrating him into the ongoing Bond lore as the new M.
takes on the role of Q, the young and tech-savvy quartermaster who equips Bond with gadgets, reintroducing the character to the modern series with a contemporary, computer-focused twist on the quartermaster archetype.
plays Kincade, the loyal gamekeeper of the Skyfall estate—Bond's childhood home in —who aids in the defense against Silva's forces, adding a personal, familial dimension to Bond's backstory in the franchise. Among the minor roles, portrays Sévérine, a mysterious ally to Bond who serves as Silva's former lover and provides crucial intelligence before meeting a tragic end, embodying the enigmatic trope within the film's narrative.
appears as Clair Dowar, the sharp-tongued who questions M during the parliamentary inquiry chaired by Gareth Mallory, highlighting the political pressures facing in the Bond universe.

Production

Development

Skyfall marked the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film series and served as the 23rd official entry produced by , released in 2012. The project followed (2008) and was originally slated for a 2011 release, but development stalled amid Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's (MGM) escalating financial difficulties, which led to the studio filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2010. halted for nearly a year as MGM restructured its $4 billion debt, swapping it for equity in the reorganized company and emerging from bankruptcy on December 20, 2010. With stability restored, the production team moved forward, announcing a November 2012 release date in January 2011. That same month, acclaimed British director was hired to helm the film, selected for his sophisticated dramatic approach seen in works like American Beauty (1999). Mendes aimed to infuse the franchise with deeper emotional layers, portraying James Bond—embodied by —as more vulnerable and introspective while preserving the series' signature action elements. This vision aligned with evolving the character's arc under Craig's tenure, emphasizing personal stakes over mere thrills. The film's budget was set at approximately $200 million, reflecting the high costs of its ambitious scope and the delays caused by MGM's turmoil, with financing shared among MGM, Columbia Pictures (a Sony Pictures Entertainment division), and Eon Productions. These resources enabled Mendes to prioritize visual storytelling and character-driven sequences, setting Skyfall apart as a milestone in the franchise's history.

Writing and pre-production

The screenplay for Skyfall was initially drafted by , the writing duo behind several previous Bond films, before John Logan was brought on to revise and refine it. Logan, a longtime friend of director , joined the project at Mendes's invitation during a casual dinner in 2011, building on the existing draft through a highly collaborative process that emphasized the franchise's 50-year legacy while allowing room for fresh exploration. Mendes contributed significantly to shaping the action sequences, ensuring the script balanced high-stakes with personal stakes for the characters. The script delved into themes of obsolescence in traditional amid rising cyber threats, portraying as vulnerable to digital hacks that expose agents and disrupt operations, as seen in the villain's manipulation of networks and data leaks. Character development highlighted Bond's aging and in a tech-driven world, while introducing a younger (Ben Whishaw) as a tech-savvy contrasting Bond's old-school methods, and reimagining Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) as a transitioning to a desk role. The antagonist Raoul Silva was crafted as a modern cyber-terrorist seeking revenge against for a past betrayal during his time as an operative, drawing inspiration from real-world digital attacks that blend breaches with physical chaos. 's arc centered on accountability for her earlier decisions, including the abandonment that radicalized Silva, culminating in her sacrificial stand. Casting began with intensive auditions, particularly for , where was selected for his commanding intensity and ability to infuse the role with psychological depth, wit, and unsettling charisma, despite his initial reluctance to join the franchise. underwent multiple auditions, initially testing for the undisclosed role of before producers and revealed it would evolve into the iconic Moneypenny. was cast as Gareth Mallory after earlier speculation positioned him as a potential Bond villain in prior films; confirmed in March 2011, he portrayed the Intelligence and Security Committee chairman who later succeeds . Pre-production involved detailed storyboarding by special effects supervisor Chris Corbould for key action sequences, such as the explosive headquarters demolition and the climactic Skyfall estate battle, utilizing miniatures and practical rigs to plan hybrid VFX integration. Location scouting focused on Istanbul, Turkey, for the opening train chase across the Varda Viaduct, and various UK sites including for interiors, Vauxhall for the blast, and the for Bond's childhood home exteriors enhanced with digital matte paintings. Cinematographer was assembled early, shooting on cameras to capture the locations' dramatic lighting and silhouettes while guiding set designs to minimize greenscreen issues.

Filming

Principal photography for Skyfall commenced on November 7, 2011, in at and surrounding areas, marking the start of a production scheduled for 133 days. The shoot progressed through various international locales before principal filming concluded on May 19, 2012, when star completed his scenes. This timeline encompassed extensive location work and studio builds, with the overall process emphasizing practical effects to capture the film's high-stakes action. Key filming locations included , , where the pre-title Grand Bazaar chase was captured, featuring a high-speed pursuit on a real moving train at 40 mph through the suburbs of using practical effects for authenticity. In , , the iconic silhouette fight sequence was shot atop a , leveraging the city's neon-lit skyline for dramatic visuals. The served as the backdrop for the Skyfall estate sequences, with exteriors filmed at Ardverikie Castle near and interiors constructed at to depict Bond's ancestral home. Action sequences relied heavily on practical techniques, such as the opening train crash in , executed with full-scale stunts on location to minimize reliance on enhancements. The underground headquarters set was meticulously built at , allowing for controlled filming of explosive sequences like the tube train derailment, where a real train carriage was rigged to crash through the set using hydraulic mechanisms. For the climactic finale, a hydraulic rig simulated the assault on the Skyfall estate, enabling precise control over the crash dynamics while ensuring actor safety. Production faced several challenges, including injuries to , who ruptured both calf muscles early in the shoot during stunt work, requiring physiotherapy to continue performing his own action scenes. Filming in the UK encountered weather-related hurdles, with unseasonably warm conditions in contrasting typical British variability, occasionally disrupting outdoor schedules in the Highlands. Cinematographer employed digital intermediates in to refine the signature gun-barrel sequence, integrating live-action footage of Craig with digital effects for the blood flow down the lens, a first for the franchise as Skyfall was shot entirely on digital cameras.

Music

The theme song for Skyfall, titled "Skyfall" and performed by , was written by Adele Adkins and . Released as a single in October 2012, it served as the film's title track and marked Adele's first contribution to the franchise. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the in 2013, the first Bond theme to win this honor. The film's score was composed by , marking his debut in the series and replacing longtime franchise composer . Newman's approach emphasized emotional depth through lush string arrangements to underscore Bond's vulnerability, diverging from the series' traditional brass-heavy motifs while incorporating contemporary orchestral elements. Recorded over several weeks at in , the score featured a 79-piece conducted by Newman himself, blending acoustic and electronic textures for a modern yet introspective sound. Key cues in the score include "," which accompanies the neon-lit sequences with pulsating rhythms and atmospheric strings, and "Kill Them First," driving the explosive finale at the Skyfall estate through intense percussive and brass swells. Newman's composition integrates Monty Norman's iconic "" selectively, often deconstructing it into subtle string motifs rather than full statements, to evoke a more personal and reflective tone for the 50th anniversary film. This shift highlighted emotional introspection over bombastic action, aligning with director ' vision of a character-driven .

Release

Marketing and distribution

The marketing campaign for Skyfall commenced with the unveiling of its first at the on May 21, where actress introduced footage emphasizing Bond's vulnerability and global threats. A full trailer followed on , released online after an initial TV spot aired during the London 2012 on July 27, building anticipation through high-profile visibility. The campaign leveraged the film's status as the 50th anniversary installment in the series, tying promotions to the franchise's enduring legacy without delving into production details. Key partnerships drove extensive and cross-promotions, generating significant brand exposure estimated at over $7.6 million during the film's initial theatrical run. sponsored the production, featuring its Seamaster watches on Bond's wrist and releasing a limited edition Planet Ocean Skyfall model in collaboration with the film, while investing heavily in and event-based . integrated its consumer electronics, including Xperia smartphones and laptops as Bond's tools, aligning with the film's themes of digital vulnerability. secured a $45 million deal to position its as Bond's preferred drink in key scenes, replacing the iconic vodka martini and sparking fan backlash over the shift from tradition, though director clarified it appeared only once. Global tie-ins extended to gaming, with Activision's 007 Legends incorporating a free downloadable mission based on Skyfall's plot to celebrate the anniversary. The world premiere occurred on October 23, 2012, at London's , attended by cast, crew, and royalty, marking a glamorous launch with live orchestral performances. The film rolled out internationally starting October 26 in the UK, followed by the US on November 9, emphasizing and 3D screenings to enhance immersive action sequences. handled worldwide distribution, coordinating a staggered global rollout across over 100 markets, though events like the New York gala premiere were postponed from November 5 to November 8 due to disruptions from .

Box office

Skyfall grossed $1,108,561,013 worldwide from its original release (cumulative total $1,140,426,877 as of 2025, including re-releases), becoming the first film to surpass $1 billion in earnings and the highest-grossing entry in the franchise. Of this total, $304,360,277 (27.5%) originated from the North American market. The film achieved a domestic opening weekend of $88,364,714 across 3,505 theaters in from November 9–11, 2012, marking the largest November debut for a Bond film at the time. Internationally, Skyfall launched earlier on October 26, 2012, earning $156 million across its first three days in 25 markets, including a strong $77 million opening weekend. Market breakdowns highlighted robust international performance, with the generating $161,176,369—the highest territorial gross—and contributing $59,330,000 following its January 21, 2013, release. The film's availability in format bolstered these figures, particularly during early runs, where IMAX theaters captured $13.1 million of the domestic opening weekend alone. Produced on a $200 million , Skyfall recouped its costs rapidly, exceeding the budget within three weeks of its global rollout as international earnings alone topped $287 million in the first 10 days. The film saw additional earnings from re-releases, including $33,124 in 2021 and $31,832,740 in 2025, bringing the cumulative worldwide total to $1,140,426,877 as of 2025.

Home media

Skyfall was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and 3D Blu-ray in on February 12, 2013, following its digital HD debut on February 5 across platforms including , Amazon, and Vudu. The home video launch was a commercial success, with the film selling 2.59 million units in its first week in the , generating $61.13 million in revenue and marking the strongest non-holiday Blu-ray sales week on record at the time. Over its first year, Skyfall exceeded 5 million units sold in the market, driven by strong demand for the action thriller's high-definition formats. A special Ultimate Edition Blu-ray was issued later in 2013, featuring expanded extras such as deleted scenes with commentary from director , making-of documentaries exploring production challenges like location shoots in and , and featurettes on the film's visual effects and score. This edition enhanced the appeal for collectors, highlighting behind-the-scenes insights into the film's technical hurdles and creative decisions. In 2020, a 4K edition was released, offering upgraded visuals with HDR and improved audio, bundled in the collection. Digitally, Skyfall became available for purchase and rental on and other platforms shortly after its physical debut, with streaming windows on services like in select regions during the . It was also included in the Bond 50th anniversary Blu-ray collection released in 2013, compiling all 23 James Bond films up to that point with bonus content celebrating the franchise's milestone. The film's home media releases contributed over $100 million in ancillary revenue for in the first quarter of 2013 alone, bolstered by promotional tie-ins like the Bond 50 sets and strong sales totaling 9 million globally within the initial period. These formats proved particularly popular among fans for their in-depth extras detailing the production's logistical challenges, such as coordinating large-scale action sequences amid real-world locations.

Reception

Critical response

Skyfall received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with reviewers praising its reinvention of the franchise through emotional depth and technical excellence. On the review aggregator , the film holds a 92% approval rating based on 388 reviews, with an average score of 8.2/10; the site's consensus describes it as a "triumph" directed by that "brings Bond into the 21st century" while honoring the series' legacy. Similarly, Metacritic assigns it a score of 81 out of 100 based on 49 critics, indicating "universal acclaim," with many hailing it as a revival of the Bond formula after the mixed reception to . Critics frequently lauded Mendes' direction for infusing the film with greater emotional resonance and character focus, moving beyond spectacle to explore Bond's vulnerabilities and loyalty. Javier Bardem's portrayal of the cyber-terrorist Raoul Silva was widely regarded as one of the franchise's most memorable villains, blending chilling menace, charisma, and psychological complexity in scenes that heightened the film's tension. Roger Deakins' cinematography earned particular acclaim for its visual artistry, including the neon-drenched Shanghai sequence where silhouettes and shadows amplify the intimacy and stakes of a key fight. Adele's theme song was also celebrated for its haunting orchestration and powerful vocals, capturing the film's elegiac tone and becoming a standout element of the soundtrack. Despite the praise, some reviewers noted flaws, including uneven pacing in the third act, where the shift to a more introspective confrontation slowed the momentum after earlier high-octane sequences. Others criticized an over-reliance on nostalgia, such as callbacks to Bond's origins, which occasionally veered into and softened the narrative's edge. A few observed formulaic tendencies in the plotting, arguing that despite its innovations, the film adhered too closely to Bond conventions like gadgetry and chases, limiting its freshness. Among notable reviews, awarded Skyfall four out of four stars, calling it "the best Bond in years" for its intelligent reinvention of the spy thriller. of gave it five out of five stars, describing it as a "triumph" and "perhaps the best in the series' 50-year history" for its stylish blend of action and .

Accolades

At the 85th Academy Awards, Skyfall received five nominations, including Best Cinematography for Roger Deakins, Best Original Score for Thomas Newman, Best Original Song for "Skyfall" by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth, Best Sound Editing for Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers, and Best Sound Mixing for Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell, and Stuart Wilson; it won Best Original Song and Best Sound Editing. The film earned eight nominations at the 66th British Academy Film Awards, encompassing Outstanding British Film, Supporting Actor for Javier Bardem, Supporting Actress for Judi Dench, Original Music Score for Thomas Newman, Cinematography for Roger Deakins, Production Design for Dennis Gassner, Sound, and Special Visual Effects, securing wins in Outstanding British Film and Original Music Score. Skyfall also won Best Original Song – Motion Picture at the for "Skyfall" by Adkins and . Among genre honors, the film took home the for Best Action/ at the 39th , where it competed in seven categories including Best Actor for . Overall, Skyfall amassed 125 nominations and 69 wins across major and international awards ceremonies, reflecting its broad critical and technical acclaim and signaling a resurgence for the franchise following the mixed reception of .

Legacy and analysis

Skyfall explores the obsolescence of traditional in the digital era, portraying as an outdated institution vulnerable to cyber threats that render human agents like Bond seemingly redundant. The film's antagonist, , embodies this shift by exploiting digital vulnerabilities to expose undercover agents, highlighting how infinite technological intrusion challenges the efficacy of old-school spies. This theme underscores a broader anxiety about the spy's role in a world dominated by data breaches and , where physical prowess and personal loyalty must adapt to intangible digital warfare. Central to the narrative are motifs of aging and mortality, coinciding with the franchise's 50th anniversary and Bond's portrayal as a 50-year-old operative confronting physical decline. Bond's resurrection after a presumed serves as a for the series' own , while his vulnerabilities—evident in lapses during recovery and confrontations—mirror the aging body's fragility and the inevitability of obsolescence. M's arc amplifies these ideas through her maternal and failures; as a surrogate mother to Bond, her past decisions, including Silva's betrayal, lead to her downfall, symbolizing the burdens of authority in a changing landscape. Scholarly interpretations emphasize the symbolism of the Skyfall estate as Bond's ancestral roots, a remote Scottish manor representing his traumatic origins and fragmented . The estate's destruction during the climax signifies a rejection of this heritage, aligning Bond more firmly with English-British identity amid tensions over . dynamics draw critique for reinforcing patriarchal norms, particularly in Eve Moneypenny's demotion from to secretary after accidentally shooting Bond, which underscores her relegation to traditional feminine roles despite initial competence. Director infuses the film with Shakespearean influences, drawing parallels between Bond's character drama—marked by loyalty, betrayal, and introspection—and the Bard's exploration of human frailty and power. The film revitalized the Bond franchise by blending nostalgic imperialism with contemporary relevance, paving the way for Spectre (2015) and reinforcing the series' global appeal through celebrations tied to the 2012 London Olympics and Queen's . It influenced depictions of cyber- in media, emphasizing hybrid threats that blend digital and physical elements, and marked the 50th anniversary with innovative storytelling that addressed post-9/11 geopolitical shifts in intelligence work. Post-release, Skyfall saw re-releases in cinemas in 2022 for the franchise's 60th anniversary, alongside scholarly essays examining its portrayal of anxieties in a surveillance-heavy world. It is the highest-grossing film in the Bond series, cementing its enduring cultural resonance.

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