In a pleasing sign that well-crafted movies can make a big impact on the box office, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes clambered handily to the top of the US charts this weekend, earning $73 million and knocking Transformers: Age Of Extinction from the throne.
Dawn’s success topped the last Apes film, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, which opened to $54.8 million back in 2011, and shows every sign of besting its overall gross. The movie also bested expectations, which had predicted somewhere in the $60 million region. The future of the series seems assured, and we’re certain 20th Century Fox will be prodding an exhausted Matt Reeves about getting to work on the next film as soon as possible.
As for Transformers, Michael Bay won’t be too worried, even with a 55% drop in its third weekend. With massive overseas success and an additional $16.5 million in the Stateside bank this weekend and the title of highest-grossing film worldwide for 2014 so far in the bag,** Age Of Extinction** is hardly embarrassing the franchise.
Melissa McCarthy’s Tammy fell to third place, earning $12.9 million for a current $57.3 million US total. Given the film’s $20 million budget, it’s doing fine despite scathing reviews. **22 Jump Street **is a much bigger smash, however, dropping just one place to fourth despite being in the charts five weeks and adding $6.7 million for an impressive $171.9 million total to date. It’s well ahead of the first film’s $138.4 million and may make more than that movie did globally with just its Stateside take. In fifth place, we find How To Train Your Dragon 2 gliding with the currents and holding steady with $5.8 million this weekend.
Earth To Echo also held its place at sixth, taking home $5.5 million and $24.5 million so far. Deliver US From Evil continued to struggle, falling from its fourth place launch to seventh with $4.7 million. Maleficent slipped down on place, adding $4.1 million, while Begin Again expanded its release pattern and leapt into the top 10 at ninth with $2.9 million. The music-fuelled indie has earned $5.2 million to date and is likely hoping for a word-of-mouth run to rival Jon Favreau’s Chef. And at 10th, Jersey Boys still couldn’t quite connect with audiences, earning $2.5 million.
To see a group of apes take down a talking robot in the full chart listings, head for Box Office Mojo.