‘Beauty and the Beast’ blasts through box office recorders with USD350-million debut

Internationally, “Beauty and Beast” placed No.1 almost everywhere. It was huge in the UK with USD22.8 million – one of the top five openings ever there – and impressed in China with USD44.8 million, already topping the entire runs of Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland, according to the Hollywood Reporter. (Photo: Beauty and the Beast/ Facebook)

LOS ANGELES–Disney’s live-action remake of “Beauty and the Beast” blasted through box office records to open with an estimated USD170 million in North American ticket sales and USD180 million overseas.

According to studio estimates Sunday, “Beauty and the Beast” blew past the previous record-holder for G- or PG rated film. It topped the previous March opening weekend record of USD166 million set by “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” last year and also the seventh largest opening weekend ever.

Internationally, “Beauty and Beast” placed No.1 almost everywhere. It was huge in the UK with USD22.8 million – one of the top five openings ever there – and impressed in China with USD44.8 million, already topping the entire runs of Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The film, directed by Oscar winner Bill Condon and based on the 1991 animated film, cost USD160 million to make. It is a re-telling of Disney’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience. “Beauty and the Beast” tells the story of the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, Belle befriends with the beast and learns to look to beyond his hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.

WB and Legendary’s “Kong:Skull Island” was in second place at about USD29.9 million, and Fox’s “Logan” placed third at an estimated USD17.5 million. Fourth belongs to Universal’s “Get out”, which brought in an estimated USD13.2 million. Lionsgate’ s “The Shack” finished fifth with an estimated USD6.1 million.