<P> It became the forty - third film to debut with over $100 million and the fifteenth film to open above $150 million . Its three - day opening alone surpassed the entire original North American run of the first film ($146 million; before the 3D re-release), instantly becoming the second biggest film of the year, behind Logan ($184 million), and also the second highest - grossing musical, behind Grease's $188 million cumulative gross in 1978 . 70% of the total ticket sales came from 2D showings signifying that people who don't go to theaters frequently came out in bulk to watch the film . About 26% of the remaining tickets were for 3D . IMAX accounted for 7% ($12.5 million) of the total weekend's gross, setting a new record for a PG title, ahead of Alice in Wonderland ($12.1 million) while PLF repped 11% of the box office . 70% of the film's opening day demographic was female, dropping to 60% through the weekend . According polling service PostTrak, about 84 percent of American parents who saw the film on its opening day said they would "definitely" recommend it for families . The film's opening was credited to positive word of mouth from audiences, good reviews from critics, effective marketing which sold the title not just as a family film but also as a romantic drama, the cast's star power (especially Emma Watson), lack of competition, being the first family film since The Lego Batman Movie a month earlier, nostalgia, and the success and ubiquity of the first film and Disney's brand . </P> <P> On Monday, its fourth day of release, the film fell precipitously by 72% earning $13.5 million . The steep fall was due to a limited marketplace where only 11% K - 12 and 15% colleges were off per ComScore . Nevertheless, it is the second biggest March Monday, behind Batman v Superman ($15 million). This was followed by the biggest March and pre-summer Tuesday with $17.8 million, a + 32% increase from its previous day . The same day, the film passed $200 million in ticket sales . It earned $228.6 million in the first week of release, the sixth - biggest seven - day gross of all time . In its second weekend, the film continued to maintain the top positioning and fell gradually by 48% earning another $90.4 million to register the fourth - biggest second weekend of all time, and the third - biggest for Disney . In terms of percentage drop, its 48% decline is the third - smallest drop for any film opening above $125 million (behind Finding Dory and The Force Awakens). The hold was notable considering how the film was able to fend off three new wide release; Power Rangers, Life, and CHiPs . As a result, it passed the $300 million threshold becoming the first film of 2017 the pass said mark . The film grossed $45.4 million in its third weekend, finally being overtaken for the top spot by newcomer The Boss Baby ($50.2 million). On April 4, 2017, its nineteenth day of release, it passed the $400 million threshold becoming the first film of 2017 to do so . By its fourth weekend, the film began was playing in 3,969 cinemas, a fall of 241 theaters from its previous weekend . Of those, approximately 1,200 cinemas were sing - along versions . It earned $26.3 million (- 48%) and retained second place . By comparison, previous Disney films Moana (− 8%) and Frozen (− 2%) both witnessed mild percentage declines the weekend their sing - alone versions were released . Its seventh weekend of release was in contemporaneous with another Emma Watson - starring new film The Circle . That weekend, The Circle was number four, while Beauty and the Beast was at number six . By May 28, the film had earned over $500 million in ticket sales becoming the first (and currently only) film of 2017, the third female - fueled film (after The Force Awakens and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story followed by Wonder Woman) and the eighth overall film in cinematic history to pass the mark . </P> <P> It has already become the biggest March release, dethroning The Hunger Games (2012), the biggest musical film (both animated and live - action), as well as the biggest film of 2017 . </P> <P> Internationally, the film began playing on Thursday, March 16, 2017 . Through Sunday, March 19, it had a total international opening of $182.3 million from 55 markets, 44 of which were major territories, far exceeding initial estimations of $100 million and opened at No. 1 in virtually all markets except Vietnam, Turkey, and India . Its launch is the second biggest for the month of March, behind Batman v Superman ($256.5 million). In IMAX, it recorded the biggest debut for a PG title (although it carried varying certificate amongst different markets) with $8.5 million from 649 screens, the second biggest for a PG title behind The Jungle Book . In its second weekend, it fell just by - 35% earning another $120.6 million and maintaining its first position hold . It added major markets like France and Australia . It top the international box office for three consecutive weekends before finally being dethroned by Ghost in the Shell and The Boss Baby in its fourth weekend . Despite the fall, the film helped Disney push past the $1 billion thresold internationally for the first time in 2017 . </P>

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