Fox’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes dominated the box office in late night Thursday showings, taking in $4.1 in about 2,750 theaters.
The sequel, directed by Matt Reeves, earned nearly four times more than 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which took in $1.3 million. The film, which starred James Franco, debuted with $54.8 million and concluded with $176.8 million in North American box offices ($481.8 million at the worldwide box office).
Analysts predict that the critically acclaimed feature, which was financed by Fox at $170 million, could gross over $60 million by the end of the weekend. Fox is modestly estimating between $55 million and $60 million.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has been receiving exceptional reviews, with a 92 percent “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics thus far. Rise, on the other hand, received an 82 percent “fresh” score from critics.
The official movie 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.
The sci-fi epic from 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment includes stars Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Enrique Murciano and Kirk Acevedo in the human cast.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is in theaters now, and is also being shown in 3D.
