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APES climbed atop the boxoffice chart with $56.5M, giving exhibitors new hope after a grim winter and spring.

While KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES’ opening doesn’t come close to 2014’s DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, which kicked off to $72.6M and did $710.6M worldwide, times have changed and those good old days may be gone forever. Nonetheless, KINGDOM’s launch is in the ballpark compared to 2011’s RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES ($54.8M) and 2017’s WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES ($56.3M).

Driven by KINGDOM, the overall marketplace, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, totaled $94.4M, up 26.4% from the prior weekend, but down 9% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2024 at $2.29B, down 22% from $2.93B in 2023. Last weekend 2024 was down 21% vs. 2023.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney/20th Century’s PG-13 sci-fi action adventure KINGDOM earned its $56.5M at 4,075 theatres ($13,865). Internationally, it opened to $72.5M, per Comscore, bringing its worldwide total to $129M.

KINGDOM reportedly cost $160M to produce — but that money’s all on the screen as there aren’t any $20M stars in the movie! Hollywood handicappers were bullish on KINGDOM from the start with $50-60M estimates.

Going into this weekend, KINGDOM was tracking best for first choice with men over 25 (10 points over norm) and next best with men under 25 (six points over norm). Women under 25 were okay with five points over norm. Women over 25 were the least likely to be going with three points over norm. Rotten Tomatoes critics are happy at 81% while audiences are just okay at 78%.

Universal/87 North’s PG-13 action dramedy THE FALL GUY, directed by David Leitch (JOHN WICK) and starring Ryan Gosling & Emily Blunt, fell to second place in weekend two with $13.7M (-51%) at 4,008 theatres ($3,418). It’s done $49.7M domestic and $103.7M worldwide. FALL  reportedly cost $130M after Australia tax credits.

MGM/Amazon’s CHALLENGERS held on to third place in weekend three with $4.7M (-38%) at 2,609 theatres ($1,795). It reportedly cost $55M to produce and has done $38.1M domestic and $68.7M worldwide.

As for next weekend’s wide releases: Paramount/Maximum Effort’s PG rated family dramedy “IF,” directed by John Krasinski and starring Ryan Reynolds, should keep the boxoffice sizzling. Media pundits expect $45-55M at about 3,900 theatres.

It’s tracking best and equally well for first choice with women under & over 25 (each nine points over norm) and next best with men under 25 (six points over norm). Men over 25 are the least excited (two points over norm).

Lionsgate’s R rated horror thriller “THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1,” opening at about 2,800 theatres, is tracking best with men under & over 25, but just equal to norm. It’s below norm with men & women under 25. Some more exuberant analysts see it opening to $15-20M.