“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Reigns at Box Office with $56.5 Million Opening”

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” dominated the weekend box office with an impressive $56.5 million North American opening, according to studio estimates. This is a much-needed boost for the uncertain season in theaters. The film, produced by 20th Century Studios and Disney, is a continuation of the rebooted “Apes” trilogy from the 2010s. It achieved the third highest opening of the year, following the $81.5 million debut of “Dune: Part Two” in March and the $58.3 million domestic opening of “Kung Fu Panda 4” a week later.

The success of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” comes at a time when the summer of 2024 is expected to see a major drop-off after the magic of 2023. Ryan Gosling’s “The Fall Guy” had a lackluster start, falling to second place with $13.7 million over the weekend and a total of $49.7 million in two weeks for Universal Pictures. Zendaya’s “Challengers” took the third spot with $4.7 million, accumulating a total of $38 million over three weeks for Amazon MGM studios.

Directed by Wes Ball, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” had the second best opening in the series, only behind 2014’s “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” which earned $72 million in its opening weekend. This film is the 10th installment in the long-running “Planet of the Apes” franchise that began in 1968.

The success of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” can be attributed to its strong reviews and positive buzz. It currently holds an 80% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received a “B” CinemaScore. Mark Kennedy of The Associated Press described it as “thrilling” and “visually stunning.”

In terms of ticket sales, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” outperformed the rest of the top 10 films combined. This demonstrates the film’s overwhelming popularity among audiences.

Overall, the success of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” not only provides a much-needed boost to the box office during an uncertain season, but it also showcases the enduring appeal of the “Planet of the Apes” franchise. With its strong reviews and positive buzz, this film is sure to captivate audiences and continue the legacy of the series.