Walt Disney Pictures‘ Beauty and the Beast grossed a dazzling $170 million domestically for the seventh-biggest debut of all-time, the #1 March debut ever (beating Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice‘s $166 million), and the #1 PG movie debut of all time. It’s also the highest domestic debut ever for a Disney live-action title and the seventh Walt Disney Studios release to open over $150 million. Made for $160 million without counting marketing expenses, the film received an A CinemaScore from audiences.
With an estimated $180 million internationally, the global opening reached estimated $350 million for the #2 March debut of all-time both globally and internationally. Beauty and the Beast opened as the #1 film in virtually all markets. It enchanted UK audiences to become highest-grossing three-day opening weekend of all-time for a PG movie with $22.8 million, while China opened to an estimated $44.8 million, making it the biggest ever Disney live-action opening weekend of all-time and representing a strong 67% market share. The film has yet to open in France, Australia, and Japan.
IMAX had a fairy tale weekend at the box office as Beauty and the Beast waltzed its way to a record-setting $21 million on 1,026 IMAX screens worldwide in 56 markets, including $12.5 million on 377 North American IMAX screens and $8.5 million from 649 IMAX screens internationally. Domestically, IMAX represented seven of the film’s top 10 locations. In China, the film grossed $3.4 million on 386 screens.
The Beauty and the Beast results from key international markets:
China $44.8M
UK $22.8M
Korea $11.9M
Mexico $11.6M
Germany $10.7M
Brazil $10.4M
Italy $7.6M
Russia $6.0M
Philippines $5.9M
Spain $5.8M
Hong Kong $3.2M
Indonesia $3.2M
Directed by Bill Condon, Beauty and the Beast stars Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Josh Gad as Lefou, Ewan McGregor as Lumière, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, Stanley Tucci as Cadenza, Audra McDonald as Garderobe, and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.
Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary‘s Kong: Skull Island dropped to second place at the domestic box office with $28.9 million its second weekend, for a total of $110.1 million. Internationally, Kong: Skull Island added $38.5 million to bring its overseas total to $149.2 million and $259.3 million worldwide. The Jordan Vogt-Roberts film stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Jing Tian, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Shea Whigham, Thomas Mann, Terry Notary and John C. Reilly. It was made for $185 million.
The James Mangold-directed Logan (20th Century Fox) also dropped a spot to third in North America with $17.5 million, for a total of $184 million after three weeks. Overseas, Logan added $31.5 million from 80 markets, taking its international total to $340 million and worldwide total to $524 million. Made for $97 million, the R-rated film stars Hugh Jackman in his last appearance as Wolverine, Patrick Stewart in his last turn as Charles Xavier, Boyd Holbrook, Richard E. Grant, Stephen Merchant, Eriq La Salle, Elise Neal, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Dafne Keen.
In fourth, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions’ Get Out grossed $13.2 million its fourth weekend for an impressive total of $133.1 million. Internationally, the film has earned $2.9 million. Made for just $4.5 million, the Jordan Peele film stars Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones and Catherine Keener.
Lionsgate’s faith-based drama The Shack, starring Sam Worthington and Octavia Spencer, rounded out the top five domestically with $6.1 million. The film has grossed $42.6 million after three weeks.
Coming in at #6 was Warner Bros. Pictures’ The LEGO Batman Movie, which brought in $4.7 million its sixth weekend for a total of $167.4 million. The film has grossed $120 million overseas for a global total of $287.4 million. Made for $80 million, the Chris McKay-directed film features the voices of Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes.
Opening in seventh place, BH Tilt’s The Belko Experiment, directed by Greg McLean and written by James Gunn, collected $4 million. Starring John Gallagher Jr., Melonie Diaz, John C. McGinley, Tony Goldwyn, Michael Rooker, David Dastmalchian, Gail Bean, and Valentine Miele, the film cost just $5 million to make.
Also, Sony Pictures debuted Danny Boyle’s T2 Trainspotting in five locations where it earned $180,000. Reuniting the original cast of the cult classic, the film has already earned $34 million internationally, with $21 million of that coming from the UK.
