Beyoncé seized the spotlight in Hollywood on Saturday night with a meticulously orchestrated global premiere of her concert film, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The movie chronicles her Renaissance World Tour and is set to debut in the U.S. on December 1 through major cinema chains such as AMC, Regal, and Cinemark. Notably, this release date coincides with World AIDS Day, a poignant connection as Beyoncé dedicated the “Renaissance” album to her late cousin Johnny, also known as “Uncle Johnny,” who succumbed to an AIDS-related illness.
The premiere details were shrouded in secrecy, with guests receiving invitations featuring only the 7 p.m. start time and a “cozy opulence” dress code. The Goldwyn Theater location was revealed less than 24 hours before the event, with attendees instructed to use ride-sharing services to a designated Beverly Hills address, from where they were directed to the screening venue.
Beyonce (Credits: The Hollywood Reporter)
The “chrome carpet” commenced at 5:30 p.m., drawing notable figures such as Lizzo, Janelle Monáe, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Halle Bailey, Ava DuVernay, Tyler Perry, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Laverne Cox, Niecy Nash-Betts, Gabrielle Union, LeToya Luckett, Debra Lee, and Shaun Ross.
Beyoncé entered the theater amidst dimmed lights, with an announcer reminding guests of the no-photo policy. Phones were secured in security bags, and silver envelopes containing a travel-sized sample of Beyoncé’s perfume were placed at each seat. Popcorn was served in metal Renaissance buckets, accompanied by water in matching cups.
A London premiere is scheduled for November 30. While Beyoncé made a surprise appearance at Taylor Swift’s Los Angeles premiere, Swift, currently touring in South America, is unlikely to attend Beyoncé’s event. However, Swift seems available for the London festivities.
The “Renaissance” trailer, released in September, featured footage of Beyoncé rehearsing with her eldest daughter and tour backup dancer, Blue Ivy Carter, along with her and Jay-Z’s twins, Rumi and Sir—a new trailer debuted during NBC’s telecast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
As reported by Variety, Beyoncé is independently distributing the film, partnering with AMC Theatres and other exhibitors. Similar to Taylor Swift’s deal with AMC in August, Beyoncé’s film, which she self-financed, entitles her to over 50% of box office grosses.
The Renaissance tour, spanning from May 10 in Stockholm to October 1 in Kansas City, earned over $579 million globally, with 2.7 million fans attending 56 dates across 39 cities, according to Live Nation’s October announcement. Beyoncé’s past concert films include “I Am…Yours” (2009), “Life Is But a Dream” (2013), and “Homecoming” (2018), the latter released on Netflix.
In addition to her concert films, Beyoncé has ventured into feature film acting, with notable roles in “Dreamgirls,” “The Lion King,” “Austin Powers: Goldmember,” and “Obsessed.”
