‘Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes’ Tops Box Office

The highly anticipated sequel to 2017’s “War of the Planet of the Apes,” “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” ascended to the top of the box office charts this weekend, delivering a powerful opening performance. According to Box Office Mojo, the film grossed an impressive $56.5 million domestically, slightly surpassing industry expectations and reaffirming the franchise’s strong fan base.

Global audiences also embraced “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” propelling its worldwide debut to $129 million. The film’s overseas performance was particularly robust, with international markets contributing approximately $72.5 million to its opening weekend haul. This global success underscores the widespread appeal of the “Planet of the Apes” franchise and solidifies its position as a blockbuster powerhouse.

Director Wes Ball’s vision for “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” struck a chord with audiences, setting the stage for its box office triumph. The film’s strong showing in early previews further fueled anticipation, with Wednesday previews grossing $1.6 million and Thursday earnings reaching $5 million. These early successes paved the way for a stellar $22.2 million opening day on Friday, further solidifying the film’s position as a box office juggernaut.

In contrast, “The Fall Guy,” starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, settled for the second spot at the box office with a weekend total of $13.7 million. Despite its star-studded cast, the film failed to match the success of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” continuing a trend of underwhelming performances for recent releases.

Meanwhile, “Challengers,” the highly anticipated Zendaya-led tennis drama, maintained its third-place position with $4.7 million in weekend earnings. The film’s steady performance has helped it amass a domestic total of approximately $38 million, positioning it as a solid performer in a competitive box office landscape.

The success of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” comes at a critical juncture for the film industry, which is grappling with a 22% decline in annual box office revenue compared to the previous year, as reported by Variety. The industry is pinning its hopes on a strong summer lineup, including upcoming releases like “If,” “Inside Out 2,” and “Despicable Me 4,” to drive ticket sales and revitalize the box office.

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is set 300 years after the events of “War for the Planet of the Apes” and explores the rise of a new tyrannical ape leader. The film delves into themes of freedom and oppression as a young ape embarks on a quest for liberation, resonating with audiences and critics alike. Despite its lower budget of $160 million compared to its predecessors, which had $190 million budgets, the film has garnered favorable reviews, boasting an 81% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes as of Sunday, with an audience score of 78%.