As expected, action sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes topped the box office, ending up higher than anticipated. The Matt Reeves film earned $72.6 million, for an average of a strong $18,304 from 3,967 locations. Many expected this to end up at around $60 million for the weekend, so this is truly a fantastic start. For the year, Apes had the fifth-biggest opening so far behind Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Godzilla, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past. Reviews were very strong (91% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences enjoyed it giving the film an "A-" CinemaScore. Previously, Rise of the Planet of the Apes debuted to $55 million back in 2011 on its way to $175 million stateside. Dawn should easily eclipse that with no real competition until Guardians of the Galaxy arrives on August 1 (the Hercules movie isn't getting strong buzz so far). Overseas should be just as promising. 20th Century Fox produced this for $170 million.With the strong competition, Transformers: Age of Extinction fell 56% to $16.3 million, for a $208.8 million pick-up in 17 days. Extinction is the 6th 2014 movie to pass the double-century mark so far, and if it continues to plummet at this pace, it will mostlikely not end up ahead of Captain America: The Winter Soldier's $257 million final gross. Even more distressful, the film will wind up around $100 million behind Dark of the Moon's $350 million final gross. Overseas, the reboot is killing it, however. At nearly $550 million overseas so far with more territories yet to open (at $750 million worldwide so far), it seems likely this will close above the $1 billion mark.
Despite a somewhat negative reception, Tammy held up decently this weekend. Melissa McCarthy's latest was off 42% to $12.6 million, for a solid (though unspectacular) $57 million in 12 days. Next weekend will bring some stiff competition from S** Tape, but still look for at least a $80 million final gross. That's half of Bridesmaids $170 million final gross, but against a $20 million budget, its still a huge success by all means.
With no added competition, 22 Jump Street held amazingly well for a fifth-straight week in the Top 5. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill were off a light 34% to $6.5 million, for a strong $171.3 million pick-up in one month of release. The sequel ranks among the Top 20 highest-grossing R-rated films in history, and the Top 10 among R-rated comedies. This one will also fall hard next week though in the face of S** Tape, but its guaranteed to close above $180 million. It has also earned over $250 million worldwide.
Also spending a fifth-straight week in the Top 5, How To Train Your Dragon 2 continued to level off, down 32% to $6.1 million, for a $152.3 million gross in one month of release, or virtually identical to that of Kung Fu Panda 2 through the same point. Next weekend, Dragon 2 will have to face Planes: Fire and Rescue, and will most likely peak maybe a couple notches higher than Panda 2's $165 million final gross, or around $50 million off from the first Dragon. Overseas, the sequel has earned nearly $350 million worldwide so far with still some more to come.
Holding steady in sixth place, Earth to Echo had a solid hold, off 34% to $5.5 million, for a $24.5 million pick-up in 12 days. Echo will most likely see a steeper drop next week in the face of Planes, but a $40 million finish isn't horrible by all means (especially given its $13 million budget). But its low enough that Echo will certainly be forgotten by audiences in due time.
Deliver Us from Evil couldn't have a strong hold to save its disappointing run. The horror flick fell 51% to $4.75 million, for a 12-day gross of a muted $25.1 million. While the drop is on the strong end for the genre, its still heavy regardless. The film will lose its audience to The Purge: Anarchy next weekend and close just above $30 million. For a low-budget film, it will still make a profit, though not nearly as big as what some were hoping for.
Spending a seventh-straight week in the Top 10, Maleficent continued to hold on strong, off a light 32% to $4.2 million, for a strong $222 million gross in 49 days. The Angelina Jolie pic is now just $1.5 million behind Oz: The Great and Powerful through the same point and will likely finish ahead of it (as long as Planes doesn't steal a lot of its screens next weekend). Maleficent has earned $670 million worldwide, and will likely pass the $700 million mark, ranking alongside the superheroes and autobots at the top of the box office charts for 2014.
After a solid limited opening, the well-received Begin Again expanded to 939 locations and pulled in a decent $2.8 million in ninth place, averaging $3,000 per venue. While a bit under what was expected, these arthouse releases can often be wild cards, and open unexpectedly below or above expectations. There is some starpower, with Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Hailee Steinfeld all starring. But, with a limited marketing campaign, it makes sense why this might not have hit the heights some were expecting. Look for this to hold well in the next few weeks due to strong reviews, but it won't be a memorable box office performance by all means.Rounding out the Top 10 in its fourth week is Clint Eastwood's Jersey Boys, which fell harder this weekend, off 51% to $2.5 million. In 24 days, the Broadway adaptation has earned an underwhelming $41.7 million. One has to wonder if this would have fared well as a holiday release.
Next weekend brings S** Tape, The Purge: Anarchy and Planes: Fire and Rescue all aiming for different audiences. Will all three be able to breathe life back into theaters?
