In a promising start to the summer movie season, ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ has exceeded expectations, opening to a robust $58.5 million in the U.S. and raking in $131.2 million globally. Directed by Wes Ball, this sequel has not only managed to captivate audiences but has also marked itself as the second-best domestic opening in the series. Meanwhile, ‘The Fall Guy’ continues to see declining numbers, indicating a shaky start to its box office journey.
A Noteworthy Debut
Wes Ball’s latest venture into the Planet of the Apes saga, ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’, kicked off with a $58.5 million opening in North America. The film’s global earnings reached $131.2 million, with $72.7 million coming from international markets. This launch surpasses initial estimates and positions the film as the third highest opener of the year in the U.S., signaling strong audience interest and robust box office potential.
Comparative Performance
The film’s success at the box office is particularly notable given the lackluster performance of Universal’s ‘The Fall Guy’, which opened the summer season. ‘The Fall Guy’ struggled to meet expectations, debuting at a modest $27.7 million against a projected $32 million to $35 million. In contrast, ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ not only surpassed its predecessor in the series, ‘War of the Planet of the Apes’, which opened at $56.3 million domestically in 2017, but also demonstrated strong appeal across various demographic groups.
Audience and Critical Response
Despite receiving a B CinemaScore, ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ has enjoyed plenty of positive reviews from critics. Detailed exit polling indicates that the majority of viewers are satisfied, with 85 percent awarding it an A or B grade. The film’s appeal spans across age groups and includes a significant turnout from both younger and older males, as well as a diverse ethnic audience.
Global Appeal and Future Prospects
Internationally, the film performed well, particularly in Latin America, though it faced some challenges in Europe due to favorable weather conditions keeping potential movie-goers outdoors. In China, despite stiff competition from local films, ‘Kingdom’ managed to secure the top spot for the weekend, drawing $11.4 million.
Struggles and Stumbles
Conversely, ‘The Fall Guy’ saw a steep second-weekend drop of 51 percent domestically, indicating weakening interest despite a post-release marketing push targeting female audiences. Meanwhile, other titles like ‘Challengers’ and ‘Tarot’ showed varied performance, with ‘Challengers’ holding steady in its third weekend.
Looking Ahead
As the summer progresses, upcoming releases such as John Krasinski’s ‘IF’ and ‘The Garfield Movie’ are set to heat up the competition. With ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ setting a high benchmark early in the season, it remains to be seen how other titles will fare in attracting audiences to theaters.
Wrapping Up
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ has certainly set the stage for what looks to be an exciting summer at the box office. For more detailed insights and updates on upcoming films, visit Hitplay.app.
