Spectacular escapes in the face of seemingly impossible hurdles are part of the James Bond lore. And it appears “Spectre,” the 24th movie in the 007 film series, is about to steal a page from that script.

The fourth film starring Daniel Craig as the suave super-spy is pacing to match or beat the $88 million opening weekend of of 2012’s “Skyfall” when it opens in North America on Nov. 6. That film went on to gross $1.1 billion worldwide, the top franchise performer of all time.

“Skyfall” had some unique factors going for it, including Adele’s Oscar-winning song and Queen Elizabeth II capping her Diamond Jubilee Celebration by “parachuting” out of a helicopter with Craig at the opening of the London Olympics.

Also Read: 'Spectre' Tops 'Skyfall' in First Day at UK Box Office

2. Daniel Craig might be crazy like a fox
For all of Craig’s well-publicized off-the-cuff comments about Bond (“misogyonist”), continuing as 007 (“I’d rather slash my wrists”) and his motivation for a possible return (“only for the money”), he’s never ripped “Spectre” itself. That’s probably not a coincidence.

Craig’s comments, and the film’s other pre-relesae problems “really don’t matter to most moviegoers, who are much more swayed by the trailers and reviews, if they’re aware of them at all,” Phil Contrino, senior analyst at BoxOffice.com, told TheWrap. For those who remember Craig’s curmudgeonly comments, Contrino said, “They fit right in with his detached, roguish character in the movies, and might even help.”

3. Precision timing
Someone, like maybe Sony distribution chief Rory Bruer, must have been checking one of those Omega watches 007 wears, or the calendar. The North American box office is heading for a record this year, but when “Spectre” lands next week, it will be after two of the slowest and dullest weekends of 2015. “Audiences are primed for something to get excited about, and that sets up Bond for a big-time breakout,” said Contrino, who believes the U.S. opening weekend will top the $86 million achieved by “Skyfall.”

Also Read: Daniel Craig Wants to Kill Christoph Waltz in Final 'Spectre' Trailer (Video)

4. A really good baddie
Academy Award winner Javier Bardem‘s turn as cyber-terrorist Raoul Silva — fill in your own Sony-hack punchline — was a big reason for the success of “Skyfall.” This time it’s Christoph Waltz, a two-time Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner, as the classic evildoer Ernst Stavro Blofeld. His presence lends class to the which also co-stars Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Lea Seydoux and Monica Bellucci.

5. “Skyfall” itself
A big reason the 24th Bond movie has a good shot at topping the grosses of the 23rd is the glow provided by the last film, which many saw as a big step forward after the previous one, 2008’s oddly titled “Quantum of Solace.” “‘Skyfall’ really restored people’s faith in the franchise,” Contrino said, “and a lot of moviegoers can’t wait to see if this one measures up.”

Daniel Craig Turns 50: 007 Times He Sounded Sick of Playing James Bond (Photos)

Daniel Craig turns 50 on Friday. The actor is signed on for his fifth Bond movie in 2019, but is he happy about it? Let's look at his past statements.
Nov. 9, 2012 - "I've been trying to get out of this from the very moment I got into it."

Craig told Rolling Stone he was reluctant to do another Bond movie after "Skyfall." But he said he was under contract to do two more.
MGM
Nov. 9, 2012 - "I've got a contract that somebody will happily wipe their ass with."

Craig added in that Rolling Stone interview that if the business for "Skyfall" wasn't great, the studio might set him free.
MGM
Oct. 7, 2015 - "I'd rather break this glass and slash my wrists."

The quote above is from a Time Out London interview, in response to whether he could imagine doing another Bond movie. He also said if he did, it would only be for the money.
Getty Images
Oct. 7, 2015 - "Look, I don't give a f---."

Craig said he isn't interested in who plays Bond next and won't be "backseat driving" on set. He told Time Out London his only advice is this: "Don’t be s---. You’ve got to step up. People do not make movies like this any more. This is really rare now. So don’t be s---."
MGM
Oct. 7, 2015 - "It's a drag."

Craig told Time Out that playing Bond was "a drag" because "the best acting is when you're not concerned about the surface. And Bond is the opposite of that."
Oct. 23, 2015 - "Let's not forget that he's actually a misogynist."

Shortly after that infamous Time Out interview, Craig gave a less-publicized interview to The Red Bulletin, calling his character misogynist. “A lot of women are drawn to him chiefly because he embodies a certain kind of danger and never sticks around for too long.”
Getty Images
Oct. 23, 2015 - "Let’s not talk these films up as some kind of life-changing experience."

When The Red Bulletin asked him what audiences could learn from the Bond movies, Craig said, "Nothing... Bond is what Bond does. Bond is very single- minded. He takes his own course. And that’s simple, which is great."
Getty Images
Nov. 5, 2015 - Craig clarifies his past comments

Craig clarified his "slash my wrists" statement on "Today." "If you’re 200 hundred yards from the end of a marathon and someone comes running up to you and says, ‘Are you gonna run another marathon?' there’s two words you use. And not on a morning show!”
Oct. 10 2016 - “There is no other job like it… if I were to stop doing it, I would miss it terribly.”

In 2016, Craig said at the New Yorker Festival, “There is no other job like it…if I were to stop doing it, I would miss it terribly.”
Sony
Aug. 15, 2017 - “Instead of saying something with style and grace, I said something really stupid.”

Shortly after it was finally reported that Craig would be returning as Bond, he spent multiple interviews being "cagey" about whether it was true, but then finally confirmed the news to Stephen Colbert on "The Late Show." When Colbert pressed him about his previous comments, namely wanting to "slash my wrists," Craig replied, “Instead of saying something with style and grace, I said something really stupid.”
CBS

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He’ll play Bond for a fifth time, but is he happy about it?

Daniel Craig turns 50 on Friday. The actor is signed on for his fifth Bond movie in 2019, but is he happy about it? Let's look at his past statements.

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