Film News: ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ Takes Second Box Office Crown

Submitted by BrianTT on August 15, 2011 - 2:02pm

CHICAGO – For the second weekend in a row, a rarity in the summer of 2011, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” came in at number one at the box office with $27.8 million. Positive word-of-mouth and a serious lack of viable competition pushed the suprising hit to #1 at the box office for the second weekend in a row.

Whether it be word-of-mouth or just the pure appeal of the film, “Apes” became only the third movie since May to finish number one on back-to-back weekends (“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” and “Thor” were the other two films). While competition may be lighter, this is quite the accomplishment in the summer of “Harry Potter,” “Captain America,” “Cars 2,” and several other sequels and superhero films.

Very similar to last week, the new release comedy from this week failed to get people in the seats. “30 Minutes or Less,” the Jesse Eisenberg pizza-boy-turned-robbery-plot-victim comedy, was only able to muster $13.3 million over its first three days for a 4th place opening. After “The Change-Up” failed last week and “30 Minutes or Less” failed this week, one could question the state of Hollywood comedies in the summer blockbuster world although it is more likely that audiences were just exhausted by the over-abundance of them this season after turning “Bad Teacher” and “Horrible Bosses” into smash hits. “30 Minutes or Less” just came too late to party.

In the rest of the box office round-up, “The Help” premiered in second this past weekend with $26 million and “Final Destination 5” slashed its way to 18 million on its opening weekend, good enough for third place but less than either of the last films in the franchise, despite more positive reviews. “The Smurfs” also had another impressive showing, making $13.7 million in its third weekend in theaters.

“Glee The 3D Concert Movie” was dead on arrival, producing a measly $6 million from over 2,000 3D screens for an 11th place finish. People clearly questioned paying for something they can see on TV and the lack of a 2D option was probably a mistake.

We’ll have to wait and see if “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” can become the first film this summer to lead the box office three weekends in a row when it comes up against the new releases of “Conan the Barbarian,” “Fright Night,” and “Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D” this coming Friday.

Top 10:
1) “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” — $27.8 million — down 49% — $105.2 million total
2) “The Help” — $26 million — new — $35.9 total since a Wednesday opening
3) “Final Destination 5” — $18 million — new
4) “The Smurfs” — $13.7 million — down 34% — $101.8 million total
5) “30 Minutes or Less” — $13.3 million — new
6) “Cowboys & Aliens” — $7.8 million — down 50% — $81.7 million total
7) “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” — $7.3 million — down 42% — $357.3 million total
8) “Captain America: The First Avenger” — $7.2 million — down 49% — $157 million total
9) “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” — $7.1 million — down 41% — $55.5 million total
10) “The Change-Up” — $6.3 million — down 53% — $25.8 million total