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AMC Entertainment’s second concert film theatrical release, Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce, fired up last night with $5M previews from showtimes that began at 7PM. While that figure is higher than the Thursday night previews for AMC’s Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour which did $2.8M, you’ll remember that previews for that Sam Wrench-directed movie were announced literally two days before its release.
Hence, Eras Tour, which posted the biggest opening at the domestic box office this fall with $92.8M, cannot be used as a comp here to Renaissance. Given Beyonce’s pull on older audiences, particularly women (those over 25 showed up at 53%), an opening in the vicinity of $15M-$20M is expected, and indeed, last night’s ticket sales are considered to be frontloaded. Sources in distribution have questioned why this movie is opening on the sleepy, awfully attended post Thanksgiving weekend. We understand that decision was mutally agreed upon by AMC and team Beyonce, versus holding the movie until next year.
That said, critics were crazy in love for Renaissance giving the movie produced, written and directed by Beyonce 100%, one notch above the 99% certified fresh of Eras Tour. Early PostTrak from Comscore/Screen Engine last night shows audiences also crazy in love for the concert pic at 5 stars, a massive 99% positive and 90% definite recommend. Those who showed up were 70% female with 51% Black, 20% Caucasian, 20% Latino and Hispanic and 6% Asian. The biggest demo were those 25-34 which repped 45% of the audience.
Renaissance is booked at 5,300 theaters worldwide and will only play the Thursday-Sunday frames in the coming weekends similar to Eras Tour.
Meanwhile, Toho International’s first self-distributed U.S. theatrical release, Godzilla Minus One (for those keeping tabs, Crunchy Roll previously released Toho movies), earned $2.1M Wednesday and Thursday previews in 1,921+ locations. The film opens wide today in 2,308 locations with over 750 Premium Format Screens (including 250 IMAX Screens. The Japanese reboot is expected to make in the high single digits-$10M+ for the weekend; however, don’t be surprised if this movie overperforms with PostTrak exits last night of 5 stars, 91% positive along with a 96% positive RT critics score and 97% from audiences. Godzilla Minus One has earned close to $20M from its release in Japan alone.
Lionsgate has John Woo’s first U.S. theatrical release in 20 years, Silent Night, which did $250K in previews last night. The movie is expected to file in the low single digits this weekend. The new film, which uniquely has no dialogue, stars Joel Kinnaman, Scott Mescudi, Harold Torres, and Catalina Sandino Moreno. Robert Archer Lynn wrote the script. The gritty revenge tale follows a tormented father (Kinnaman) who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire on Christmas Eve. While recovering from a wound that costs him his voice, Kinnaman makes vengeance his life’s mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen in order to avenge his son’s death. Critics are at 62% positive on RT. Last night’s attendees didn’t like the movie at 2 1/2 stars, 65% positive and a 40% recommend. Ouch.
The rest of Thursday night and the week went down as follows:
1.) Hunger Games: Songbirds & Snakes (LG) 3776 theaters Thur $1.7M (-8% from Wed), Week $37.1M, Total $106.7M/Wk 2
2.) Napoleon (Apple/Sony) 3500 theaters, Thur $1.1M (-16%), Wk $26.4M, Total $38.6M/Wk 1
3.) Wish (Dis) 3900 theaters, Thur $562K (-5%), Wk $22.6M Total $34.5M, Wk 1
4.) Trolls Band Together (Uni) 3893 theaters, Thur $516K (-3%), Wk $20.2M Total $67.2M, Wk 2
5.) Thanksgiving (Sony) 3204 theaters, Thur $347K (-14%), Wk $8.8M, Total $25.7M/Wk 2
6.) Saltburn (Amz MGM) 1566 theaters, Thur $309K (-22%), Wk $3.3M, Total $4.6M/Wk 2