Bond Flick Has Golden Opening

“GoldenEye” opened with an estimated $26.2 million, the largest opener of the celebrated James Bond series. In addition, “GoldenEye’s” weekend estimate, if it holds, will make it the third-largest opener of the year, trailing only “Batman Forever” with $52.8 million and last weekend’s “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls” with $37.8 million.

Starring Pierce Brosnan, “GoldenEye” displaced “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls” from the top spot. The Jim Carrey comedy, nevertheless, took in a whopping $19.5 million estimate to finish second in the weekend box office.

“The American President” debuted in third with an estimated $10.3 million, while the weekend’s other wide new entrant, “It Takes Two,” opened in fourth with an estimated $5.6 million.

“Get Shorty” finished fifth with about $4.3 million.

Holdovers, all showing weakening legs, rounded out the top 10.

“Copycat” finished sixth with roughly $3 million.

“Powder” was seventh with about $2.4 million. “Home for the Holidays” finished eighth with an estimated $2 million.

“Seven” won the ninth spot with roughly $1.6 million, bringing its income to a terrific $84.2 million estimate.

“Now and Then” registered 10th with about $1.5 million.