The latest installment in the 'Planet of the Apes' franchise, 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,' dominated the North American box office over the weekend with an impressive $56.5 million opening. This successful debut provided a much-needed boost to the current 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 secured the third-highest opening of the year, following 'Dune: Part Two' and 'Kung Fu Panda 4.'
Directed by Wes Ball, the film's opening weekend marked the second-best in the 'Planet of the Apes' series, trailing only behind 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' in 2014. This latest installment is the 10th movie in the iconic franchise that originated in 1968.
In contrast, 'The Fall Guy' slipped to the second spot with $13.7 million in its second weekend, bringing its total earnings to $49.7 million. 'Challengers,' starring Zendaya, secured the third position with $4.7 million and has accumulated $38 million over three weeks for Amazon MGM studios.
Other films in the top 10 include 'Tarot,' 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,' 'Unsung Hero,' 'Kung Fu Panda 4,' 'Civil War,' 'Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace,' and 'Abigail.'
The final domestic box office figures will be released on Monday, providing a comprehensive overview of the weekend's ticket sales. 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' has set a strong precedent for the summer movie season of 2024, promising an exciting lineup of cinematic experiences for audiences to enjoy.
