Movie and media giant Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS) saw shares rise almost 1% on Monday as its debut of new film 'Beauty and the Beast' exceeded expectations.
Shares in New York at the time of writing stood at $112.80 - up 0.92%.
The opening of the Fairy Tale classic reportedly grossed $350 million, $170 million of which was in the USA.
The film stars Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame as Belle and Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens as the Beast.
Taking in US$170mln (£137mln) in North America has made it the biggest ever opening weekend for a PG-rated film and even here in the UK B&B raked in an impressive £18.4mln.
Indeed, so successful was Disney’s new version of Beauty and the Beast in its first weekend, there is already talk of B&B 2 and 3 and a franchise of films where for once the ugly man gets the girl.