Disney's Beauty and the Beast was projected to make somewhere between $120-$140 million for its domestic opening weekend, but now it is being reported that the Disney flick has made well above its initial projections with an estimated haul of $170 million domestic this weekend. If the numbers hold, it would set a new March record for biggest opening, topping Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($166 million). This also makes it the second highest grossing opening weekend featuring a female lead after Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The weekend breakdown for the Disney flick is...
Friday: $63.7 million
Saturday: $62.7 million
Sunday: $43.4 million
It's also earned the highest grossing Saturday ever just after Jurassic World ($69.6 million), Marvel's The Avengers ($69.5 million), and Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($68.2 million). Experts are saying that Beauty and the Beast could even have a much larger Sunday than what is being projected as it could go as high as $50 million. Due to its positive audience reception, Beauty and the Beast is now projected to reach a massive $500 million domestic overall, that is, if it can sustain its legs.
Overseas, the Disney flick has made $180 million, and this is without opening in big markets like Australia and Japan. Unfortunately, the film was banned in Russia and Malaysia for an unfortunate "gay controversy." Nevertheless, Beauty and the Beast could make around $650-750 million overseas, which would result in a worldwide total of $1.15-1.25 billion if it can also sustain its performance in the coming weeks. Have you already watched it? Sound off below!