March 17--Though Disney's "Cinderella" enchanted audiences over the weekend, the film fell short of its studio-estimated $70.1-million debut.
According to final studio estimates released on Monday, the live-action version of the classic fairy tale pulled in $67.9 million in the U.S. and Canada.
That puts it just behind the opening for Disney's "Maleficent," which stars Angelina Jolie. That live-action film, a spinoff from "Sleeping Beauty," debuted to $70 million in May 2014 and went on to gross $241.4 million in the U.S. and Canada.
"Cinderella," directed by Kenneth Branagh, cost about $95 million to produce. The film follows Cinderella (Lily James), whose stepmother (Cate Blanchett) treats her like a servant after her father dies. Her luck changes, however, when a fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) steps in to help get her to the royal ball, where Prince Charming (Richard Madden) awaits.
Internationally, the film pulled in $63.7 million in more than 30 markets, bringing its total global haul to $131.6 million.
"The key to adapting a beloved property is to remain true to the essence of the original while creatively imagining the story in a new or fresh way," Dave Hollis, Disney's head of distribution, told The Times on Sunday.
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