AMC’s second concert movie, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, frontloaded in its previews and taking a Saturday tumble of -48% ($6M), is still on track to achieve an opening weekend of $20M-$24M, according to industry sources. AMC’s current estimation for the weekend sits at $21M. This performance, particularly during a typically slow weekend in early December, is quite impressive and not far behind Tom Cruise’s 2003 The Last Samurai, which holds the record for the weekend with $24.2M. Initial reactions to the decision to release Renaissance during this box office lull were skeptical, yet the movie has exceeded its $20M expectations, achieving a solid opening. There is some debate over whether the timing of the movie’s release was optimal, as some speculated it may have fared better in 2024. However, AMC Theatres Distribution saw its second straight No. 1 opening thanks to Renaissance.
Elizabeth Frank, Executive Vice President Worldwide Programming & Chief Content Officer, AMC Theatres, expressed gratitude for Beyoncé’s decision to bring the film to theaters, noting how it resonated with fans and critics during a typically overlooked weekend for the industry. It remains to be seen how the film will fare among churchgoing viewers today, which could impact its Sunday sales. Renaissance’s opening performance is comparable to other major concert films like Justin Bieber: Never Say Never and Michael Jackson’s This Is It. The film’s audience composition is 72% female, with a strong turnout from viewers over 25 years old.
With an estimated box office total of $95.3M, this weekend is poised to become the best post-pandemic period so far, driven by Renaissance’s opening. Alongside the performance of Renaissance, Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Toho International’s Godzilla Minus One have made significant contributions to an overall successful weekend at the box office. Disney’s Wish and Apple Original Production’s Napoleon, however, experienced considerable declines in their second weekend performances, underscoring their weak box office reception. Notably, Amazon MGM’s Saltburn continues to maintain strong momentum, marking another success for the studio.
Renaissance has received a rare A+ CinemaScore, indicating high levels of audience satisfaction. The film, while likely frontloaded, is expected to continue performing well throughout the weekend. Godzilla Minus One also received positive audience feedback, reflected in its “A” CinemaScore and high recommendability ratings. The picture is shaping up as a hit among moviegoers who have already seen it. With gender and diversity demographics reflecting strong engagement, it is apparent that Renaissance and Godzilla Minus One have struck a chord with diverse audiences.
