Disney’s newest movie, “Beauty and the Beast,” came to theaters on March 17, 2017. It is a remake of the original “Beauty and the Beast” film that came out on Nov. 22, 1991. Disney is now remaking a lot of their older, animated movies with live action and CGI, computer generated images. This new idea is working for them, as is proven by their most recent successes. “Beauty and the Beast” has brought in a total of $316,952,887, according to boxofficemojo.com. This ranks fifty-fifth in all of domestic grosses here in the U.S.

“[“Beauty and the Beast”] is breaking multiple Hollywood records, including one set last year by ‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ for the biggest March opening,” says Fox news about Beauty and the Beast’s opening day.

The movie was a big success for Disney but also for Emma Watson herself. Watson played the lead role of Belle, which brought audiences out of the familiarity of seeing her as Hermoine from the Harry Potter franchise. Watson, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, said, “I wanted to create more of a backstory for Belle and give more of an explanation about why she doesn’t fit into the provincial town.” Watson, being an open feminist, brings Belle to life by not making her the typical princess who needs to be saved.

Disney has made princesses a more positive role model for women everywhere by depicting them as more independent and empowering. Audiences have now grown accustomed to this new outlook on strong female princesses, and Disney is now seeing the audience’s adoration for their new films through the profits they are making.

Looking forward, audiences are expected to see the next Disney princess film, “Mulan,” on Nov. 2, 2018. Disney is also planning on another woman lead with Emma Stone in the “101 Dalmations” remake, “Cruella.”