'Beauty and the Beast' smashes box office records

A set photo from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." [Photo:Insun.com.cn]

Disney's live-action reboot of "Beauty and the Beast" has sung and danced its way to new box office records, opening with an estimated $170 million in North American ticket sales and $180 million elsewhere.

According to studio estimates Sunday, the musical has debuted to the seventh largest opening weekend ever, beating "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice," which held the previously largest March opening weekend record with 166 million dollars.

Internationally, "Beauty and the Beast" placed No.1 almost everywhere.

In the United Kingdom, it has already become one of the top five openings ever, reaching nearly 23 million dollars in ticket sales.

Here in China, the film reportedly opened with nearly 45 million dollars over the weekend and has added another 6 million dollars since.

"Beauty and the Beast" tells the story of the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle.

Despite her fears, Belle befriends the beast and learns to look beyond his hideous exterior, realizing the kind heart and soul of the true prince within.

The film, with a budget of 160 million dollars, was directed by Oscar winner Bill Condon and based on the famous 1991 animated film.