Movies
Box Office Recap: ‘Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes’ Scores $73 Million Debut
Twentieth Century Fox’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes dominated the domestic box office this weekend, taking in an exceptional $73 million. The thriller sequel, directed by Matt Reeves, scored $18.2 million more than 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes and stars Andy Serkis as head ape Caesar, along with a new cast of humans including Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman and Keri Russell.
Both audiences and critics were fond of the film, which was released across 3,967 theaters, with audiences giving an A minus CinemaScore, and critics a 91 percent “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“It’s one of those rare times when critics and audiences agree and the confluence created a perfect storm for a phenomenal opening,” said Chris Aronson, president of domestic distribution at 20th Century Fox. “A lot of the movies over the last couple of weeks have been received on the tepid side, shall we say, so the market was ripe for a high quality, visually-stunning film.”
Audience members were diverse and primarily male (58 percent), with 55 percent of moviegoers ranking in over the age of 25.
The franchise that started 46 years ago with Planet of the Apes will soon become a trilogy, as a sequel for Dawn to be directed by Reeves is already in the works.
Following Dawn’s opening weekend revenue, Fox has become the first studio in 2014 to cross the billion-dollar mark in domestic box-office sales with $1.015 billion. Regardless of the sci-fi movie’s successful debut, the North American box office revenue is still doing poorly, and is down nearly 24 percent from the same weekend in 2013.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst for box-office tracker Rentrak, explained, “If every summer movie had this kind of release, that would be amazing. It combines all the elements of what a smart summer film should be.”
Sliding into second place on the charts is Michael Bay’s Transformers: Age of Extinction with $16.5 million this weekend, and totaling at $209 million domestically. Following is Melissa McCarthy’s Tammy, which took in $12.9 million in its second weekend, earning $57.3 million in total despite the poor reviews.
In fourth and fifth place on the domestic chart is 22 Jump Street with $6.7 million, totaling to $172 million, and How to Train Your Dragon 2 with $5.9 million, overall earning $152 million.
See what films made the top 10 list at the box office this weekend by clicking “Next”!
10. Jersey Boys – $2.5 million
Film Synopsis
Clint Eastwood’s big screen version of the Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of the four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic `60s rock group The Four Seasons. Their trials and triumphs are accompanied by the hit songs that influenced a generation, and are now being embraced by a new generation of fans through the stage musical.
9. Begin Again – $2.9 million
Film Synopsis
The latest film from writer-director John Carney (ONCE), Begin Again is a soul-stirring comedy about what happens when lost souls meet and make beautiful music together. Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own. Her world takes a turn forthe better when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. From this chance encounter emerges an enchanting portrait of a mutually transformative collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City. Begin Again is produced and financed by Exclusive Media and produced by Anthony Bregman, Tobin Armbrust and Judd Apatow.
8. Maleficent – $4.2 million
Film Synopsis
Maleficent explores the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic Sleeping Beauty and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.
7. Deliver Us From Evil – $4.7 million
Film Synopsis
In Deliver Us From Evil, New York police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana), struggling with his own personal issues, begins investigating a series of disturbing and inexplicable crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest (Edgar Ramirez), schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the frightening and demonic possessions that are terrorizing their city. Based upon the book, which details Sarchie’s bone-chilling real-life cases.
6. Earth to Echo – $5.5 million
Film Synopsis
In Relativity’s PG summer family adventure movie, Tuck, Munch and Alex are a trio of inseparable friends whose lives are about to change. Their neighborhood is being destroyed by a highway construction project that is forcing their families to move away. But just two days before they must part ways, the boys begin receiving a strange series of signals on their phones. Convinced something bigger is going on, they team up with another school friend, Emma, and set out to look for the source of their phone signals. What they discover is something beyond their wildest imaginations: a small alien who has become stranded on Earth. In need of their help, the four friends come together to protect the alien and help him find his way home. This journey, full of wonder and adventure, is their story, and their secret.
5. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $5.9 million
Film Synopsis
DreamWorks Animation returns to the world of dragons and Vikings in this sequel to their successful 2010 outing How to Train Your Dragon. The original film followed the exploits of a Viking chief’s son, who must capture a dragon in order to mark his passage into manhood and prove his worthiness to the tribe.
4. 22 Jump Street – $6.7 million
Film Synopsis
After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) when they go deep undercover at a local college. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. Now they don’t have to just crack the case – they have to figure out if they can have a mature relationship. If these two overgrown adolescents can grow from freshmen into real men, college might be the best thing that ever happened to them.
3. Tammy – $12.9 million
Film Synopsis
Tammy (Melissa McCarthy) is having a bad day. She’s totaled her clunker car, gotten fired from her thankless job at a greasy burger joint and, instead of finding comfort at home, finds her husband getting comfortable with the neighbor in her own house. It’s time to take her boom box and book it. The bad news is she’s broke and without wheels. The worse news is her grandma, Pearl (Susan Sarandon), is her only option-with a car, cash, and an itch to see Niagara Falls. Not exactly the escape Tammy had in mind. But on the road, with grandma riding shot gun, it may be just what Tammy needs.
2. Transformers: Age of Extinction – $16.5 million
Film Synopsis
Transformers: Age of Extinction begins after an epic battle left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history…while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans (led by Mark Wahlberg), Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $73 million
Film Synopsis
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.