Weekly Marquee: ’Beauty and the Beast” to draw the masses to theaters

Maybe you’ve heard the reference that the Academy Awards are considered the TV equivalent of a “Super Bowl for women.”

In that vein, you might think of this week’s release of “Beauty and the Beast” as a cinematic equivalent of the “superhero movie for women.”

It’s going to be that huge.

The initial estimate of the opening-weekend box-office tracked at $100 million. Then it became $110 million, and then $125 million.

That number will go higher; Fandango recently reported that the movie is the fastest-selling family movie in the online ticket-seller’s history.

These are comic-book movie numbers for the film based on Disney’s beloved 1991 classic, which became the first animated film to be nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards (and that’s when there were only five nominees).

The animated film won two Oscars — for original score and best song for the title tune sung by Angela Lansbury’s Mrs. Potts — and it grossed $219 million at the domestic box-office.

According to boxofficemojo.com, in today’s dollars, that would be $392 million. Can the new “Beauty and the Beast” top that figure? Stay tuned.

One more point: There was some silly sensationalizing of the fact that this movie will feature Disney’s first openly gay character in LeFou, played by Josh Gad.

I haven’t seen the film yet, but my guess is that any sign of him being gay might resemble something you could see each week on “Modern Family” on ABC — which is also owned by Disney. But probably less.

The new “Beauty and the Beast” is rated PG for “some action violence, peril and frightening images.”

While that film is going to draw the masses to theaters nationwide, a pair of local openings hold great interest for folks looking for something a little different.

“The Sense of An Ending” is a drama opening at Circle Cinema with a brilliant British cast of Jim Broadbent, Charlotte Rampling and Michelle Dockery.

Meanwhile, Cinemark Tulsa offers a 25th-anniversary screening of “Reservoir Dogs,” the exceptional 1992 crime drama that was director Quentin Tarantino’s debut.

OPENING THIS WEEK

“Beauty and the Beast,” Emma Watson, PG

“The Belko Experiment,” horror, R

NEW AT CIRCLE CINEMA

“The Sense of an Ending,” Jim Broadbent, PG-13

“My Life as a Zucchini,” animated Oscar nominee, PG-13

“Mr. Gaga,” dance documentary, NR

NOW SHOWING

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