The opening weekend collection of $21 million makes the documentary concert film written, directed, and produced by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter a smash hit in North America!
“Queen Bey” has once again cemented herself as a prominent cultural figure of the 21st century who is known for making groundbreaking records with one new project after another. This time around, the singer-songwriter has set the box office on fire with the ticket sales, according to estimates from AMC Theatres Sunday. Despite being released alongside Silent Night, Godzilla Minus One, and The Shift, as of December 3, 2023, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé has grossed $21 million in the United States and Canada and $6.4 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $27.4 million.
The concert film was originally projected to gross $17–20 million from 2,539 theaters in its opening weekend, but it has performed better than what the early estimates were projecting.
After making $11.6 million on its first day, including $5 million from Thursday night previews, estimates were raised to $20–25 million. It went on to debut at $22 million, marking the second-best opening weekend for the first week of December, behind The Last Samurai ($24 million in 2003). Following the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in October, it marked the first time two different concert films opened at No. 1 at the domestic box office in the same year.
Additionally, the film has received positive reviews from critics, with emphasis on the concert footage and the intimate behind-the-scenes elements.
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The film has also been credited with being “the future of live music”, aiding both the UK’s live music industry and film industry. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 19 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.5/10. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 86 out of 100, based on twelve critics, indicating “universal acclaim.” Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare average grade of “A+,” while those polled at PostTrak gave it a 97% overall positive score, with 90% saying they would definitely recommend the film.
David A. Gross, from Franchise Entertainment Research, stated: “This is an excellent domestic opening for a concert film.” Further adding, “There are natural comparisons to Taylor Swift’s recent film, but these are very different artists and audiences.” On the other hand, Elizabeth Frank, EVP of worldwide programming & chief content officer at AMC Theatres, stated:
“On behalf of AMC Theatres Distribution and the entire theatrical industry, we thank Beyoncé for bringing this incredible film directly to her fans through the magic of moviegoing. To see it resonate with fans and with film critics on a weekend that many in the industry typically neglect is a testament to her immense talent, not just as a performer, but as a producer and director. We are so grateful for her vision to bring her Renaissance masterpiece to the big screen.”
“Renaissance” is off to a very strong start for a concert film, even though it fell short of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’s” October premiere gross of $92.8 million. The “Renaissance” tour, which began in Stockholm, Sweden, in May and concluded in Kansas City, Missouri, in the fall, covered 39 cities with 56 shows, grossing over $500 million and drawing in over 2.7 million concertgoers. Meanwhile, with 151 dates, Swift’s current “Eras Tour” is predicted to bring in over $1.4 billion and wrap up its theatrical run soon with over $250 million globally.
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The official synopsis of the film reads:
“RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ accentuates the journey of RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, from its inception, to the opening in Stockholm, Sweden, to the finale in Kansas City, Missouri. It is about Beyoncé’s intention, hard work, involvement in every aspect of the production, her creative mind and purpose to create her legacy, and master her craft. Received with extraordinary acclaim, Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR created a sanctuary for freedom, and shared joy, for more than 2.7 million fans.”
The film features the “Crazy in Love” singer’s husband, Jay-Z, and their three children, Blue Ivy, Rumi, and Sir Carter. Diana Ross, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Kendrick Lamar also make appearances. In addition to this, the end credits feature “My House,” a 2023 single by Beyoncé that is co-written with The Dream. It was released for streaming ahead of the opening weekend to celebrate the film’s release, which premiered at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles on Nov. 25 before being theatrically released in the United States on Dec. 1.
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé is currently playing in theaters worldwide. The film will be screened for at least four weekends. It will be available in IMAX and Dolby Cinema, as well as other branded premium large-format screens.