Disney’s (NYSE:DIS) Beauty and the Beast has set a new box office record. Disney’s live-action remake of the beloved 1991 animated classic averaged $40,380 per location from 4,210 theaters on its opening weekend, reaching a spectacular estimated $170 million domestically this weekend. That was the highest domestic debut for a March title in history.
The record beats the $166 million total posted by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice about a year ago. The Bill Condon-directed film is also the No. 2 March debut of all time both globally and internationally. Beauty and the Beast also beat The Jungle Book‘s IMAX record for a PG-rated film at $21 million worldwide vs. $20 million worldwide, respectively.
Worldwide, Beauty and the Beast made $180 million, bringing its global total to $350 million in just three days. In today’s dollars and in the comparable suite of markets, Beauty and the Beast is running 35 percent ahead of The Jungle Book, 96 percent ahead of Alice In Wonderland, 100 percent ahead of Maleficent and 148 percent ahead of Cinderella.
During its opening weekend, Beauty and the Beast earned $44.8 million in China and $22.8 million in the U.K. In Korea, the film earned $11.9 million for the top Disney Live Action opening frame ever. The film earned $11.6 million in Mexico, $10.7 million in Germany, $10.4 million in Brazil, $7.6 million in Italy, and $6 million in Russia. Rounding out the Top 10 were Philippines and Spain, with $5.9 million and $5.8 million respectively.
There are still openings to come. Beauty and the Beast is set to open in numerous markets this week, including France, Australia, Belgium, Hungary, Israel, Trinidad and Argentina. Then, the movie will open in Japan on April 21. Beauty is scheduled to open on 22 more IMAX screens in nine markets next frame.
This year has seen seven films cross the $100 million domestic mark so far. Legendary and Warner Bros.’ latest entry in the King Kong franchise, Kong: Skull Island fell to No. 2 with a $259.3 million global total, earning $110.1 million in the U.S. and Canada. James Mangold’s Wolverine flick Logan earned an estimated $17.5 million across its third three-day frame, bringing its global take to $524 million to date. Theodore Melfi’s Oscar-nominated drama Hidden Figures spent its 11th weekend inside the top 10, with its North American total reaching $165.6 million.
