411 Box Office Report: Kingdom Of the Planet Of the Apes Lights Up Box Office With $56.5 Million

Kingdom Of Planet of the Apes reigned at the box office this weekend, dominating the competition to open at #1. The latest film in the rebooted franchise beat expectations to open at $56.5 million, ahead of the $45 million to $50 million predictions coming into the weekend. It was roughly on par with the last film, War for the Planet of the Apes, which opened to $56.3 million back in July of 2017.

The opening injected some life into the box office after a few slow weeks and scored the fourth-highest start of the year so far, behind Dune: Part Two ($82.5 million), Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ($80 million), and Kung Fu Panda 4 ($58 million). The number is one that 20th Century Studios is surely ecstatic with on the whole.

Kingdom came into the weekend with a lot of expectations around it thanks to some hefty buzz built around a marketing campaign that showed off the visual effects work and action. That buzz was enhanced when reviews came in hot; the film currently stands at an 81% aggregated average on Rotten Tomatoes. But it had also been seven years since the last film, and the audience scores were a bit below War with a 78% RT audience rating and a B CinemaScore (compared to the previous film’s 84% and A-).

Still, the word of mouth was strong enough that the projections rose throughout the weekend. And with an additional $72.5 million overseas for a $129 million worldwide start, the studio is looking at a hit. Kingdom cost a reported $160 million, and it should not have too much difficulty becoming a hit. The domestic total is looking to be around $150 million or higher, and the overseas totals have always been good for the series so it will be profitable when it’s all said and done.

The Fall Guy held on okay, down 51% in its second weekend to bring in $13.7 million. That’s a decent performance, though not quite great for a film that opened somewhat soft last weekend. The critically-loved action comedy now stands at $49.7 million domestically and $103.7 million worldwide –0 decent numbers to be sure, but the $125 million budget is still concerning.

The Fall Guy is currently more or less keeping pace with its fellow action romcom in 2022’s The Lost City. That means it is likely looking at around a $100 million domestic total and will need the overseas grosses to stay strong if it wants to avoid red ink. Whether that will happen remains to be seen.

Challengers is continuing to hold on quite nicely, with the sexually-charged sports drama off just 38% in its third weekend to $4.7 million. The Luca Guadagnino-helmed film is continuing to score with female audiences and is benefitting from a wave of critical acclaim and positive word of mouth. It’s up to $38.1 million stateside and $68.7 million worldwide, very solid numbers even with a $55 million budget, and should close out in the US at around $50 million.

Tarot held up very well for a PG-13 horror film, as it was down just 47% in its second weekend to rake in $3.5 million. That was a much-needed hold for a film that opened weaker than hoped for last frame. The Sony Pictures film has now totaled $12 million domestically and $20 million worldwide, already looking at a bit of profit against a budget of just $8 million. Its US total should end at around $18 million or so, good enough for what the studio wanted though not a breakaway hit.

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire slipped 44% in its seventh weekend to gross $2.5 million. The kaiju film has added up $191.8 million domestically and $558.7 million worldwide, a heft hit against a budget of $135 million. It is still aiming at Godzilla’s $200.7 million domestic total, and though it may fall slightly short of that it’s delivered exactly what Warner Bros. and Legendary wanted.

After last week’s big fall Unsung Hero was strong in its third weekend as it eased 25% to $2.3 million. The faith-based drama from Lionsgate is likely profitable with $16.8 million against a $6 million budget and targeted marketing costs. It is looking to end its run in the $22 million range.

Kung Fu Panda 4 again had the best hold in the top 10, down just 21% in its tenth frame with $2 million. The animated film is now at $191.2 million in the US and $529.3 million worldwide, a big hit against a $85 million budget. It should finish up with about $197 million domestically.

Civil War dropped 49% in its fifth weekend with $1.8 million. The action thriller is up to $65.2 million domestically and has spread its wings overseas with $107.7 million worldwide, putting it on a path to profit against a production budget of $50 million and marketing. It should close out its run at around $72 million in the US.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace fell hard in its second weekend of re-release, which is typical for such releases. The 1999 film opened strong last weekend thanks to Star Wars Day, but was down 83% to $1.5 million. Of course, this is just extra money for a film that was already a blockbuster smash years ago; it now has $486.6 million domestically and $1.039 billion worldwide.

Abigail closed out the top 10 with $1.1 million, a drop of 53%. The vampire film has now grossed $24.8 million domestically and $37.5 million worldwide against a $28 million budget and should end its run just short of $30 million in the US. It is still rolling out overseas and will be slightly profitable, though not exactly a hit.

Next weekend will see the Apes do battle against a family-friendly blockbuster as Ryan Reynolds’ IF opens, with an expected $40 million start. Further down the charts will be the Amy Winehouse biopic Back in Black and Lionsgate’s The Strangers: Chapter 1 which are both targeting the mid to high single digits.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – $56.5 million ($56.5 million total, $129 million WW)
2. The Fall Guy – $13.7 million ($49.7 million total, $103.7 million WW)
3. Challengers – $4.7 million ($38.1 million total, $68.7 million WW)
4. Tarot – $3.5 million ($12 million total, $20.2 million WW)
5. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – $2.5 million ($191.8 million total, $558.7 million WW)
6. Unsung Hero – $2.3 million ($16.8 million total, $16.8 million WW)
7. Kung Fu Panda 4 – $2.0 million ($191.2 million total, $529.3 million WW)
8. Civil War – $1.8 million ($65.2 million total, $107.7 million WW)
9. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace – $1.5 million ($486.6 million total, $1.039 billion WW)
10. Abigail – $1.1 million ($24.8 million total, $37.5 million WW)