Lily James stars as the glass slippered princess in Disney’s live action retelling of the classic tale.
It looks as if Disney has cast another spell over the US box office, as the studio’s live action reimagining of Cinderella has come out on top this weekend, taking $70.1 million domestically.
Lily James as Cinderella
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the film stars ‘Downton Abbey’ actress Lily James alongside Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter and Richard Madden. Along with charming audiences, the film has also proven a hit with the critics earning a 84% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
According to The Hollywood Reporter the film has delivered a $132.5 million worldwide debut for Disney, which includes $70.1 million in the US and a record-breaking $25 million in China, where it has become the country’s highest March opening of all time.
More: Lily James Admits Cinderella Is Not 'Swept Off Her Feet' In Live Action Re-Boot
In the United States the film is the sixth biggest March opening of all time, not accounting for inflation, and Disney's third-best for the month after Alice in Wonderland and Oz the Great and Powerful.
The film has now beaten Disney’s previous live action fairy tale re-telling Maleficent, which debuted to $69.4 million domestically last year. But unlike Cinderella, which stars a virtual unknown, Maleficent’s success was in no small part driven by the star power of lead Angelina Jolie.
More: Richard Madden Opens Up About Cinderella And Prince Charming's Equal Partnership
What Cinderella might have benefited from however was Disney’s decision to play its new Frozen Fever short in front of the film, which no doubt enticed some Frozen fanatics.
Elsewhere in the box office this weekend, Liam Neeson's Run All Night opened to $11 million, making it his worst opening since his career reinvention as an action star. The number three spot was taken by comedy Kingsman: The Secret Service, while Focus and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel followed to round out the top five.
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