'Beast' enjoys beautiful debut
NEW YORK — Disney’s live-action “Beauty” was a beast at the box office, opening with an estimated $170 million in North American ticket sales and setting a new high mark for family movies.
“Beauty and the Beast” blew past the previous record-holder for G- or PG-rated releases, according to studio estimates Sunday. Last year, Disney’s “Finding Dory” debuted with a then-PG-best $135 million.
“Beauty and the Beast” felled many other records, too. It’s the year’s top opening so far and a new best for March releases, and it ranks seventh all-time, not accounting for inflation.
The film, made for about $160 million, is the latest effort by Disney to re-create one of its animated classics with live action and digital effects. It stars Emma Watson and Dan Stevens.
Last week’s top film, Warner Bros.’ “Kong: Skull Island,” slid to second place with $28.9 million in its second week.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore, are:
1. “Beauty and the Beast,” $170 million
2. “Kong: Skull Island,” $28.9 million
3. “Logan,” $17.5 million
4. “Get Out,” $13.3 million
5. “The Shack,” $6.1 million
6. “The Lego Batman Movie,” $4.7 million
7. “The Belko Experiment,” $4.1 million
8. “Hidden Figures,” $1.5 million
9. “John Wick: Chapter Two,” $1.2 million
10. “Before I Fall,” $1 million.
