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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 20 March 2017
‘Beauty and the Beast’ roars with monstrous $170M debut

JAKE COYLE be heard this week.
AP Film Writer None of that dragged
NEW YORK (AP) — Disney’s down the movie’s massive
live-action “Beauty” was opening. It took in $180
a beast at the box office, million overseas, including
opening with an estimated $44.8 million in China, Dis-
$170 million in North Ameri- ney said.
can ticket sales and setting Paul Dergarabedian, se-
a new high mark for family nior media analyst for
movies. comScore, said any back-
“Beauty and the Beast” lash may have only helped
blew past the previous re- “Beauty and the Beast,”
cord-holder for G- or PG- which he predicts will
rated releases, according eventually top $1 billion
to studio estimates Sunday. globally.
Last year, Disney’s “Find- “As quote-unquote con-
ing Dory” debuted with a troversies go, this was a
then-PG-best $135 million. real tempest in a teapot,”
“Beauty and the Beast” This image released by Disney shows Dan Stevens as The Beast in a live-action adaptation of the Dergarabedian said. “This
animated classic “Beauty and the Beast.”
felled many other records, Associated Press obviously had zero impact
too. It’s the year’s top on the movie. In fact, those
opening so far and a new Condon described it, late derided it. sian censors required an who raise awareness of a
best for March releases, in the film. An Alabama drive-in the- edit of the scene, Disney movie for whatever reason
and it ranks seventh all- Though many applauded ater canceled showings pulled the film from release are generally only help-
time, not accounting for the character’s subtle twist before owners screened in the predominantly Mus- ing that movie do better
inflation. as overdue progress, some the film. And after Malay- lim nation. An appeal is to business.q
The film, made for about
$160 million, is the latest ef-
fort by Disney to re-create
one of its animated classics
with live action and digital
effects. The makeover of
the 1991 Oscar-winning film
follows previous live-action
remakes such as “Alice in
Wonderland,” ‘’Cinderel-
la,” ‘’Maleficent” and last
year’s “The Jungle Book.”
Many more are on the
way, too, including those
for “Dumbo,” ‘’Mulan,”
‘’Aladdin” and “The Lion
King.”
“Nostalgia is a very pow-
erful driver for these films,”
said Dave Hollis, head
of distribution for Disney.
“What’s exciting here is
there is an opportunity to
see these beloved stories
in a way that’s never been
seen before, but you get
to build that on the foun-
dation of something that’s
very familiar.
“But you don’t get to $170
million because of nostal-
gia,” Hollis added. “You
have to ultimately make
these movies great.”
“Beauty and the Beast,”
directed by Bill Condon
and starring Emma Watson
and Dan Stevens, found
widespread acclaim and
some backlash for includ-
ing what has been called
Disney’s first openly gay
character. Josh Gad plays
Gaston’s sidekick, LeFou,
who has a very brief “ex-
clusively gay moment,” as