Last month,box office analystswere predicting that Disney’s long-awaited live-action remake ofBeauty and the BEastwill take in $120 million at the box office, a debut that most studios would be happy with for any film. As we got closer and closer to the release, the projections started to increase, with some predicting it could earn upwards of $150 million, which would still put it just short of the all-time highest March opening,Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’s $166.1 million tally last year. It seemsBeauty and the Beasthas outdone itself, besting all projections for a record-breaking $170 million box office estimate.
Disney itself was downplaying those projections, with their own internal estimates placing their debut at $100 million.Box Office Mojoreports thatBeauty and the Beastdebuted in 4,210 theaters, earning an impressive $40,380 per-screen average. While this 4,210-theater rollout is certainly large, it ranks as the 29th widest of all time, not even coming close to the all-time record for widest release,The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’s 4,468-theater debut, a record which has stood for the past seven years. While that record will remain unscathed, it broke records for the largest debut for a PG-rated film, besting Disney’sFinding Dory($135 million) and delivered the biggest IMAX debut for a PG film with $21 million on 1,026 IMAX screens in 56 markets worldwide.
Earlier this week, bothBeauty and the Beastand the other new release, Blumouse Tilt’sThe Belko Experiment, which opened in seventh place with $4 million, were critical hits, withBeauty and the Beastscoring a 69% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 53 Fresh reviews and 24 Rotten reviews, andThe Belko Experimentjust barely on the Fresh side with 60%, although only out of 10 reviews, with six positive and four negative. Today,Beauty and the Beastincreased slightly, bumping up to 70%, whileThe Belko Experimentfloundered, slipping to a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Theworkplace thrillerwas a hit with festival audiences when it debuted during the Toronto Film Festival’s Midnight Madness section, it seems that mainstream critics didn’t quite enjoy this film as much as those on the festival circuit. The top 5 is rounded out byKong: Skull Islandin a distant second place with $28.8 million, followed byLoganin third with $17.5 million,Get Outin fourth with $13.2 million andThe Shackin fifth with $6.1 million.
The story and characters audiences know and love come to spectacular life in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classicBeauty and the Beast, a stunning, cinematic event celebrating one of the most beloved tales ever told.Beauty and the Beastis the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart of the true Prince within. The film starsEmma Watsonas Belle,Dan Stevensas the Beast,Luke Evansas Gaston, the handsome, but shallow villager who woos Belle,Kevin Klineas Maurice, Belle’s father,Josh GadasLeFou, Gaston’s long-suffering aide-de-camp,Ewan McGregoras Lumière, the candelabra,Stanley Tuccias Maestro Cadenza, the harpsichord,Audra McDonaldas Madame de Garderobe, the wardrobe,Gugu Mbatha-Rawas Plumette, the feather duster,Hattie Morahanas the enchantress andNathan Mackas Chip, the teacup. The cast is rounded out byIan McKellenas Cogsworth, the mantel clock andEmma Thompsonas the teapot, Mrs. Potts.
Directed byBill Condonbased on the 1991 animated film,Beauty and the Beast, the screenplay is written byStephen ChboskyandEvan Spiliotopoulosand produced by Mandeville Films’David Hoberman, p.g.a. andTodd Lieberman, p.g.a. withJeffrey Silver,Thomas SchumacherandDon Hahnserving as executive producers.Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards (Best Original Score and Best Song) for the animated film, provides the score, which includes new recordings of the original songs written byMenkenandHoward Ashman, as well as three new songs written byMenkenandTim Rice.
Written by the acclaimed writer/directorJames Gunn(Guardians of the Galaxy,Slither) and directed byGreg McLean(creator of theWolf Creekfranchise),The Belko Experimentis a terrifying, provocative and at times hilarious thrill-ride that literally provokes the question; what does it take to survive at work? From Orion Pictures,The Belko ExperimentstarsJohn Gallagher Jr.(The Newsroom,10 Cloverfield Lane),Tony Goldwyn(Scandal),John C. McGinley(Stan Against Evil,Scrubs),Adria Arjona(True Detective),Josh Brener(Silicon Valley) andMichael Rooker(Guardians of the Galaxy). The film was directed byGreg McLeanand executive produced byJames GunnandPeter Safran(The Conjuring 1&2,Annabelle).The Belko Experimentcast also includesMelonie Diaz,David Dastmalchian,Gail Bean,Valentine Miele,Owain Yeoman,Steve AgeeandSean Gunn, the brother of writer-producerJames Gunn.
The top 10 is rounded out byThe LEGO Batman Movie($4.7 million),The Belko Experiment($4 million),Hidden Figures$1.5 million),John Wick: Chapter 2($1.2 million) andBefore I Fall($1 million). Also opening in limited release is the long-awaited sequelT2: Trainspotting, which will have expansions on March 24 and March 31 respectively. The sequel earned an impressive $180,000 from just five theaters for a whopping $36,000 per-screen average. Broad Green Pictures’Song to Song, the latest from from celebrated directorTerrence Malick, earned $53,945 from four theaters for a $13,486 per-screen average. No box office data was given for Well Go USA’s thrillerBluebeardand Freestyle Releasing’sBurn Your Maps.
Looking ahead to next week, four new movies will arrive in wide release, with Lionsgate’sPower Rangersreboot, Warner Bros.' theatrical remake of the hit TV seriesCHiPs, Sony’s sci-fi thrillerLifeand River Rain’s sports dramaSlamma Jammaall hitting theaters. Also opening in limited release is Fox Searchlight’sWilson, Submarine Deluxe’s documentaryI Call Him Morgan, Monterey Media Inc’s dramaThe Levelingand FIP’s romantic comedyPhillauri. Take a look at the top 10 for the weekend of March 17, and check back on Tuesday for our next wave of box office predictions.
