Skyfall becomes 14th film to reach $1bn

London - Skyfall has now made over $1bn at the worldwide box office.

Sam Mendes' latest chapter in the James Bond saga - starring Daniel Craig as 007 - has surpassed all expectations and is now one of the highest-grossing films ever made.

The previous highest earner in the James Bond franchise was Casino Royale, which took just under $600m in 2006.

Skyfall is just one of just 14 films to pass the $1bn mark and others include The Avengers, Avatar, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and The Dark Knight Rises.

Soon after its November release, Skyfall became the highest grossing film of all time in the UK, raking in a massive £94 277 612 in just 40 days, knocking previous title-holder Avatar off the top spot.

Producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli expressed their delight at the news with a statement saying: "We're overwhelmed with gratitude to the cinema-going audiences in the UK who have made Skyfall the highest grossing film of all time. We are very proud of this film and thank everybody, especially Daniel Craig and Sam Mendes, who have contributed to its success."