“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” ruled the box office this weekend as 20th Century Fox continues to dominate the summer.
The Matt Reeves directed thriller which is both a prequel and a sequel earned an estimated $73 million. That is higher than pre-release polling indicated and beats both “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” $54.8 million in 2011 and Tim Burton's “Planet of the Apes” which opened to $68.5 million in 2001. With an A- Cinemascore and the best reviews for any live action studio movie this summer “Dawn” should easily surpass “Rise's” $176.6 million cume.
Dropping to no. 2 was “Transformers: Age of Extinction” with another $16.5 million and $209 million to date domestic. The fourth installment in the “Transformers” franchise has taken in $xxx million worldwide which means a fifth is absolutely on the way.
Holding somewhat better than expect in third was the Melissa McCarthy comedy “Tammy.” With another $12.9 million the Warner Bros. release has taken in $57.3 million over just 10 days. “Tammy” will break McCarthy's string of $100 million plus hits, but should be profitable in the long run.
The summer's biggest comedy so far, “22 Jump Street,” earned another $6.7 million or $171.9 million to date for fourth. At this point, it looks like the Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum smash will end up with around $190 million when all is said and done.
“How to Train Your Dragon 2” overtook “Earth to Echo” for no. 5 with another $5.8 million and $152 million to date. The Dreamworks Animation flick's international returns are finally starting to pick up and the critically acclaimed animated flick has taken in $349 million global so far.
Opening in just five theaters, Richard Linkletter's “Boyhood” took in $359,000 or an impressive $71,800 per screen. That's one of the best limited debuts of the year after “The Grand Budapest Hotel” which earned a $202,792 average.
New releases on Friday include Cameron Diaz and Jason Seagal in “Sex Tape,” “The Purge: Anarchy” and “Planes Fire & Rescue.” Zach Braff's “Wish I Was Here” will debut in an extended limited release of 60 theaters.