“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” has taken over the box office throne this weekend, raking in an impressive $56.5 million in its North American debut. The film, a continuation of the successful “Apes” trilogy from the 2010s, has given a much-needed boost to the uncertain season in theaters.
Released by 20th Century Studios and Disney, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” has the third highest opening of the year, following “Dune: Part Two” in early March and “Kung Fu Panda 4” a week later, which opened with $81.5 million and $58.3 million, respectively.
The strong performance of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is a welcome surprise after last week’s lackluster debut of “The Fall Guy,” starring Ryan Gosling. This success has revived hopes for the summer of 2024, which was previously predicted to have a major drop-off after the magical year of 2023, also known as the “Barbenheimer” year.
The film easily surpassed the rest of the top 10 combined, leaving “The Fall Guy” in second place with a weekend total of $13.7 million and a two-week total of $49.7 million for Universal Pictures. In third place was “Challengers,” starring Zendaya, with $4.7 million in its third week, bringing its total to $38 million for Amazon MGM studios.
Directed by “Maze Runner” director Wes Ball, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” had the second best opening in the franchise, following 2014’s “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” which opened with $72 million. This film also marks the 10th installment in the “Planet of the Apes” franchise, which began in 1968 with the iconic Charlton Heston original and its infamous twist ending.
According to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore, the success of this franchise is unprecedented. He states, “This franchise has never been allowed to lose its momentum. There are very few franchises that have this kind of longevity.” This is evident in the fact that the new film features no central actors or characters from its predecessors, yet still managed to capture audiences with its unique blend of sci-fi, social commentary, and pure entertainment.
The film received strong reviews and positive buzz, with an 80% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a “B” CinemaScore. It was particularly praised for its stunning visual effects, which have only improved since the last installment, 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes.” The Associated Press’ Mark Kennedy even called it “thrilling” and “visually stunning.”
This success is a much-needed shot in the arm for the movie industry, which has been struggling due to the ongoing pandemic. However, the upcoming summer season is still uncertain. As of now, there is no early Marvel movie like 2023’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” to draw in audiences, and the total box office for mid-May is down 21% from last year.
While there are potential blockbusters like “Despicable Me 4” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” in July, other releases such as “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and “Twisters” later in the summer are more unpredictable. Even Pixar, known for their guaranteed hits, may not see the same success with the release of “Inside Out 2” in June.
“There used to be sure bets we cannot necessarily bank on anymore,” says Dergarabedian. “It is going to be a bit of a hit-or-miss slate.”
Despite the uncertainties, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” has proven that there is still a demand for quality entertainment in theaters. Its success serves as a reminder of the love audiences have for this franchise’s unique blend of thought-provoking themes and thrilling action.
In conclusion, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” has conquered the box office and reigns as the new king of summer blockbusters. With its strong reviews, positive buzz, and impressive opening weekend, it has given hope to an uncertain season in theaters. Audiences can look forward to more thrilling and visually stunning installments in this beloved franchise
