- India's capital bans fireworks to curb air pollution
- Stocks diverge, oil retreats as China disappoints markets
- FIFA to open 'global dialogue' on transfer system after Diarra ruling
- Trio wins economics Nobel for work on wealth inequality
- Starmer vows to cut red tape as he urges foreign investors to 'back' UK
- Ex-Stasi officer jailed over 1974 Berlin border killing
- 'Not viable': Barcelona turns against surging tourism
- Hezbollah says targeted Israeli naval base after deadly drone strike
- Rice praises 'unbelievable' England interim boss Carsley despite uncertainty
- Nepali teenager hailed as hero after climbing world's 8,000m peaks
- England captain Stokes back from injury for second Pakistan Test
- Shanghai stocks gain after stimulus briefing as markets rally
- Shanghai stocks gain after stimulus briefing as Asian markets rally
- South Korea military says 'fully ready' as drone flights anger North
- Pakistan 'vigilantes' behind rise in online blasphemy cases
- Nearly 90, but opera legend Kabaivanska is still calling tune
- Smith experiment as Test opener over, Green out of India series
- With inflation down, ECB eyes faster tempo of rate cuts
- Is life possible on a Jupiter moon? NASA goes to investigate
- Dodgers crush Mets 9-0 in MLB playoff series opener
- South Korea military says 'fully ready' as drone tensions soar
- Cummins back, Marsh and Head out of Pakistan ODI series
- Shanghai stocks swing after stimulus briefing as most of Asia rises
- New Zealand's Latham promises 'no fear' as he takes charge for India Tests
- Kyrgios vows to 'shut up' doubters with December comeback
- Public hearings start into death of Brit by Russian nerve agent
- Ex-Stasi officer faces verdict over 1974 Berlin border killing
- Role of government, poverty research tipped for economics Nobel
- 'Stolen satire' feeds US election misinformation
- Rookie McCarty captures first PGA Tour title in Black Desert Championship
- Australia all-rounder Green ruled out of India Test series
- Seeing double in Nigeria's 'twins capital of the world'
- UK FM to attend EU foreign affairs talks for first time in 2 years
- Carter, Billups among 13 new Basketball Hall of Fame inductees
- Ravens rip Commanders as Lions lose NFL sacks leader in win
- Hezbollah drone strike kills four, wounds dozens at Israeli base
- China says launches military drills around Taiwan
- Stewart leads Liberty past Lynx to level WNBA Finals
- England return to winning ways in Nations League, Austria thrash Norway
- UN chief says attacks on UNIFIL 'may constitute a war crime'
- Ravens outlast Commanders while Bucs batter Saints in NFL
- Dozens hurt in Israel as Hezbollah claims drone strike
- England deserve 'world class' coach: Carsley
- Burkina Faso win to become first qualifiers for 2025 AFCON
- AC Milan's Pulisic among five out for USA match in Mexico
- France's Amandine Henry retires from international football
- Centre-left set to win pro-Ukraine Lithuania's vote
- India's World Cup hopes in Pakistan hands after Australia defeat
- Zelensky says NKorea sending troops to Russian army
- England beat Finland to get back on track
Beyonce's new concert film in 'excellent' N.America opening
Beyonce's new concert film "Renaissance" topped the North American box office in its opening weekend with an estimated take of $21 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
That result came in what normally is a very slow period following the US Thanksgiving holiday.
"This is an excellent domestic opening for a concert film," said analyst David A. Gross, boosted by "sensational critics reviews and audience scores."
A virtuoso effort written, directed and produced by the iconic singer, "Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce" now ranks among the top five all-time concert movie openings, Gross said, led by the huge $92.8 million opening earlier this year of Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" film.
Both movies are distributed by AMC Theaters.
In second place for the Friday-through-Sunday period was Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," at $14.5 million. Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler and Peter Dinklage star in the prequel about a lethal competition in the dystopian state of Panem.
In third is "Godzilla Minus One," a new release from Toho International, at $11 million. Unlike many earlier Hollywoodian takes on the huge sea monster, "This Toho production is Japanese in every way — in language, cast, setting and all facets," said Gross, adding, "Critics and audiences love it."
Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe star in the movie, which sold $23 million in tickets in Japan over the past month.
Fourth spot for the second straight weekend went to Universal's animated musical comedy "Trolls Band Together," at $7.6 million. Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake lead the voice cast.
And in fifth was Disney's lavishly animated film "Wish," at $7.4 million. Featuring the voices of Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine, "Wish" tells the story of King Magnifico, who grants one wish a month.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
"Napoleon" ($7.1 million)
"Animal" ($6.1 million)
"Silent Night" ($3 million)
"Thanksgiving" ($2.6 million)
"The Marvels" ($2.5 million)
D.Sawyer--AMWN