- "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé" hit theaters on Thursday night.
- The movie includes behind-the-scenes moments from Beyoncé's latest tour.
Beyoncé's hotly anticipated concert movie hit theaters on Thursday.
"Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé" — written, directed, produced, and narrated by Queen Bey — features performances from her blockbuster tour interspersed with behind-the-scenes moments, giving fans a peek into Beyoncé's creative process.
The most intimate clips reveal details about Beyoncé's relationships — especially with her family members and former bandmates.
Keep reading to see our roundup of three key moments in the box-office hit.
1. Destiny's Child reunited (almost)
The "Renaissance" film includes a scene with Beyoncé embracing her Destiny's Child bandmates, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, as well as LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, two former members who were reportedly pushed out of the group in 1999. (Beyoncé, Rowland, and Williams continued as a trio until they disbanded in 2006.)
The brief scene features a group hug between all five women, though no words were exchanged on camera.
In her narration, Beyoncé describes the reunion as "new birth for us. A lot of healing," per AP News.
Rowland, Williams, Luckett, and Roberson also attended the film premiere on Sunday.
However, one former member of Destiny's Child did not participate in the "Renaissance" reunion: Farrah Franklin.
Franklin was involved with the group for about five months before she left in 2000. She later blamed her departure on clashes with management.
2. Beyoncé didn't want Blue to dance during the tour
Beyoncé's eldest daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, became a central figure on the Renaissance World Tour after her first appearance in Paris last May.
The 11-year-old continued to join her mother on stage during the "Opulence" segment of the show, dancing through songs "My Power," "Black Parade," and "Savage."
However, the "Renaissance" movie reveals that Blue's first cameo was meant to be a one-off. In fact, Beyoncé was reluctant to allow her daughter to perform at all.
"She told me she was ready to perform, and I told her no," Beyoncé tells the camera. "I did not think it was an appropriate place for an 11-year-old on a stadium stage."
"All the things that I had to go through, and obstacles that I had to overcome, prepared me. And she hasn't had that struggle," Beyoncé continues. "I made a deal with her, and I said, 'If you practice and you show your commitment, I'll let you do one show.'"
Beyoncé even says she "almost passed out" during Blue's first cameo, when she caught a glimpse of her daughter arriving on stage.
"It's one thing for me to be nervous, it's another thing for my child to be nervous," Beyoncé explains. "I thought, 'Why did I say yes?'"
After Blue's debut performance, she saw negative comments online, which disappointed her mother. However, Blue turned the criticism into fuel, recommitting herself to rehearsals and improving over time.
Despite her initial trepidation, Beyoncé praises her daughter's work ethic in the film, describing Blue as "fearless."
3. Beyoncé paid homage to Uncle Jonny
When "Renaissance" was released last year, Beyoncé dedicated the album to "all of the pioneers who originate culture," especially her Uncle Jonny, who introduced her to queer-led genres like house and ballroom.
Jonny, a close friend of the Knowles family, died from HIV-related complications when Beyoncé was 17.
In the album highlight "Heated," Beyoncé raps, "Uncle Jonny made my dress / That cheap Spandex, she looks a mess."
In the film, Beyoncé fondly recalls Jonny's influence; he really did make her prom dress by hand.
She also says Jonny helped make costumes during her early days with Destiny's Child, because many designers didn't want to dress "curvy Black southern girls," in her words.