Listen to the article

Beyoncé’s latest concert film, Renaissance, has triumphantly ascended to the pinnacle of the North American box office in its inaugural weekend, amassing an estimated $21 million, as reported by Exhibitor Relations on Sunday, December 3. This impressive feat was achieved during a traditionally sluggish period following the US Thanksgiving holiday.

Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, a film showcasing Beyoncé’s multifaceted talents as writer, director and producer, has been lauded for its excellence, both by critics and audiences alike. According to industry analyst David A. Gross, “This is an excellent domestic opening for a concert film.” The film’s success is attributed to its critical acclaim and high audience scores, positioning it among the top five highest-grossing concert movie debuts. This list is currently led by Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour film, which opened to a staggering $92.8 million earlier this year. Both films are distributed by AMC Theaters.

Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes secured the second position for the Friday-to-Sunday period, garnering $14.5 million. The prequel, featuring Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler and Peter Dinklage, delves into the origins of the deadly competition in the dystopian state of Panem. Securing the third slot is Toho International’s Godzilla Minus One, with an $11 million opening. This latest iteration of the Godzilla saga, unlike previous Hollywood adaptations, is distinctively Japanese in its approach, language, cast, setting and overall production. Gross notes, “Critics and audiences love it.” The film stars Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe and has generated $23 million in ticket sales in Japan over the past month.

Remaining in the fourth position for the second consecutive week is Universal’s animated musical comedy Trolls Band Together, earning $7.6 million. The voice cast is led by Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake. Disney’s opulently animated Wish occupies the fifth spot, with revenues of $7.4 million. The film, featuring the voices of Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine, narrates the tale of King Magnifico, who grants one wish per month. The top ten is rounded out by Napoleon ($7.1 million), Animal ($6.1 million), Silent Night ($3 million), Thanksgiving ($2.6 million) and The Marvels ($2.5 million).

With AFP.