Film no. 23 · 2012 · Craig era

Skyfall

TMDB rating: 7.3 / 10 · View on TMDB

Plot

In Istanbul, James Bond and MI6 field agent Eve pursue assassin Patrice, who has stolen a list of undercover NATO agents. Acting on M's order, Eve fires at Patrice but hits Bond, sending him from a train into a river and leaving him presumed dead. When a cyberattack devastates MI6 headquarters and names from the list are published, the injured Bond returns to London. Although he fails his fitness tests, M sends him after Patrice in Shanghai.

Bond witnesses a murder there and follows the connection to the enigmatic Sévérine in Macau. She promises to help if he kills her master, but Raoul Silva executes her in front of Bond. Silva is M's former agent Tiago Rodriguez and wants revenge because she surrendered him to the Chinese during a Hong Kong operation. Bond delivers him to London, yet capture is part of Silva's plan: he escapes through the Underground and attacks M during a parliamentary hearing.

Bond rescues M and drives her in the Aston Martin DB5 to his remote family estate, Skyfall, in Scotland. With gamekeeper Kincade, he turns the old house into an improvised fortress. Silva attacks with gunmen and a helicopter; Bond blows up the manor and pursues him to the chapel. He kills Silva, but M dies from her wounds. Back in London, Bond learns that Eve's surname is Moneypenny and accepts his next assignment from the new M, Gareth Mallory.

Facts

James Bond: Daniel Craig
Director: Sam Mendes
Screenplay: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan
Producers: Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli
Music: Thomas Newman
Title song: „Skyfall“Adele
Running time: 143 minutes
Budget: $200 millionProduction budget according to The Numbers and Box Office Mojo; other publications quote a range of $150–200 million
Box office: $1,111 millionworldwide theatrical gross according to The Numbers
Release: UK: 26 October 2012US: 9 November 2012Germany: 1 November 2012

Travel route and filming locations

Gold numbers trace Bond's journey through the story, light markers show the real filming locations. Each layer can be hidden separately.

Bond's route · 8 stops

Total distance (great-circle)≈ 23,904 km

Bond and Eve pursue Patrice through the city, across the Grand Bazaar and onto a train; Bond is shot and falls into a river.
Istanbul → London · ≈ 2,501 km
After the attack on MI6, Bond returns, is restored to duty despite failing his tests and receives new equipment from Q.
London → Shanghai · ≈ 9,197 km
Bond follows Patrice into a skyscraper, witnesses his contracted killing and finds a chip from the Golden Dragon Casino.
Shanghai → Macau · ≈ 1,275 km
At the Golden Dragon Casino, Bond meets Sévérine, escapes her guards and has her take him to Silva.
Macau → Silva's island · ≈ 13 km
The abandoned island off Macau is fictional; because the film gives no exact location, the marker is placed schematically in open water southeast of Macau. Silva kills Sévérine and explains his revenge plan before Bond uses the transmitter to bring in support and capture him.
Silva's island → London · ≈ 9,611 km
Silva escapes MI6 custody, flees through the Underground and attacks M at a hearing; Bond gets her to safety.
London → Skyfall estate, Scotland · ≈ 653 km
The fictional family estate lies in the Scottish Highlands. Bond, M and Kincade prepare its defence; Bond kills Silva, but M dies from her wounds.
Skyfall estate, Scotland → London · ≈ 653 km
Bond returns to MI6, learns that Eve's surname is Moneypenny and accepts an assignment from Mallory, the new M.

Filming locations · 23

Streets and market areas form the beginning of the Audi and Defender chase.
Bond and Patrice ride motorcycles through the passages and across the historic bazaar's roofs.
The vehicle chase passes through the historic centre between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
At the viaduct Bond fights Patrice on the train roof and falls into the gorge after Eve's shot.
doubles for unnamed coastal retreat (fictional / at sea)
The beach and a bar appear as Bond's unnamed retreat after his presumed death.
The real MI6 building becomes the target of the cyberattack and an explosion on its exterior.
The courtyard serves as the exterior approach to MI6's new underground headquarters.
Bond meets Q in front of Turner's The Fighting Temeraire in Room 34.
Bond enters the temporary underground MI6 base through the hospital and car-park area.
The disused tunnels form parts of MI6's training and shooting facilities.
Disused Jubilee line platforms and tunnels carry Bond's pursuit of Silva through the Underground.
doubles for Shanghai (China)
The glass high-rise structure represents Patrice's tower in Shanghai.
doubles for Shanghai (China)
The swimming pool serves as Bond's Shanghai hotel pool, with the skyline added digitally.
doubles for Shanghai airport (China)
Parts of the grandstand and arrivals area represent Shanghai airport.
John Barry's former home represents M's flat, where Bond appears unannounced.
On the roof, Bond looks across Whitehall in the epilogue before meeting the new M.
doubles for London, Macau and Silva's island
The 007 Stage and Paddock Tank housed the MI6 tunnels, Underground crash, Golden Dragon Casino and parts of Silva's island.
Studio and backlot facilities support vehicle work, interiors and large technical builds.
doubles for Skyfall estate, Scotland (United Kingdom)
The full-scale Skyfall manor set, chapel and approach road stood here.
Bond and M stop with the DB5 while driving through the Highlands, the mountains framing their approach to Skyfall.
Landscape photography extends the Scottish drive and supplies the geographical setting for the fictional estate.
A second unit filmed night skylines, illuminated signs and traffic for the Shanghai sequence.
doubles for Silva's fictional island off Macau (Macau)
Aerial and exterior views of the abandoned mining island give Silva's island its distinctive silhouette; scenes with the actors were filmed at Pinewood.

Characters and cast

Bond

James BondDaniel Craig

Bond girls

Villains

Raoul Silva / Tiago RodriguezJavier Bardemformer MI6 agent seeking revenge for a decision M made in the past

Henchmen

PatriceOla Rapaceassassin who steals the list of exposed agents

Allies

MI6

Others

Vehicles & Gadgets

Vehicles

The Skyfall DB5 carries machine guns behind its front lights and takes Bond and M to ScotlandPhoto: DeFacto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Aston Martin DB5
Car1964
Silver Birch; machine guns and ejector seat
Bond takes the right-hand-drive DB5 from a London garage and drives M to his remote family estate in Scotland. During the assault he fires its concealed front guns before helicopter fire destroys the car. A detailed one-third-scale model was built for the destruction shots; the pictured car carries the film registration BMT 216A.
Driven by
James Bond
Specs
4.0 L straight-six · 282 bhp · 145 mph
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall vehicles and DB5 trivia · 007.com: Destruction of Skyfall Lodge · IMCDb: 1964 Aston Martin DB5 in Skyfall · Aston Martin: DB5 heritage
The surviving screen vehicle from the Istanbul chase is displayed at the National Motor Museum in BeaulieuPhoto: Karen Roe from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Land Rover Defender 110 Double Cab Pick Up
Car2011
Istanbul opening chase
Eve pursues Patrice through Istanbul in the Defender while Bond rides in the passenger seat. After the vehicle is damaged, Bond briefly takes the wheel and moves from the bonnet onto a motorcycle. One stunt vehicle had its steering moved to the roof for the bonnet-driving shots; Jaguar Land Rover supplied 77 vehicles to the production.
Driven by
Eve Moneypenny and James Bond
Specs
2.4 L turbo diesel · 90 kW (122 hp) · 360 Nm · 82 mph
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall vehicles · JLR: Defender 110 Double Cab in Skyfall · IMCDb: Skyfall vehicle index
Honda CRF250R
Other
disguised as a trader's bike and a Turkish police motorcycle
Bond and Patrice switch to two modified motocross machines in Istanbul and race up steps, through the bazaar and across its roofs. Honda UK supplied the bikes; Bond's machine was dressed as a local trader's motorcycle and Patrice's as a Turkish police bike. The jump-oriented CRF250R enabled the tight lines of the rooftop sequence.
Driven by
James Bond and Patrice
Specs
249 cc liquid-cooled four-stroke single · five-speed transmission · chain drive
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall Grand Bazaar chase · Bonhams: ex-Skyfall Honda CRF250R · Honda: CRF250R press pack
A black A5 is Patrice's getaway car at the beginning of the Istanbul chasePhoto: order_242 from Chile · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Audi A5 Coupé (B8)
Car2007
black getaway car in Istanbul
Patrice flees the crime scene in the black A5 while Eve and Bond follow in the Defender. The coupé forces its way through traffic and market stalls before congestion triggers a change of vehicles. The exact engine cannot be identified on screen.
Driven by
Patrice
Specs
Type 8T · longitudinal front engine · front-wheel drive or quattro depending on version
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall vehicles · IMCDb: 2007 Audi A5 B8 in Skyfall
Bond uses a 320D carried on the freight train as both a ram and a bridgePhoto: 玄史生 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Caterpillar 320D L
Other
tracked excavator carried on the freight train
Bond starts the excavator carried on a flat wagon after Patrice uncouples the train. He uses its bucket to clear oncoming vehicles before extending the boom as a bridge to the forward section. The excavator remains on the train and becomes a moving component of the stunt sequence.
Driven by
James Bond
Specs
Operating weight about 21 t · Cat C6.4 diesel · 103 kW
Sources: IMCDb: Caterpillar 320D L in Skyfall · BAFTA: Skyfall visual and special effects presentation
The long-wheelbase Jaguar XJ serves as M's official car in LondonPhoto: Ethan Llamas · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Jaguar XJ L (X351)
Car2011
black long-wheelbase model serving as M's official car
M is driven through London in the black XJ L and watches the explosion at MI6 headquarters from the rear seat. The car later returns as discreet official transport. Its long-wheelbase cabin provides the formal rear compartment used for most of her scenes.
Driven by
MI6 chauffeur; M as passenger
Specs
Long-wheelbase X351 · V6 or V8 depending on version · eight-speed automatic
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall vehicles · JLR: Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles supplied to Skyfall · IMCDb: 2011 Jaguar XJ L in Skyfall
In Shanghai, Bond is driven to the skyscraper in a black S 300 LPhoto: Dinkun Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Mercedes-Benz S 300 L (V221)
Car2010
black saloon in Shanghai
After arriving in Shanghai, Bond is driven in the black long-wheelbase S-Class. Reflected city lights and the enclosed rear cabin introduce the nocturnal skyscraper sequence. The screen car is identified as a V221 S 300 L.
Driven by
chauffeur; James Bond as passenger
Specs
3.0 L V6 · long-wheelbase V221 · 7G-Tronic automatic
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall vehicles · IMCDb: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S 300 L in Skyfall
Discovery 4s serve MI6 as escort and support vehiclesPhoto: order_242 from Chile · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Land Rover Discovery 4
Car2011
support and escort vehicle in London
Several Discovery 4s form part of the British security and escort fleet around M and MI6. Their spacious bodies carry personnel and equipment without appearing overtly military. The vehicles came from the production's large Jaguar Land Rover fleet.
Driven by
MI6 personnel
Specs
3.0 L TDV6 · 180 kW (241 hp) · permanent four-wheel drive
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall vehicles · JLR: Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles supplied to Skyfall · IMCDb: 2011 Land Rover Discovery 4 in Skyfall
Black Range Rovers form part of the government and security fleet in LondonPhoto: Damian B Oh · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Land Rover Range Rover Vogue (L322)
Car2010
black government SUV
Black Range Rovers operate around London's government and security locations. They complement the Jaguar and Discovery as discreet, robust transport. The film uses the later facelifted form of the L322 generation.
Driven by
MI6 and government personnel
Specs
L322 · TDV8 diesel or V8 petrol depending on version · permanent four-wheel drive
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall vehicles · JLR: Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles supplied to Skyfall · IMCDb: 2010 Range Rover in Skyfall
Silva attacks the Skyfall estate in a dark-liveried, armed AW101Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
AgustaWestland AW101 / EH101 Mk.510
Aircraft
armed transport helicopter used in the attack on Skyfall
Silva arrives at the estate in a dark-liveried AW101 with a heavy machine gun firing from its side door. The helicopter deploys attackers and destroys Bond's DB5 before the house explosion catches it. The real aircraft was prototype G-17-510 supplied by AgustaWestland; two two-thirds-scale models were built for its destruction.
Driven by
Silva's pilot
Specs
three turboshaft engines · five-blade main rotor · cruise speed about 173 mph
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall vehicles · 007.com: Destruction of Skyfall Lodge · IMPDb: AgustaWestland EH101 in Skyfall
Silva's escape runs through the London Underground; two full-size cars were built for the tunnel crashPhoto: Au Morandarte from London, Middlesex, England · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
London Underground 1996 Stock
Other
Jubilee line train in Silva's escape sequence
Silva boards a train during his escape and Bond follows him through the station. Later Silva sends an empty train crashing through a tunnel shaft to stop Bond. Two full-size seven-ton carriages were built on the 007 Stage for the impact, recorded by ten remotely operated cameras.
Driven by
London Underground driver
Specs
six-car electric multiple unit · 630 V DC third and fourth rail · up to about 62 mph
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall film page · 007.com: Skyfall underground chase

Gadgets

Standard view of the classic PPK; in Skyfall, Q gives Bond a PPK/S with a sensor coded to his palmPhoto: Tomascastelazo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Walther PPK and PPK/S with palm-print sensor
Alongside his classic 7.65 mm Walther PPK, Bond receives a 9 mm short PPK/S from Q. Its micro-dermal sensor is coded to Bond's palm so only he can fire it; an attacker on Silva's island therefore cannot use the captured pistol.
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall gadgets, weapons and technology
Miniature radio transmitter
Q gives Bond a small tracking transmitter as a deliberately simple field tool. Bond activates it before sailing to Silva's island so MI6 can follow his position.
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall gadgets, weapons and technology
Anderson Wheeler .500 Nitro Express
Kincade keeps the large-calibre double rifle at the Skyfall estate. He uses it to defend the house against Silva's men.
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall gadgets, weapons and technology
AN/M14 thermite grenades
Bond uses incendiary grenades while preparing improvised traps inside the manor. Their heat ignites parts of the building and intensifies the explosions during the assault.
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall gadgets, weapons and technology
Light-bulb bombs
Bond and Kincade fill light bulbs with gunpowder and nails. The improvised charges are screwed into lamp sockets and triggered through the light switches.
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall gadgets, weapons and technology
Hunting knife
Bond throws Kincade's hunting knife through Silva's back as he threatens M in the chapel. The simple blade ends the fight without technological assistance.
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall gadgets, weapons and technology
The Skyfall DB5 carries machine guns behind its front lights and takes Bond and M to ScotlandPhoto: DeFacto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Aston Martin DB5 machine guns
The DB5 carries machine guns behind its front lights and the ejector seat familiar from Goldfinger. Bond fires on Silva's attackers before helicopter gunfire destroys the car.
Sources: 007.com: Skyfall film page · IMFDb: Skyfall firearms
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M
Bond wears a Planet Ocean 600M early in the film and later a Seamaster Aqua Terra. Neither watch has an additional Q Branch function on screen.
Sources: Bond Lifestyle: Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean in Skyfall · Bond Lifestyle: Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra in Skyfall

Production and trivia

Skyfall was released during the 50th anniversary year of the EON film series. Its world premiere took place at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 October 2012.
Principal photography began on 7 November 2011 and lasted 128 days. Filming concentrated on London, Surrey, Scotland and Turkey, with additional footage from Shanghai and Hashima.
The twelve-minute opening sequence required three months of rehearsals and two months of filming. Reinforced floating steel platforms protected the Grand Bazaar's historic roofs.
For the scenes at Çalış Beach, the production had to negotiate filming permission with 613 part-owners.
Roger Deakins photographed the first Bond film shot entirely with digital Arri Alexa cameras. It was also Deakins's first digitally photographed feature.
The underground MI6 headquarters was built on the 007 Stage in nine weeks by a crew of 250.
For the Underground train crashing through the tunnel, the team built two complete seven-ton carriages. Because the stunt was too dangerous for people on the stage, ten remotely operated cameras filmed it.
The Golden Dragon Casino was built at Pinewood's Paddock Tank. Three hundred floating lanterns, two thirty-foot dragon heads and 400 light bulbs created the Macau setting.
Skyfall manor was a full-scale plywood-and-plaster set on Hankley Common in Surrey. Its destruction used a one-third-scale house and two two-thirds-scale helicopter models.
The exterior of M's house was filmed at the former home of Bond composer John Barry, who died in 2011, as a deliberate tribute.
Thomas Newman succeeded David Arnold as score composer. Adele and Paul Epworth wrote the title song, released on 5 October 2012, Global James Bond Day.
The title song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Skyfall also shared the Sound Editing Oscar with Zero Dark Thirty.
At the BAFTA Awards, Skyfall won Outstanding British Film and Original Music for Thomas Newman—the series' first victory in the British Film category.
With a worldwide gross of $1.111 billion against the $200 million budget reported by The Numbers, Skyfall became the highest-grossing Bond film without inflation adjustment.
The German version was produced by Interopa Film in Berlin. Klaus Bickert wrote the dialogue script and Axel Malzacher directed it; Dietmar Wunder voiced Daniel Craig and Carlos Lobo voiced Javier Bardem.