Beyoncé brought Renaissance to the big screen on Saturday night, premiering her new concert film at a star-studded event in Beverly Hills.
The premiere, which took place at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater and included a dress code of “cozy opulence”, featured a chrome carpet followed by a screening of the movie. Guests were invited to take photos on the glitzy step-and-repeat — which featured Renaissance film artwork — and participate in several other photos ops, including posing with Beyoncé’s signature silver horse.
Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett, along with Janelle Monáe, Issa Rae, Lizzo, Halle and Chloe Bailey, Lupita Nyong’o, Tyler Perry, Niecy Nash-Betts, Gabrielle Union, Ava DuVernay, Lena Waithe, Kris Jenner, Robin Thede, Jeremy Pope, Laverne Cox, Marsai Martin, Coco Jones, Beyoncé dancers Les Twins and her parents, Tina and Mathew Knowles, were among the stars who walked the carpet. Following arrivals, attendees were brought inside the theater, where phones were locked up.
Beyoncé herself did not formally walk the carpet, but snuck in and out of the screening with her family once the lights went out. Inside the event, the starry group of guests mingled before the movie started, but once it began, stayed in their seats and left the dancing for the screen. Attendees were also given Renaissance-branded popcorn tins and soda cups, as well as a sample of the star’s new perfume.
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, follows the star embarking on the Renaissance World Tour, her highest-grossing tour to date, and supporting the Renaissance album that helped her become the most decorated artist in the history of the Grammy Awards. It features behind-the-scenes footage as well as Beyoncé’s on-stage performances — documenting her from the tour opening in Stockholm, Sweden to the finale in Kansas City, Missouri — and is produced by the singer’s Parkwood Entertainment.
The Los Angeles premiere will be followed by a world premiere event in London on Thursday, before the film debuts in theaters on Friday. The project is being distributed directly through AMC Theatres, much like Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concert film that hit theaters in October. Swift also had a Los Angeles premiere for the movie — which became the first concert film in history to pass $100 million at the domestic box office — where Beyoncé made a special appearance.
Beyoncé is known for her concert films, including Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé, which debuted on Netflix in 2019 and earned six Emmy nominations. The film followed her headlining slot at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which was praised for being one of the most iconic musical performances of all time.
Renaissance tickets are currently on sale internationally.
Anaja Smith contributed to this report.