'Beauty and the Beast' roars with monstrous $170M debut

NEW YORK -- Disney's live-action "Beauty" was a beast at the box office, opening with an estimated $170 million in North American ticket sales and setting a high mark for family movies.

"Beauty and the Beast" blew past the previous record-holder for G- or PG-rated releases, according to studio estimates Sunday. Last year, Disney's "Finding Dory" debuted with a then-PG-best $135 million.

"Beauty and the Beast" felled many other records, too. It's the year's top opening so far and a new best for March releases, and it ranks seventh all-time, not accounting for inflation.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers are included. Final domestic figures will be released today.

1. "Beauty and the Beast," $170 million ($180 million international).

2. "Kong: Skull Island," $28.9 million ($38.5 million international).

3. "Logan," $17.5 million ($31.5 million international).

4. "Get Out," $13.3 million ($2.9 million international).

5. "The Shack," $6.1 million.

6. "The Lego Batman Movie," $4.7 million ($2.4 million international).

7. "The Belko Experiment," $4.1 million.

8. "Hidden Figures," $1.5 million ($3.5 million international).

9. "John Wick: Chapter Two," $1.2 million ($2.1 million international).

10. "Before I Fall," $1 million.