BEYONCE’S new concert film “Renaissance” topped the North American box office in its opening weekend with an estimated take of US$21 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
That result came in what normally is a very slow period following the US Thanksgiving holiday.
“This is an excellent domestic opening for a concert film,” said analyst David A. Gross, boosted by “sensational critics’ reviews and audience scores.”
A virtuoso effort written, directed and produced by the iconic singer, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce” now ranks among the top five all-time concert movie openings, Gross said, led by the huge US$92.8 million opening earlier this year of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” film.
Both movies are distributed by AMC Theatres.
In second place for the Friday-through-Sunday period was Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” at US$14.5 million. Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler and Peter Dinklage star in the prequel about a lethal competition in the dystopian state of Panem.
In third is “Godzilla Minus One,” a new release from Toho International, at US$11 million. Unlike many earlier Hollywood takes on the huge sea monster, “This Toho production is Japanese in every way — in language, cast, setting and all facets,” said Gross, adding, “Critics and audiences love it.”
Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe star in the movie, which sold US$23 million in tickets in Japan over the past month.
Fourth spot for the second straight weekend went to Universal’s animated musical comedy “Trolls Band Together,” at US$7.6 million. Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake lead the voice cast.
And in fifth was Disney’s lavishly animated film “Wish,” at US$7.4 million. Featuring the voices of Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine, “Wish” tells the story of King Magnifico, who grants one wish a month.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
• “Napoleon” (US$7.1 million)
• “Animal” (US$6.1 million)
• “Silent Night” (US$3 million)
• “Thanksgiving” (US$2.6 million)
• “The Marvels” (US$2.5 million) – AFP
