Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” was an even bigger hit than first thought.
The film’s weekend box office earnings were revised up nearly $5 million from estimates Sunday. In final figures Monday, Disney said “Beauty and the Beast” made $174.8 million in North American theaters.
The result set numerous records. The film, directed by Bill Condon and starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, is not only easily the biggest hit of 2017 so far, it’s the biggest opening for a PG-rated movie, the top debut ever in March and ranks among the top-10 openings ever, not adjusting for inflation.
Analysts expect the film to make $1 billion globally.