The two-week reign of Transformers: Age of Extinction ended thanks to Dawn of the Planet of the Ape opening at number one this weekend with $73 million. Transformers fell to number two with $16.5 million earned.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes had a more successful opening than its 2011 predecessor Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which opened with $54.8 million (a 33 percent increase). Before the film’s release, Twentieth Century Fox had projected an opening of $55 million to $60 million, and the $73 million earned domestically surpassed that estimate. Dawn of Planet of the Apes was made on a $170 million budget.
Additionally Dawn of the Planet of the Apes earned over $30 million from 26 territories internationally. With its successful opening, 20th Century Fox has become the first studio this year to cross a billion-dollars in total box-office sales for the U.S. and Canada.
Andy Serkis reprises his role as Caesar, the leader of the apes. He's joined by a new cast of human characters played by Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman and Keri Russell.’
Here’s a list of the Top 10 movies at the box office this weekend:
1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes $73,000,000
2. Transformers: Age of Extinction $16,500,000
3. Tammy $12,910,000
4. 22 Jump Street $6,700,000
5. How to Train Your Dragon 2 $5,865,000
6. Earth to Echo $5,500,000
7. Deliver Us From Evil $4,700,000
8. Maleficent $4,169,000
9. Begin Again $2,935,000
10. Jersey Boys $2,510,000