Wes Ball’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is dominating the box office with an estimated $140 million worldwide opening, following the success of Matt Reeves’ War for the Planet of the Apes. Set 300 years after the previous film, Kingdom features a new cast of characters on a whole new planet ruled by apes. The film is a legacy sequel that has managed to capture audience interest despite recent disinterest in franchise revivals.
The pandemic has changed the way audiences consume movies, as they have become more selective in where they spend their money due to the rise of streaming services and advancements in home entertainment technology. With the ongoing pandemic and concerns about public gatherings, viewers are opting for proven content in premium theaters, resulting in a lack of enough premium theaters to meet demand. Studios have also pulled releases due to a weak market in 2024.
The Fall Guy, released last week, underperformed at the box office despite being a fun and charming summer popcorn movie. With Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes set to release this weekend, all eyes are on the film to deliver strong numbers and potentially soften the blow for the upcoming summer movie season. The film is expected to cross the $140 million mark, with a potential to revise upward to $145 million or even higher.
Internationally, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is tracking toward about $85 million, with potential for higher numbers due to premium formats. A positive Cinemascore and strong opening day tallies will be key indicators of the film’s legs and final box office performance. A debut of $140 million suggests a potential finish of $420 million, with any overperformance indicating a possible finish above $500 million worldwide.
Despite potential competition from other big players in the market, such as Dune: Part Two and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is expected to perform well given its strong appeal as a crowd-pleasing summer spectacle with heart. Even if the film opens softer than expected, it is likely to finish above $400 million, considering the challenges faced by theaters this year. The film’s complexity, visual effects, and positive reception make it a strong contender to succeed in the box office for an extended period of time.
