The latest monster film starring Idris Elba, Beast, roared into cinemas this weekend, but its $11.57 million domestic opening was second behind Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero’s $20 million launch. To add to its $18.352 million domestic take, Beast also earned $10.352 million internationally. There was some criticism of the film’s derivative premise but appreciation for the performances of the actors, earning it a 68% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 77% audience rating.
Though it had a modest opening weekend, Beast may be able to break even on its $36 million budget if it enjoys solid legs over the next several weeks thanks to a dearth of significant competitor releases. When compared to other creature pictures, Beast’s opening weekend was much lower than that of The Shallows, which featured a shark as the major adversary and earned $16.801 million during the summer of 2016. Also, Crawl, another 2019 film starring alligators, opened to a higher total at the box office, $12.005 million, thus this one could not quite match it.
Indicators of interest in the R-rated thriller picture will emerge over the coming few weeks.
Elba, whose role in Beast is presently showing in theatres, will also make his debut in Three Thousand Years of Longing, directed by George Miller, later this month. Additionally, the actor will be reprising his role as John Luther in the upcoming film adaptation of the acclaimed television series of the same name, Luther. Elba, Sharlto Copley, Iyana Halley, and Leah Sava Jeffries feature in Beast, directed by Baltasar Kormákur (who also directed Everest). Three people—James Lopez, Will Packer, and Jaime Primak Sullivan—are listed as producers.
Beast, released by Universal Pictures, is now showing only in cinemas. Watch the new movie’s trailer and read the plot summary down below. Dr Nate Daniels (Elba), a widower who goes on a trip with his kids to a game reserve run by their old friend and wildlife biologist Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley; Russian Doll series; Maleficent), is a widower who travels to South Africa, where he originally met his wife. What starts off as a restorative trip is quickly transformed into a terrifying battle for survival as they are stalked by a lion that has survived at the hands of bloodthirsty poachers and now views all people as the enemy.