Following the fervor over Taylor Swift‘s The Eras Tour, AMC Theatres has issued a set of guidelines for the Beyhive as fans make their way to see Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé that includes asking moviegoers to take off costume pieces during the movie that could block the view for others, such as hats and wings.
The theater chain — which is also distributing both films — released the guidelines as the superstar’s concert movie opens across North America, where it’s on course for a better-than-expected $21 million-$24 opening after earning a coveted A+ CinemaScore and stellar reviews.
Like the Swifties, the Beyhive are encouraged to take selfies, dress up and sing during the screenings. They also are given the same warnings about not recording the actual film, not dancing on seats or blocking fellow theatergoers from “viewing, safely walking or exiting the auditorium,” according to the guidelines, which are posted on AMC’s website.
“You know the words, you know the choreography — sing & dance your heart out, but please respect each other’s space along with the theatre equipment,” the theater wrote.
AMC also offered up a handful of rules more specific to those members of the Beyoncé-loving crowd who may want to emulate the superstar’s elaborate wardrobe.
“We want to see your amazing outfits! Feel free to take selfies and group shots to celebrate the occasion and the beautiful ensembles you came up with,” states AMC. But the guidelines continue to say, “If parts of your outfit will potentially block other viewers from the screen, please remove them as the film begins (ex. headwear, wings, etc.), and please keep in mind that masks (except for standard face masks used explicitly for health and safety reasons) are not permitted.”
The no-mask edict is blanket policy for AMC because of security issues.
While Swifties were also encouraged to be respectful of other guests in their specific theater as well common locations such as the lobby, those attending the Beyoncé concert movie were specifically encouraged to “save your energy for once you are inside the Renaissance” screening.
AMC also made sure to let customers know that Renaissance runs two hours and 48 minutes on top of 15 to 20 minutes of trailers, and advised the Beyhive to “plan your bathroom breaks or other needs accordingly.”
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé looks to score the biggest opening for the first weekend of December since Tom Cruise’s The Last Samurai debuted to $24.3 million 20 years ago in 2003, not adjusted for inflation. Beyoncé’s film has held on to its perfect 100 percent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes since Friday with the number of reviews doubling from nine to 18, in addition to an increase in from a near-perfect 99 percent audience score from 100 verified users to 100 percent from more than 250 reviews on Saturday.
To celebrate the film’s opening, Beyoncé dropped a new song, “My House,” the first new music from the artist since the release of Renaissance last year. The multiphyenate, who is now the most Grammy-awarded singer in history, also hosted star-studded red carpet premieres in Los Angeles and London. Swift — whose Eras Tour film opened in October to its own record-setting $92.8 million — was in attendance at the west coast event after Beyoncé also appeared at the L.A. premiere of Swift’s film.
After weeks of teaser trailers and speculation, the long-awaited “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” premieres globally on Friday.
On Thursday, I filed into my local theater almost 40 minutes before showtime, a miracle for someone as chronically late as myself. Decked out in all black, I tried my best to adhere to Beyoncé’s requested “cozy opulence” theme on a budget, wearing a Renaissance World Tour shirt, Ivy Park sweatpants and a classic logo hoodie from the athleisure line’s 2016 collection.
Amid the countless fashionable fans in attendance, the excitement and anticipation was palpable. We hyped up each other’s outfits, debated which merch to buy and spread the word that, yes, we would be reviving the famous “mute challenge” during her performance of “Energy.” The Renaissance World Tour was my first time seeing Beyoncé live, perched in the nosebleeds of the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. I knew the film would provide a much closer, more intimate lens to view the tour, both literally and figuratively, so I scrambled to buy tickets.
“Renaissance: a Film by Beyoncé” is not just a concert movie or a backstage pass into the psyche of the world’s greatest living entertainer. The film is a love letter to the Beyhive, Beyoncé’s fanbase, and the community — from Uncle Johnny to Blue Ivy Carter and beyond — that became an avenue for liberation.
“Renaissance means a new beginning and a rebirth,” she said in the film. “After all that we’ve been through in the world, I feel like everyone needs… a safe space to connect and be in community together.”
“After all that we’ve been through in the world, I feel like everyone needs… a safe space to connect and be in community together,” said Beyoncé regarding “Renaissance: Act I.”
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images
“It’s so many different bees in this hive,” the singer said in the film, rattling off the truck drivers, stage designers, dancers and more who crafted the tour experience across 56 stops. “It’s more than a concert. It’s a culture, it’s a state of mind, it’s a fantasy dream come true.”
In the “Renaissance” film, the Grammy winner’s unflinching dedication to excellence juxtaposes her humanity, struggles, flaws and all, ultimately showcasing the freedom she has harnessed along the way.
The movie begins with Beyoncé’s birthday performance on Sept. 4 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. After the opening ballad, “Dangerously in Love,” the 42-year-old pauses to deliver a moving, emotional speech on stage thanking all who have supported her throughout her 27-year career. She gently pats the tears that stream down her face, preserving her picture-perfect makeup. As she slowly ushers in the uptempo tracks from the “Renaissance” album, cameras pan across the crowd, showcasing fans belting the lyrics in unison.
Be it the vocals, costuming or choreography, the seamless editing and visual transitions point to the precision and intention that flow through every aspect ofBeyoncé’s performances. In one frame, mid-strut, she is seen in her latest custom Loewe ensemble. In another, without skipping a single beat, the music icon is wrapped in a campy catsuit from Emilio Pucci. As the movie progresses, we get to see the inner workings of the highest-grossing tour of the year and all those who mobilized around it, coordinating outfits, crafting posters and chanting lyrics together. The “Renaissance” is our spiritual revival.
The concert movie’s seamless editing and transitions are a testament to Bey’s precision and intention in her craft.
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images
With this film, fans can marvel at Bey’s journey, discipline and the execution of her vision. She is meticulous and methodical but still a human being, subject to some of the same concrete and abstract limits that we all are. Despite the bouts of sinusitis and bronchitis she battled, the audio malfunction that paused her show in Glendale, Arizona, and her knee surgery one month prior to tour rehearsals, Beyoncé always returned to the stage with even more fervor. After three hours in the theater, your tears will have run dry. Your words will certainly be insufficient to describe what you’ve just witnessed onscreen, and your spirit will feel nothing short of energized.
As her director of choreography, Fatima Robinson, said, “Beyoncé is the director of this show,” involved in every single nitty, gritty detail of the Renaissance World Tour. Her awe-inspiring, unrivaled work ethic commands attention and respect, but even now, she still has to demand it.
“Being a Black woman,” Beyoncé notes at one point on camera, “the way people communicate with me is different. Everything is a fight… Eventually, they realize this bitch will not give up.” She’s not deflated by imperfection or nonsensical pushback; she just goes harder.
Recalling memories of seeing her heroes perform live, Bey says that she understands the power of the stage, which only strengthens the adamance in her requests: pare back the lighting and pyrotechnics, find a wider camera lens, simplify the stage visuals. “Mom, you’re wasting your time over fingers!” said the Hive’s favorite “manager” Blue Ivy, at one point in the film, scolding her mother for fixating on the inflatable torso during “America Has A Problem.” But the veteran entertainer held her ground, explaining that she didn’t want the audience to be distracted from the music.
It was because of Blue Ivy Carter that Beyoncé did not remove “Diva” from the setlist.
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images
Like mother, like daughter, Blue Ivy is vocal and persistent. When Beyoncé considered cutting “Diva” from the tour’s setlist, her eldest daughter pleaded with her to keep it in, resulting in a genius “Just Wanna Rock” mashup and hilarious TikTok videos. Moreover, her firstborn daughter’s determination gave us the best part of the Renaissance World Tour: Blue dancing alongside Bey during “My Power” and “Black Parade.” After the anti-Blackness that was hurled online at Blue as a baby, to see thousands of concertgoers rally around the young performer felt restorative. Fans replicated that love for her during the premiere as cheers boomed and echoed through the theater when she made her appearance on screen.
Blue’s path to improvement as a performer was not one she embarked on alone. The touring family, namely dance co-captain Amari Marshall, spurred her growth. Tina Knowles lauded Marshall as her grandchild’s “stage momma,” and in the film, Bey said she’d trust her to take care of Blue. Dancers such as Carlos Irizarry, Honey Balenciaga, Darius Hickman and others gave a brief insight into what this opportunity meant for them personally; “trapllet” dancer Trinity Joy Sanders went viral online and, within months, landed her first professional gig working for Beyoncé. Drawn to her tenacity and rawness, Bey knew who she wanted and took a chance on her.
Without the tour family, the singer makes it clear to viewers of the film that there would be no Renaissance World Tour. Without the Black queer community, there would be no “Renaissance” album, period. LGBTQ+ icons and Black ballroom legends such as Kevin Aviance, Ts Madison, and Kevin JZ Prodigy, “the heartbeat of the Renaissance Tour,” received their overdue flowers in the movie.
“I am who I am. Either you take me or you don’t. I spent so much of my life as a people pleaser and finally, I don’t give a fuck. I have nothing to prove to anyone at this point.”
– Beyoncé, Mother of the House of Renaissance
The purpose of “Renaissance” was to celebrate unrecognized, unsung heroes and, in Bey’s words, to “use art to celebrate people’s differences.” She sought to create a space where “everyone is free, and no one is judged.” With bold anthems like “Church Girl” and “Break My Soul,” Beyoncé conveyed that perfectly.
She also honors the person who modeled fearlessness, none other than her late Uncle Johnny, by releasing the film on the 35th World AIDS Day. In the movie, Beyoncé wears the final dress he designed for her before his passing. When high fashion labels shunned Destiny’s Child, rejecting the idea of dressing Black country, curvy girls, Uncle Johnny and Tina Knowles stepped in. “Fashion saved my family,” Knowles said, recalling how integral it was to their survival.
Crediting Uncle Johnny with being the first person to expose her to house music, Bey said she often reflects on how challenging life must have been for him as a Southern Black gay man born in the 1950s. Nonetheless, her mother noted that her uncle would always leave a place better than when he came. When she looked into the Renaissance World Tour crowd, Knowles said, she saw people who reminded her of him.
From the crowd to the crew, all these people, these bees in the hive, have contributed to what we know and love as Beyoncé’s “Renaissance.” In the credits, she thanks everyone, from the drivers to the designers, stylists, producers, editors and more. No one in the hive gets left behind. “Renaissance” is not just the external product but what Beyoncé has acquired through this work.
Alongside her dancers, Beyoncé performs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images
By channeling her vulnerability and centering community, she radiates joy, exudes confidence and oozes shit-talking swagger, especially evident in her latest single, “My House,” which plays during the closing credits. Toward the film’s end, Bey reflects upon her career and life, admitting that while she thought her 30s were the pinnacle of pleasure, the 40s are only getting better. At the end of the tour, her husband Jay-Z asks Bey how she’s feeling. She responds with “proud,” proclaiming that she feels free.
Beyoncé is not beholden to any institutions or person’s expectations but her own. As she sings in “Alien Superstar,” she continues to set the bar, the standard for excellence. No Grammy nor singular award can ever define or erode who she is.
“I am who I am. Either you take me, or you don’t,” she says in the film. “I spent so much of my life as a people pleaser, and finally, I don’t give a fuck. I have nothing to prove to anyone at this point.”
If this is only Act One, I cannot wait to see what the next two hold.
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Beyoncé captivated Hollywood’s attention Saturday night as the superstar held a stealthily staged world premiere of her concert movie, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Details of the premiere were kept under wraps, with guests invited with a save-the-date that only included the screening’s 7 p.m. start time and a “cozy opulence” dress code. The location, which turned out to be the Goldwyn Theater, was provided less 24 hours before the start of the festivities. Guests were advised to take a ride share to an address in Beverly Hills, where they were directed to the location of the screening. The “chrome carpet” kicked off at 5:30 p.m. Among the attendees were Lizzo, Janelle Monáe and Beyoncé’s former Destiny’s Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Also on hand were “The Little Mermaid” star Halle Bailey, Ava DuVernay, Tyler Perry, Issa Rae, “Blackish” star Marsai Martin, Laverne Cox, Niecy Nash-Betts, Gabrielle Union, LeToya Luckett, former BET Networks chief Debra Lee and model-musician Shaun Ross.
Beyoncé walked into the theater as the lights were dimmed and an announcer reminded guests that no photos or video recordings were allowed. Phones were locked in security bags.
Silver envelopes containing a travel-size a sample of Beyoncé’s perfume were placed at everyone’s seat. Popcorn was served in metal Renaissance buckets with water offered in matching cups.
A premiere is also scheduled for Nov. 30 in London.
While Beyoncé made a surprise appearance at Taylor Swift’s Los Angeles premiere of her concert film, the “Karma” singer is currently touring in South America and unlikely to make Queen B’s event. However, Swift appears to be free to attend the London festivities.
A “Renaissance” trailer released in September featured footage of Beyoncé rehearsing with eldest daughter and tour backup dancer Blue Ivy Carter as well as her and Jay-Z’s twins, Rumi and Sir. Jay-Z is also in voiceover asking his wife about her plans for the tour.
The latest trailer was released during a spot on NBC’s telecast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday.
As Varietyreported exclusively, Beyoncé is distributing the film directly with exhibition giant AMC Theatres, as well as other exhibitors.
Beyoncé chose an unconventional deal like the one struck between AMC and Swift in August. Swift’s film was self-financed and she will reportedly see well over 50% of box office grosses Beyoncé will get the same deal, sources told Variety.
Beyoncé’s previous concert films include the direct-to-DVD “I Am…Yours,” filmed live at Las Vegas’ Wynn Casino in 2009; the 2013 HBO project “Life Is But a Dream,” a confessional account of new motherhood mixed with live performances from her grand opening performance at Atlantic City’s Revel Casino; and Netflix’s “Homecoming,” which captured Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella headlining set.
Beyoncé’s foray into feature film acting includes “Dreamgirls,” “The Lion King,” “Austin Powers: Goldmember” and “Obsessed.”
Beyoncé is bringing Renaissance to the big screen on Saturday night, premiering her new concert film at a star-studded event in Beverly Hills.
The premiere, which is taking place at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater and includes a dress code of “cozy opulence”, featured a chrome carpet followed by a screening of the movie. Guests were invited to take photos on the glitzy step-and-repeat — which featured Renaissance film artwork — and participate in several other photos ops, including posing with Beyoncé’s signature silver horse.
Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett, along with Janelle Monáe, Issa Rae, Lizzo, Halle and Chloe Bailey, Lupita Nyong’o, Tyler Perry, Niecy Nash-Betts, Gabrielle Union, Ava DuVernay, Lena Waithe, Kris Jenner, Robin Thede, Jeremy Pope, Laverne Cox, Marsai Martin, Coco Jones, Beyoncé dancers Les Twins and her parents, Tina and Mathew Knowles, were among the stars who walked the carpet; Beyoncé herself has not yet made an appearance. Following arrivals, attendees were brought inside the theater, where phones were locked up.
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, follows the star embarking on the Renaissance World Tour, her highest-grossing tour to date, and supporting the Renaissance album that helped her become the most decorated artist in the history of the Grammy Awards. It features behind-the-scenes footage as well as Beyoncé’s on-stage performances — documenting her from the tour opening in Stockholm, Sweden to the finale in Kansas City, Missouri — and is produced by the singer’s Parkwood Entertainment.
The Los Angeles premiere will be followed by a world premiere event in London on Thursday, before the film debuts in theaters on Friday. The project is being distributed directly through AMC Theatres, much like Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concert film that hit theaters in October. Swift also had a Los Angeles premiere for the movie — which became the first concert film in history to pass $100 million at the domestic box office — where Beyoncé made a special appearance.
Beyoncé is known for her concert films, including Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé, which debuted on Netflix in 2019 and earned six Emmy nominations. The film followed her headlining slot at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which was praised for being one of the most iconic musical performances of all time.
Renaissance tickets are currently on sale internationally.
What’s better than one icon? Three! Despite all the talent onstage for Beyoncé’sRenaissance World Tour, Blue Ivy stole the show and gave her doting dad Jay-Z “goosebumps” every night.
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty
After more than a decade in the spotlight since her birth in 2012, Blue Ivy’s taking her rightful place at center stage. As easy as it may seem to be the ultimate celebrity seed, Blue truly inherited Hov’s hustle and Beyoncé’s boss work ethic. In an exclusive CBS interview with Gayle King, Jay-Z said it makes him “super proud” to see Blue Ivy “reclaiming her power” onstage.
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty
That lifetime in the limelight came at a cost: She was “born into a life she didn’t ask for.”
Trolls hated on everything from her natural hair to her facial features when she was just a baby. The shocking backlash led the Carters to protect Blue’s privacy, and their rarely seen 6-year-old twins Sir and Rumi. Jay said Blue taking on that same cruel world as an 11-year-old is better than any Hollywood ending.
“So since she was born she’s been in, like, scrutiny, and public eye, and everyone having an opinion of, you know, even a little girl, how she keeps her hair. So for her, to be on that stage and reclaim her power, and the song is called ‘My Power’ … you can’t write a better script,” he explained.
Ambitious Blue didn’t want to miss a single beat or a single show on the 56-stop Renaissance tour. She wanted to be by Bey’s side performing from the jump, but her parents made sure she earned her spot first. The determined little diva clearly rose to the occasion.
“She wanted to do it the first night, and we was like, okay, if this is something you wanna do, you can’t just go out there. You gotta go work with the dancers and go work. And she worked every day. I watched her work hard,” Jay-Z proudly professed.
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty
Jay also revealed that Blue was nervous performing for a crowd of 80,000 people, although she barely looked it. He fondly reflected on how she grew into her own throughout the tour. She immediately became a highlight of what Jay called Beyonce’s “best tour yet.” By the last performance in Kansas City, Blue looked like a real professional.
On May 26, Blue Ivy took the Renaissance tour stage for the first time in Paris. She performed with her mom for a medley of “My Power” and “Black Parade” from The Gift. It was a fitting choice, considering Blue contributed to the album.
The pint-sized powerhouse is already the second youngest Grammy winner for her feature on Bey’s “Brown Skin Girl” in 2021. She was also front and center when Beyoncé performed “Be Alive” from King Richard for the 2022 Oscars.
In 2017, Blue blessed the beat on “Blue’s Freestyle/We Family” for Jay-Z’s 4:44 album. The 5-year-old hilariously had one of the most memorable bars when she rapped that she’s “Never seen a ceiling in my whole life.”
Baby girl has bars and all the boom-kack a kid could need! While her famous family could, and seemingly does, give Blue the world, she’s not living in their shadows. That young star is already shining.
Check out part one of Jay-Z’s interview below.
What do you think of Jay-Z’s rare recent interview and Blue Ivy’s Renaissance tour takeover?
On Saturday night, the singer performed her first of two shows at the Rogers Centre on her Renaissance World Tour, and she opened things with a literally sparkling outfit.
The singer took to the stage at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena for her “Renaissance World Tour” show on Sunday night, before telling fans that everything she’d worn “was created exclusively by Black designers.”
Bey shared an array of stunning snaps showing herself wearing a rhinestone-covered red gown. She didn’t name the designers.
The musician wrote, alongside pics of a hot pink ensemble, “I started designing this collection over a year ago. I was so engulfed in all things RENAISSANCE and was inspired by Studio 54, Bob Mackie and the disco era.
“I wanted to do a modern twist using the signature IVY PARK neon and bring disco to the beach in this swim collection. I’m so happy to share this with you and even more proud to launch it for the first time on the RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR. I’m proud to be among the very talented Black designers featured in last night’s show to celebrate Juneteenth.”
Juneteenth, which dates back to 1866, celebrates the anniversary of Major General Gordon Grager’s 1865 order proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas.
Beyoncé kicked off her Renaissance World Tour formally on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at Sweden’s Friends Arena in Stockholm. This is her first tour in four and half years, as the queen brought Renaissance to the stage for the very first time.
Renaissance was released last July and quickly became Beyoncé‘s number one album. She also won a number of Grammy awards for this album including Best Dance/Electronic Music Album, Best Dance/Electronic Recording, Best R&B Song, Tradition R&B Performances, and more.
Here is everything to know about Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour which kicked off in Sweden ranging from set list to stage.
Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour kicked off on Wednesday in Sweden’s capital and it will continue with a second night in Stockholm. The North American phase of the Renaissance tour will begin in Toronto on July 8, 2023.
Beyoncé performed for three hours in Sweden without an opening act. She also gave live debuts to the tracks from records like Cuff It, Virgo’s Groove, Break My Soul, and more. During her closing performance of Summer Renaissance, the pop star even rode atop a flying disco horse.
In the latter half of the concert, Beyoncé also surprised people with one truly unexpected nod. She launched into the first verse of Britney Spears’ Toxic which was modified with a ticking noise to add depth.
