LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Planet of the Apes'' topped the weekend box office in North America with an opening of $56.5 million, providing much-needed excitement for an uncertain theatrical season, according to studio estimates Sunday. Brought.
The 20th Century Studios and Disney film, based on 2010's rebooted “Ape” trilogy, follows the $81.5 million debut and $58.3 million domestic opening of “Dune: Part 2” in early March. It had the third highest opening box office revenue of the year, after “The Movie''. A week after Kung Fu Panda 4.
“Planet of the Apes'' strong performance comes a week after director Ryan Gosling's “The Fall Guy'' hinted it would likely arrive in the summer of 2024 after a lackluster start. It did well, with worldwide box office revenue reaching $129 million. After the magic of “Balbenheimer'' in 2023, we will see a significant drop-off.
“Planet of the Apes” easily topped the rest of the top 10 total.
Universal Pictures' The Fall Guy dropped to second place with a weekend box office gross of $13.7 million and a two-week total of $49.7 million.
Zendaya's “Challengers” came in third with $4.7 million, and Amazon MGM Studios earned $38 million in three weeks.
The opening of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,'' directed by “Maze Runner'' director Wes Ball, was the second-highest in the series after 2014's “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,'' which grossed $72 million over its opening weekend. It was a result.
This is the 10th film in the “Planet of the Apes'' series, which began in 1968 with the original story by Charlton Heston and has a twist ending.
“We can't afford to lose momentum in this series,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at comScore. “There are very few franchises that last this long.”
And that is truly an asset. The new film has no central actors or characters in common with its predecessor.
Dergarabedian said, “There's a lot of love for this work, which combines science fiction, social theory, and straight-up popcorn entertainment.”
Kingdom received strong reviews and positive buzz (80% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and a CinemaScore of 'B'). The film was particularly praised for its ability to keep up with the visual effects and aesthetics of mounted primates since its predecessor, 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes.
Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press called it “thrilling” and “visually stunning.”
While the shot in the arm is welcome for the film industry, there is little certainty heading into the upcoming summer.
So far this year, we haven't had any early Marvel movies like 2023's Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 1. 3 had a cumulative occupancy rate of 21% as of mid-May last year.
July seems like a safe bet with potential blockbusters such as Despicable Me 4 and Deadpool & Wolverine, while Furiosa: The Mad Max Saga later this month. It is thought that works such as “Twisters'' may also appear in the second half of the summer. It will break either way.
Pixar has delivered near-guaranteed hits in the past, but Inside Head 2, released in June, may not be as successful as the 2015 original.
“Before, there was a sure bet that you couldn't necessarily rely on anymore,” Dergarabedian said. “It's going to be a bit of a hit-or-miss situation.”
Estimated ticket sales from Friday through Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Final national figures will be released on Monday.
1. “Planet of the Apes,” $56.5 million.
2. “The Fall Guy,” $13.7 million.
3. “Challengers,” $4.7 million.
4. “Tarot,” $3.45 million.
5. “Godzilla x Kong: New Empire,” $2.5 million.
6. “The Unsung Hero,” $2.25 million.
7. “Kung Fu Panda 4,” $2 million.
8. “Civil War,” $1.8 million.
9. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, $1.5 million.
10. “Abigail,” $1.1 million.