It wasn’t too long ago that the month of March wasn’t exactly seen as the home to box office juggernauts, but that all changed seven years ago when Disney’sAlice in Wonderlandopened huge with $116.1 million. Just a few years later, Lionsgate positioned its new franchiseThe Hunger Gamesin March, where it opened to the tune of a record-breaking $152.5 million, and last year, that record was broken byBatman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’s $166.1 million. This year, Disney’sBeauty and the Beastcould very well vie for that record, but while it will easily come out on top this weekend, we’re predicting thislive-action fairy tale adaptationwill arrive just short of the record, with $139.7 million.
Last month,box office analystspredicted thatBeauty and the Beastcould open around $120 million, while Disney itself was downplaying those projections, with their own internal estimates placing their debut at $100 million.Box Office Mojoreports thatBeauty and the Beastwill open in over 4,000 theaters, although an exact theater count won’t be made available until later this week. It still likely won’t come close to the all-time record for widest release,The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’s 4,468-theater debut, a record which has stood for the past seven years. Still, it won’t need to break the theater count record to trounce its only competitor this weekend, Blumhouse Tilt’sThe Belko Experiment, which is expected to open in approximately 1,350 theaters.
As of now, both of these new releases are critical hits, withBeauty and the Beastscoring a 69% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 53 Fresh reviews and 24 Rotten reviews, andThe Belko Experimentjust barely on the Fresh side with 60%, although only out of 10 reviews, with six positive and four negative. WhileThe Belko Experimentwas a hit with festival audiences when it debuted during the Toronto Film Festival’s Midnight Madness section, it remains to be seen how mainstream audiences and critics alike will take to thisR-rated workplace thriller. We’re predicting thatThe Belko Experimentwill round out the top 5 with $8.5 million, behind holdoversKong: Skull Islandin a distant second place with $29.8 million,Loganin third place with $21.4 million and horror hitGet Outin fourth place with $13.6 million
The story and characters audiences know and love come to spectacular life in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classicBeauty and the Beast, a stunning, cinematic event celebrating one of the most beloved tales ever told.Beauty and the Beastis 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, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart of the true Prince within. The film starsEmma Watsonas Belle,Dan Stevensas the Beast,Luke Evansas Gaston, the handsome, but shallow villager who woos Belle,Kevin Klineas Maurice, Belle’s father,Josh Gadas LeFou, Gaston’s long-suffering aide-de-camp,Ewan McGregoras Lumière, the candelabra,Stanley Tuccias Maestro Cadenza, the harpsichord,Audra McDonaldas Madame de Garderobe, the wardrobe,Gugu Mbatha-Rawas Plumette, the feather duster,Hattie Morahanas the enchantress andNathan Mackas Chip, the teacup. The cast is rounded out byIan McKellenas Cogsworth, the mantel clock andEmma Thompsonas the teapot, Mrs. Potts.
Directed byBill Condonbased on the 1991 animated film,Beauty and the Beast, the screenplay is written byStephen ChboskyandEvan Spiliotopoulosand produced by Mandeville Films’David Hoberman, p.g.a. andTodd Lieberman, p.g.a. withJeffrey Silver,Thomas SchumacherandDon Hahnserving as executive producers.Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards (Best Original Score and Best Song) for the animated film, provides the score, which includes new recordings of the original songs written byMenkenandHoward Ashman, as well as three new songs written byMenkenandTim Rice.
Written by the acclaimed writer/directorJames Gunn(Guardians of the Galaxy,Slither) and directed byGreg McLean(creator of theWolf Creekfranchise),The Belko Experimentis a terrifying, provocative and at times hilarious thrill-ride that literally provokes the question; what does it take to survive at work? From Orion Pictures,The Belko ExperimentstarsJohn Gallagher Jr.(The Newsroom,10 Cloverfield Lane),Tony Goldwyn(Scandal),John C. McGinley(Stan Against Evil,Scrubs),Adria Arjona(True Detective),Josh Brener(Silicon Valley) andMichael Rooker(Guardians of the Galaxy). The film was directed byGreg McLeanand executive produced byJames GunnandPeter Safran(The Conjuring 1&2,Annabelle).The Belko Experimentcast also includesMelonie Diaz,David Dastmalchian,Gail Bean,Valentine Miele,Owain Yeoman,Steve AgeeandSean Gunn, the brother of writer-producerJames Gunn.
The top 10 will be rounded out byThe Shack($5.2 million),The LEGO Batman Movie($4.6 million),Before I Fall($1.9 million),Hidden Figures($1.8 million) andJohn Wick: Chapter 2($1.4 million). Also opening in limited release is the long-awaited sequelT2: Trainspotting, which will have expansions on March 24 and March 31 respectively, Well Go USA’s thrillerBluebeard, Freestyle Releasing’sBurn Your Mapsand Broad Green Pictures’Song to Song, the latest from from celebrated directorTerrence Malick. It isn’t clear ifBluebeard,Burn Your MapsorSong to Songwill expand in the weeks ahead.
Looking ahead to next week, four new movies will arrive in wide release, with Lionsgate’sPower Rangersreboot, Warner Bros.' theatrical remake of the hit TV seriesCHiPs, Sony’s sci-fi thrillerLifeand River Rain’s sports dramaSlamma Jammaall hitting theaters. Also opening in limited release is Fox Searchlight’sWilson, Submarine Deluxe’s documentaryI Call Him Morgan, Monterey Media Inc’s dramaThe Levelingand FIP’s romantic comedyPhillauri. Take a look at our box office projections for the weekend of March 17, and check back on Sunday for the box office estimates.
