The premiere of Beyoncé's movie “Renaissance” wasn't so perfect, according to the head of AMC Theaters, which distributed the concert film.
Adam Aron, CEO of the country's largest movie theater chain, told Variety in an interview published last week that the company's distribution deal with the musician almost fell through after news of the project leaked.
“Beyoncé was seriously thinking about not doing the movie because the secret was out,” Aron said.
The revelation came several months after “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” was released widely on the heels of Taylor Swift and AMC’s hit “Eras Tour” concert film.
According to Aron, AMC went to great lengths to keep the “Eras Tour” movie a secret, a clandestine move that gave the company an advantage in ticket sales and reportedly upset other theater chains.
In an effort to smooth things over with its industry peers, AMC decided to handle the release of “Renaissance” a little differently, giving other exhibitors early and discreet notice about the picture to level the playing field.
“At least half a dozen movie circuits leaked the news,” Aron told Variety. “So, they didn't keep their word.”
Representatives for AMC and Beyoncé did not immediately respond to The Times' requests for comment.
“Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” featuring stunning footage from the singer's successful world tour, hit theaters Dec. 1 and grossed $44 million at the global box office. It was only the second title released by AMC, which previously operated exclusively as an exhibitor.
Following the success of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” which grossed $261.7 million worldwide, AMC plans to distribute “two or three” concert films per year, Aron told Variety. Theater owners are increasingly turning to alternative programming, such as live music and sports, in hopes of boosting attendance following the COVID-19 shutdown.
