Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé

Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé is a 2023 American documentary concert film written, directed, and produced by Beyoncé. Similar to Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019), the film chronicles the development and execution of her 2023 Renaissance World Tour, conducted to support her seventh studio album Renaissance (2022).

Beyoncé signed a distribution agreement with AMC Theatres and announced the concert film after concluding the tour in Kansas City, Missouri. The film depicts the creation of Renaissance and the production of the tour. Her family members, namely husband Jay-Z, parents Mathew and Tina Knowles, cousin Angela Beyincé, and three children Blue Ivy, Rumi, and Sir Carter are featured in the film. Diana Ross, Megan Thee Stallion, and Kendrick Lamar are featured in musical performances; former Destiny's Child members Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett make brief appearances throughout the film. The end credits feature "My House", a 2023 single by Beyoncé in support of the film.[4]

The film premiered at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles on November 25, 2023, before the theatrical release in the United States on December 1.[5] The film received universal praise from critics and fans alike, who praised the concert footage, production, behind-the-scenes elements and Beyoncé's stage presence, and has grossed over $44 million at the global box office.

Background

American singer Beyoncé released her seventh studio album, Renaissance, on July 29, 2022.[6] Inspired by her desire for escapism during the COVID-19 pandemic, the album was universally acclaimed by music critics for its joyous and eclectic celebration of post-1970s black dance music and ball culture.[7] It broke several commercial records,[8] was named the best album of 2022 by multiple publications,[9] and helped Beyoncé become the most awarded person in Grammy Awards history.[10] Critics and fans quickly realized that Beyoncé did not release a visual companion with Renaissance, as she did with her previous works B'Day (2006), Beyoncé (2013), Lemonade (2016) and The Lion King: The Gift (2019). These are frequently described as a visual album or a musical film.[11] Beyoncé released a teaser video for the opening track of Renaissance, "I'm That Girl", on August 9, 2022, which included a rapid montage of over twenty outfits; news outlets interpreted this as a preview of the various music videos for each track on the album.[12] In support of Renaissance, she announced her sixth solo headlining concert tour, the Renaissance World Tour, on February 1, 2023, via her Instagram account.[13] The all-stadium concert run began on May 10, in Stockholm, Sweden, and concluded on October 1, in Kansas City, Missouri.[14] The tour received critical acclaim, with particular praise for the production value and Beyoncé's vocal performance, becoming the seventh highest-grossing concert tour of all time, the highest-grossing tour ever by a female artist, the highest-grossing tour by a black artist, achieved the two highest monthly tour-grosses in history according to Billboard Boxscore.[15][16]

On September 30, 2023, Variety reported that Beyoncé would be releasing a concert film through AMC Theatres. The film was reported to have been auctioned to the major film studios and streaming platforms, with Beyoncé choosing "an unconventional deal template forged by AMC and Taylor Swift", wherein Beyoncé would receive over 50 percent of the box office gross. According to Variety sources, the film would have an "ambitious scope", incorporating highlights from the full run of the tour, the visual album of Renaissance, and documentary footage of the development of both the album and the tour,[17] though only the tour was featured in the final cut.

Release

Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé released on December 1, 2023. The release date is noted for falling on World AIDS Day, as the corresponding album is dedicated to Beyoncé's "Uncle" John Edward Rittenhouse Jr.,[18] who introduced her to Black dance music and ball culture and died during the AIDS epidemic.[19] The end credits song, titled "My House", was surprise released alongside the movie.[20] The film had its world premiere at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles on November 25, 2023.[21] An additional premiere was held on November 30, at London's Leicester Square.[22] The film opened in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with additional global availability announced on October 26. Uproxx reported that fans were added to virtual queues while attempting to purchase tickets.[23] Deadline Hollywood reported that the first-day ticket presales of the film is estimated to be around US$6–7 million.[24] Tickets for territories outside the US went on sale November 9 from the film's website.[25] The film was available in IMAX and Dolby Cinema, as well as other branded premium large-format screens.[26]

The film received a wider international release on December 21, 2023, with Beyoncé making a surprise appearance at the film's premiere event in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. This marked the singer's first visit to the country since The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour in 2013.[27][28]

Reception

Accolades

Impact

Shares for AMC, IMAX and Cinemark Theatres rose following the announcement of the film.[55] According to CNBC's Sarah Whitten, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé will provide a "much-needed boom" for the film industry, which is still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice.com, said that Beyoncé will fill the typically slow period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which will in turn change how the industry approaches these "dead zones".[56] The film has ushered in a revival of concert films, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.[57] The Times suggested the film to be "the future of live music", aiding both the UK's live music industry and film industry.[58]

Set list

The following songs were included in the film.[59]

• 1) "Dangerously in Love 2"
• 2) "Flaws and All"
• 3) "I'm That Girl"
• 4) "Cozy"
• 5) "Alien Superstar"
• 6) "Lift Off"
• 7) "Cuff It"
• 8) "Energy"
• 9) "Break My Soul" (contains elements of "The Queens Remix")
• 10) "Formation"
• 11) "Diva"
• 12) "Run the World (Girls)"
• 13) "My Power"
• 14) "Black Parade"
• 15) "Savage Remix" (with Megan Thee Stallion)
• 16) "Partition"
• 17) "Church Girl"
• 18) "Get Me Bodied"
• 19) "Before I Let Go"
• 20) "Crazy in Love"
• 21) "River Deep – Mountain High"
• 22) "Love Hangover" (with Diana Ross)
• 23) "Plastic Off the Sofa"
• 24) "Virgo's Groove" / "Naughty Girl" (contains elements of "Love to Love You Baby")
• 25) "Move"
• 26) "Heated"
• 27) "Thique"
• 28) "All Up in Your Mind"
• 29) "Drunk in Love"
• 30) "America Has a Problem" (with Kendrick Lamar)
• 31) "Pure/Honey" (contains elements of "Blow")
• 32) "Summer Renaissance"
• 33) "My House" (End Credits)

Analysis

Multiple publications have described the film as a "celebration of liberation" and "black pride", with Beyoncé facing the challenges of "being heard and seen" as a racialized woman.[40][60] Billboard 's Kyle Denis wrote that the film "is as much about the enigmatic artistic genius as it is about community", highlighting the groups of people who crafted the tour behind-the-scenes, attended the concerts and "inspired the throughlines of Black queer liberation that course through" the Renaissance era.[61] The Hollywood Reporter 's Angie Han praised Beyoncé for spotlighting and crediting the queer black community and pioneers of ball culture, which the album's sound is rooted in.[43] Victoria Moss of the Evening Standard wrote that the highlight of the film was the "poignant moments" when Beyoncé pays tribute to her Uncle Jonny, her gay relative who died during the AIDS epidemic and who introduced her to the house music and ball culture that Renaissance celebrates.[62]

External links

• Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé at Metacritic