Theater Counts (Updated): Beauty and the Beast Dances into a Monster 4,210 Theaters

March 16, 2017

Beauty and the Beast will lay claim to the coveted 28th spot on the all-time list of widest opening weekends, according to Disney’s announcement today. That’s thanks to a monster launch in 4,210 theaters, which would be the most ever for a March release if it wasn’t for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which opened in 4,242 movie houses on the last weekend of March last year.

While an opening this wide doesn’t guarantee a $100 million opening, only eight of the 27 films to open wider didn’t hit that mark from Friday to Sunday, and that was often because of a Wednesday opening. In other words, the table is set for a feast at the box office this weekend, and Batman v Superman’s $166 million March record doesn’t look entirely safe right now. Thursday preview earnings will probably be key to Beauty and the Beasts’s chances of setting the record, so we’ll be keenly watching out for those numbers tomorrow morning.

The Belko Experiment is bravely stepping up to the plate opposite Beauty and the Beast, and will be helped by having virtually no overlap in target audience. It is starting out in a modest 1,341 theaters, and will likely generate modest numbers. It doesn’t need a huge amount to break even, but it’s hard to see a family faced with sold out Beauty and the Beast shows choosing it as a second option.

Also debuting this weekend, and a good bet for the highest theater average, is T2: Trainspotting, which Sony is launching in five theaters. Also in art-houses, Power Rangers is expected to start out in 3,500 theaters, which puts it well ahead of the aggressively-marketed Life. The sci-fi horror film is expected to play in 3,000 venues. Bringing up the rear is Chips, which has an estimated 2,400-theater start for Warner Bros..

Figures updated Friday, 2.30pm with revised figures for Universal and theater count for Personal Shopper.

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts