‘Be Our Guest’ scene cost more than it usually costs to make an entire movie

IT MIGHT only be four minutes of the new Beauty and the Beast remake but this scene cost Disney more than the usual budget for an entire movie.

THE new live action remake of Beauty and the Beast is set to smash box office records and make more than $200 million in its opening week which can only mean one thing — Disney is breathing a huge sigh of relief.

Disney’s most recent adaptation became a bit of a gamble for the company after it was revealed one four minute scene cost them more than what a studio usually allocates for an entire movie.

While Beauty and the Beast is packed full of memorable tunes and stunning dance numbers, there was always one scene that was going to have the highest of expectations — when Lumiere sings Be Our Guest.

And, just like in the original 1991 animated movie, Be Our Guest was the pivotal scene of the Emma Watson-led remake full of colourful dishes and sparkling cutlery dancing across tables.

'Be Your Guest' cost more than an entire movie.

The scene took over a year to plan and shoot.

Speaking toEntertainment Weekly,the movie’s director Bill Condon described how the scene was made telling the publication there was no expense spared.

“It’s a four-minute number that cost more than Mr. Holmes’ entire budget,” the director said, referring to his 2015 film about the retired detective Sherlock.

“It’s taken over a year to put it together — and obviously, six months before that to plan it. I would guess that it is pretty far up there in terms of the most intricate and elaborate musical numbers ever shot,” he added.

Lumiere and Cogsworth prepare for dinner.

The team behind the iconic scene included visual effects producer Steve Gaub who explained their plan of attack.

“They approached it as though they were going to put on a stage number on a Broadway stage,” Gaub said.

“If you couldn’t imagine it [like that], then we weren’t doing it quite right, you know?”

Lumiere prepares for the dinner between Belle and the Beast.

Gaub also revealed the difficulties the movie’s team of animators faced.

“You’d give an animator a four-limbed dancer and say, ‘Okay, now make that knife do that,’” he said.

After they’d choreographed the extensive routine, the team then shot footage of real plates and silverware to understand the way the light would hit each object.

Lumiere prepares for the dinner between Belle and the Beast.

The incredible planning (and bottomless budget) resulted in a four minute musical number that rarely relied on CGI and has set the precedent for live-action remakes.

Beauty and the Beast, which stars Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, is due in Australian cinemas on March 23.

Originally published as ‘Be Our Guest’ scene cost more than it usually costs to make an entire movie