Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes from Disney and 20th Century Studios has made a monumental debut, amassing US$72.5 million internationally and US$56.5 million domestically, totalling a massive US$129 million globally in its opening weekend, per Deadline. This launch ranks as the third-largest global debut of the year.
The film’s international success was notably driven by a strong performance in Brazil, marking the country’s biggest opening of 2024 with US$2.6 million, and leading in China with US$11.4 million. Despite these high figures, the Chinese debut was considered lacklustre for the region. The film also performed well in other major markets, including France (US$7.1 million), Mexico (US$6.4 million), and the UK (US$4.8 million).
The film, a sequel in the long-standing Apes franchise, not only topped North American charts but also performed exceptionally well across various international markets including the Netherlands, Finland, Poland, Turkey, Hungary, Indonesia, Vietnam, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Central America, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and several smaller markets.
The film, with a budget of US$160 million, is projected to earn most of its revenue from international markets, following the trend of its predecessors. The previous instalments, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes, amassed US$481 million and US$490 million respectively, with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes reaching US$710 million globally.
In addition to traditional screenings, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has seen significant revenue from premium formats, accounting for 41% of the global box office. IMAX screenings alone have contributed US$13.2 million worldwide.
Directed by Wes Ball, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the fourth film in the reimagined series and the 10th in the franchise’s 56-year history. The narrative leaps forward from the era of Caesar, previously portrayed by Andy Serkis, to a new chapter led by a young ape named Noa (played by Owen Teague) who, alongside a human named Mae (Freya Allan), ventures on a quest shaping the future of both species.
Amid this success, the creators, Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa, hinted at future expansions of the series. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, they suggested the potential for at least two more films, possibly extending the series into a new trilogy. Jaffa expressed his original vision of creating nine films for the franchise, underscoring the ambitious scope of their cinematic journey.
“When you first came up with this idea, the Apes franchise way back, you saw nine movies. We thought, ‘This is crazy ambitious.’ But here we are. We’re at four,” Silver says. Jaffa adds, “I don’t know if we’ll make it to nine. I would love it. We’ve spoken to not just Wes and Josh and [producer] Joe Hartwick Jr., but to Steve Asbell and Scott Aversano at 20th about what these next movies can be.”
As Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes continues to perform, it’s poised not only to thrive in its current theatrical run but also to expand further, potentially making it a cornerstone for the future of the Apes saga.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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