20th Century Fox has successfully rebooted the “Planet of the Apes” franchise as Rise of the Planet of the Apes opened in first place domestically to an estimated $54 million at 3,648 theaters. Directed by Rupert Wyatt, the film cost $93 million to make, not counting marketing costs, and averaged a strong $14,803 per theater. Starring James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, David Oyelowo and Andy Serkis, “Apes” grossed another $23.4 million in 26 overseas markets to push its worldwide total to $77.4 million after just one weekend.
Sony Pictures’ The Smurfs remained in second place with $21 million its second weekend, a drop of just 41% in ticket sales. The $110 million big screen adaptation has earned a total of $76.2 million. The film also expanded internationally this weekend, bringing in $45.2 million for a foreign gross of $52.7 million and a worldwide take of $128.9 million.
While the Smurfs were narrowly beat by Cowboys & Aliens in North America last weekend, they have now passed up the earnings of the Jon Favreau-directed action thriller. The Universal pic dropped 56.8% and to third for a second weekend of $15.7 million and a total of $67.4 million. It cost about $163 million to make.
Universal’s new R-rated comedy The Change-Up, debuted in fourth place with $13.5 million from 2,913 theaters, an average of $4,635 per site. Costing $52 million to produce, the David Dobkin-directed film stars Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann and Olivia Wilde.
Paramount and Marvel Studios’ Captain America: The First Avenger rounded out the top five with $13 million. The $140 million comic book adaptation has brought in $143.2 million domestically after three weeks.
Warner Bros. owned the next two spots as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 added $12.2 million its fourth weekend for a total of $342.8 million and Crazy, Stupid, Love. made $12.1 million its second weekend for a total of $42.2 million. The final “Harry Potter” movie should pass up Transformers: Dark of the Moon ($344.2 million) in the next few days to become the top domestic earner of the year so far.
