All about Beyoncé's Renaissance film: A Comprehensive Guide
Beyoncé takes her global domination to the big screen with her highly-anticipated concert film Get ready for an unforgettable experience as Queen Bey mesmerizes audiences worldwide Don't miss your chance to witness this extraordinary journey
Beyoncé's world domination doesn't stop at stadiums - she's now bringing her talents to the big screen. "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé," a documentary showcasing the artist's record-breaking world tour, is set to hit movie theaters this Friday, treating fans to an early Christmas present.
The film has been primarily promoted through several trailers, leaving much anticipation about what it will deliver. These trailers feature Beyoncé both on and off stage, showcasing her glamorous performances as well as more relatable moments. In one scene, she is seen stretching with her 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy before a show, while in another, she appears makeup-free, speaking directly to the camera. Directed by James B. Merryman, known for directing Shakira's 2019 concert movie, and with Mark Ritchie, the cinematographer for Beyoncé's "Homecoming" film, the nearly three-hour film promises to be a captivating visual experience.
With the premiere date fast approaching, heres everything you need to know about what to expect from the movie.
A film poster for "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé" captures the Afro-futurist vibes of Beyoncé's tour.
Parkwood Entertainment
Whats the movie about?
According to the official synopsis of the movie, "It revolves around Beyoncé's determination, dedication, hands-on approach to every part of the process, her innovative thinking, and her drive to build her legacy and perfect her artistry."
The trailers of Beyoncé performing and rehearsing suggest that she has had to be tough to balance motherhood and her career in a male-dominated world. The film may also showcase how she handles life on the road with her family.
When and where can I see it?
Officially, the film comes out on Friday, December 1, but some theaters have showings on Thursday evening.
Though prices will vary by theater, tickets will go fast; back in October, first day presales for tickets were reportedly estimated to be up to $7 million.
Beyoncé performs earlier this year at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood/Getty Images
Didnt Taylor Swift also have a concert film this year?
In its opening weekend, "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" brought in a whopping $96 million, making it the highest-earning concert film for an opening weekend domestically, as reported by AMC.
In contrast to Beyoncé's film, the "Eras" movie was recorded during Swift's six-night residency at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles over three nights in August. On the other hand, the "Renaissance" film appears to document a larger portion of Beyoncé's 56-show tour across Europe and North America.
Nevertheless, the release of both concert movies follows a similar pattern. Both Swift and Beyoncé opted to release their films exclusively through AMC Theatres, bypassing the traditional Hollywood distributor model and ensuring greater compensation for themselves and their teams.
Despite what fans might believe, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift do not appear to be in competition. After completing her own tour, Beyoncé attended Swift's movie premiere in Los Angeles. In an Instagram post, Swift expressed her appreciation for Beyoncé, referring to her as a guiding light throughout her career and likening her appearance at the premiere to a fairytale.
Interestingly, the runtimes of their respective films are nearly identical, with Swift's coming in at 2 hours and 49 minutes and Beyoncé's listed at 2 hours and 48 minutes.
Taylor Swift attends the "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" movie world premiere at AMC The Grove 14 on October 11, 2023, in Los Angeles.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
What do I wear?
While the Queen herself has not issued any official guidelines on attire for moviegoers, Beyoncé has encouraged attendees of her "Renaissance" shows to dress in all silver, referring to it as her "House of Chrome."
For the opening weekend of the film, it is expected that many will dress as if they are attending a Beyoncé concert once again. So, be sure to wear your best "Alien Superstar" outfit and make sure to use the restroom before the show.
Why are some people boycotting the film?
Despite all the excitement, the "Renaissance" film has also left some fans conflicted.
The worldwide release of the movie includes screenings in Israel. However, some fans, upset with Israel's actions in Gaza, are criticizing Beyoncé for not removing the film from Israeli theaters and not speaking out against the conflict. (The Taylor Swift concert film has also been shown in Israel recently.)
"I adore Beyoncé, she's one of my all-time favorite artists," said one person on TikTok. "But her movie being shown in Israel, I'm sorryQueen, mother, come on."
Beyoncé faced criticism from fans on her recent Instagram post about the latest movie trailer, with some threatening to boycott the movie if she does not speak out against Israel. Beyoncé has not responded to the fan comments publicly. CNN has contacted the artist's representative for a statement.
