Apes Take the Box Office Crown: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Debuts Strong

The latest chapter in the rebooted Planet of the Apes saga has swung to the top of the box office charts. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, directed by Wes Ball, raked in an impressive $56.5 million domestically on its opening weekend, solidifying its dominance. Internationally, the film added another $72.5 million, bringing its global debut to a staggering $129 million.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes takes place 300 years after the events of War for the Planet of the Apes. Apes now rule the world, living in isolated colonies, while humans have devolved into feral beings. But peace is shattered when King Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand) emerges, twisting the legacy of the legendary Caesar for his own gain and enslaving other ape clans. A young chimp named Noa (Owen Teague) teams up with the enigmatic human Nova (Freya Allen) on a perilous journey to fight for a future where apes and humans can coexist.

Teague’s experience filming the movie proved to be particularly inspiring. He documented his journey from the first day to the last on a vintage film camera, seeking a more tangible record than digital photos. “There was a sense of security with it,” he shared with Entertainment Weekly.

Meanwhile, Ryan Gosling’s The Fall Guy, the high-budget summer action flick, dropped to second place in its second week, earning $13.7 million. The film’s opening of $28.5 million fell short of expectations, raising questions about its $130 million price tag.

In contrast, Zendaya’s Challengers, produced for a fraction of the cost of The Fall Guy, continues to perform steadily. It brought in $4.7 million in its third week, pushing its domestic total to $38 million.

The horror film Tarot held onto its spot with $3.5 million in its second week, reaching a domestic total of $12 million. Rounding out the box office is Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, adding another $2.5 million to its impressive domestic haul of $191.8 million.