“Cinderella” was the belle of the ball at the box office this weekend, as Disney’s live-action update of its classic animated fairy tale swept moviegoers off their feet with a $70.1 million debut.
That was enough to vanquish the weekend’s only other opener, the Liam Neeson thriller “Run All Night,” take the No. 1 spot from “Chappie” and underscore that Disney yet another film franchise — modern takes on its vault of animated classics. The studio scored with Angelina Jolie‘s dark “Maleficent” last year, topped that with this bright and bouncy “Cinderella” and has an “Alice in Wonderland” sequel and live-action takes on “Jungle Book,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Dumbo” in the works.
The formula worked overseas as well. Director Richard Branagh straightforward and sumptuous take on the storybook tale brought in $62.4 million from overseas as well — including a record-breaking $25 million opening in China — for a $132 million first weekend globally.
*Also Read:* Fairy Tales Invade Theaters: Hollywood’s New Superheroes?
“Frozen”-fueled “princess power” was in full effect for this “Cinderella” this weekend. The audience was 77 percent female crowd and 56 percent under 25 years of age. They got what they came for – and a 7-minute “Frozen Fever” short before the film began, too– and awarded it a “A” CinemaScore.
More to come …
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That was enough to vanquish the weekend’s only other opener, the Liam Neeson thriller “Run All Night,” take the No. 1 spot from “Chappie” and underscore that Disney yet another film franchise — modern takes on its vault of animated classics. The studio scored with Angelina Jolie‘s dark “Maleficent” last year, topped that with this bright and bouncy “Cinderella” and has an “Alice in Wonderland” sequel and live-action takes on “Jungle Book,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Dumbo” in the works.
The formula worked overseas as well. Director Richard Branagh straightforward and sumptuous take on the storybook tale brought in $62.4 million from overseas as well — including a record-breaking $25 million opening in China — for a $132 million first weekend globally.
*Also Read:* Fairy Tales Invade Theaters: Hollywood’s New Superheroes?
“Frozen”-fueled “princess power” was in full effect for this “Cinderella” this weekend. The audience was 77 percent female crowd and 56 percent under 25 years of age. They got what they came for – and a 7-minute “Frozen Fever” short before the film began, too– and awarded it a “A” CinemaScore.
More to come …
*Related stories from TheWrap:*
James Bond Movie 'Spectre' Made Creative Changes for $20 Million From Mexico (Report)
Fairy Tales Invade Theaters: Hollywood's New Superheroes?
Dan Stevens in Talks to Play the Beast Opposite Emma Watson in Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' Reported by The Wrap 12 hours ago.