Beyoncé had a historically chilly box office weekend heated with the release of her concert film, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, topping the domestic box office with $21 million. Notably, this is the first time a film has opened with more than $20 million on this weekend since the 2003 Tom Cruise-led The Last Samurai.
The movie features songs performed during Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour, including the surprise appearances from Megan Thee Stallion and Kendrick Lamar. A new song called “My House” played during the credits and was released on streaming platforms on Friday.
The artist known for hits like “Flawless,” who gained prominence as a member of Destiny’s Child, holds the record for most Grammy wins – 32.
In addition to the concert scenes, the film gave a rare glimpse at how Beyonce grapples with stardom and motherhood. She also spoke candidly about the challenges – and joy – of being a Black woman in the music industry.
Queen Bey has released the second No. 1 concert film this year, but its returns pale in comparison to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie.
Swift’s film of her still ongoing tour broke the record for the biggest debut of a concert film, beating out Michael Jackson’s 2009 This Is It, with $128 million globally. Bey wrapped up her 56-show Renaissance World Tour in early October, becoming the highest-grossing tour by a female artist in history.
Both pop superstars have been nothing but supportive of one another, with each attending the premieres of their respective films. And both also demolished their competition.
