Actor Daniel Craig, who won a best actor trophy in Britain for his debut turn as superspy James Bond in Casino Royale, reprises the role in Quantum of Solace. (Canadian Press)

The new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, has smashed a British box office record for one-day sales, raking in $9.6 million on its opening day.

Columbia Pictures said Saturday that the film, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as the dashing secret agent, broke the record previously held by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ($7.9 million).

Princes William and Harry attended the film's world premiere in London on Wednesday before the opening launch on Friday.

In Quantum of Solace — using a script co-written by Canadian Paul Haggis — Bond journeys to South America to stop an eco-terrorist from controlling precious natural resources. At the same time, the MI6 superspy is on a personal mission to uncover why the woman he fell in love with in Casino Royale, Vesper Lynd, betrayed him.

Ukrainian-born actress Olga Kurylenko plays Bond's latest sidekick, Camille.

The 22nd Bond film was marked by a series of mishaps.

Craig recently admitted he needed surgery after one of his co-stars accidentally kicked him, severing his fingertip and requiring eight stitches to his face.

In April, a stuntman crashed a car into Italy's Lake Garda and in a separate incident, another stuntman was seriously injured after crashing into a wall.

Reviews for Quantum of Solace have been mixed.

The Independent's Anthony Quinn commented: "There's nothing so fatiguing as a movie that won't stop trying to excite you the whole time.

"We all know what it is to be bored to death, but have you ever been entertained to death?"

While James Christopher in the Times billed it as "an intriguing watch."

"Really, nobody does it better than the new 007,"

The film, directed by The Kite Runner's Marc Foster, unspools in the U.S. and Canada on Nov. 14.