Dev Patel’s ‘Monkey Man’ Hits $31M in Three Weeks

Dev Patel’s directorial debut, ‘Monkey Man,’ has been a resounding success, grossing over $30 million globally in just three weeks. The film, produced by Jordan Peele, has garnered nearly $24 million in the US alone since its release on April 5. ‘Monkey Man’ is not only performing well in theaters but is also available for rent on digital platforms such as YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV, starting April 23.

According to Box Office Mojo, ‘Monkey Man’ has earned $23,998,375 domestically and $7,818,000 internationally, totaling $31.8 million worldwide. The film was also listed in Comscore’s top ten highest-grossing films in the US for the weekend ending April 28, with a collection of $1.1 million.

In its second weekend, ‘Monkey Man’ continued to perform strongly, ranking among the top earning films worldwide. With a global score of $23 million, the film secured the tenth slot on Comscore’s list of global top grossers for the weekend ending April 21. It also earned $2.2 million in the US markets over that weekend, placing it on Comscore’s list of top-grossing films in the US. ‘Monkey Man’ ranked sixth on Comscore’s list of top-scoring movies in the US for the weekend ending April 14, with a $4 million score.

Despite facing tough competition from blockbuster films like ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ and ‘The First Omen’ in the US market, ‘Monkey Man’ managed to open strongly, earning $10.1 million in its opening weekend.

‘Monkey Man’ is inspired by the Hindu God Hanuman and features Patel in the lead role of an anonymous young man who participates in an underground fight club wearing a gorilla mask. The film explores his journey as he discovers a way to infiltrate the city’s sinister elite.

The screenplay of ‘Monkey Man’ was co-written by Paul Angunawela and John Collee, while Patel penned the original story. The film also stars Sikander Kher, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash Tripathy, Vipin Sharma, Makarand Deshpande, Shobhita Dhulipala, and Ashwini Kaleskar in pivotal roles.

‘Monkey Man’ has received mostly positive reviews, with critics praising Patel’s acting, the philosophical depth of the story, and the nuanced performances of Sharma, Kher, Dhulipala, and Deshpande. However, opinions are divided on the film’s brutal and intense fight sequences. It holds a 7.1 rating on IMDb and an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is yet to be released in Indian theaters.