Planet of the Apes Rises to $77.4 Million Worldwide

The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend. Click here for the full box office estimates of the top 12 films and then check back on Monday for the final figures based on actual box office.

20th Century Fox has successfully rebooted the “Planet of the Apes” franchise as Rise of the Planet of the Apes opened in first place domestically to an estimated $54 million at 3,648 theaters. Directed by Rupert Wyatt, the film cost $93 million to make, not counting marketing costs, and averaged a strong $14,803 per theater. Starring James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, David Oyelowo and Andy Serkis, “Apes” grossed another $23.4 million in 25 overseas markets to push its worldwide total to $77.4 million after just one weekend.

Sony Pictures’ The Smurfs remained in second place with $21 million its second weekend, a drop of just 41% in ticket sales. The $110 million big screen adaptation has earned a total of $76.2 million. The film also expanded internationally this weekend to 42 markets, bringing in $45.2 million for a foreign gross of $52.8 million and a worldwide take of $129 million.

While the Smurfs were narrowly beat by Cowboys & Aliens in North America last weekend, they have now passed up the earnings of the Jon Favreau-directed action thriller. The Universal pic dropped 56.8% and to third for a second weekend of $15.7 million and a total of $67.4 million. It cost about $163 million to make.

Universal’s new R-rated comedy The Change-Up, debuted in fourth place with $13.5 million from 2,913 theaters, an average of $4,635 per site. Costing $52 million to produce, the David Dobkin-directed film stars Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann and Olivia Wilde.

Paramount and Marvel Studios’ Captain America: The First Avenger rounded out the top five with $13 million. The $140 million comic book adaptation has brought in $143.2 million domestically after three weeks. Internationally, the film added $27.5 million from 42 countries to push its foreign total to $103 million. Worldwide, the Joe Johnston-directed movie has earned $246.2 million so far.

Warner Bros. owned the next two spots as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 added $12.2 million its fourth weekend for a total of $342.8 million and Crazy, Stupid, Love. made $12.1 million its second weekend for a total of $42.2 million.

The final “Harry Potter” movie should pass up Transformers: Dark of the Moon ($344.2 million) in the next few days to become the top domestic earner of the year so far. “Deathly Hallows – Part 2” also brought in another $61.8 million in 61 overseas markets this weekend. The foreign gross stands at $791.1 million. “Dark of the Moon,” meanwhile, earned $17.5 million in 62 international markets to bring its overseas total to $693.5 million.

Click here for the full box office results of the top 12 films.

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