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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 17 July 2017
‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ roars past ‘Spider-Man’

By JAKE COYLE
AP Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Mon-
key business still pays.
“War for the Planet of the
Apes” took down “Spider-
Man: Homecoming” at the
North American box office,
opening with an estimated
$56.5 million in ticket sales.
Though some initially ex-
pected a closer race,
“Spider-Man” dropped to
second with $45.2 million
after its $117 million debut
last weekend. But direc-
tor Matt Reeves’ “War for
the Planet of the Apes”
pulled away thanks to
strong reviews for the third
installment of the rebooted
“Apes” franchise.
Led by Andy Serkis’ cel-
ebrated motion-capture
performance as the ape This file image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Woody Harrelson, center, in a scene from, “War for the Planet of the Apes.”
leader Caesar, “War for Associated Press
the Planet of the Apes” “Rise of the Planet of the edy “The Big Sick,” which from Broad Green Pic- in theaters following raptur-
won a 94 percent fresh rat- Planet of the Apes,” and expanded to about 2,600 tures, was the weekend’s ous early reactions.
ing on Rotten Tomatoes. well below the $72.6 million theaters after three weeks only other new release. It Estimated ticket sales for Fri-
Fox’s “Apes” led something debut of 2014’s “Dawn of of limited release. opened with $5.5 million day through Sunday at U.S.
of a summer anomaly: the Planet of the Apes.” The The Lionsgate-Amazon and a dismal C CinemaS- and Canadian theaters,
There is an unusual conflu- film, which cost about $150 Studios film, produced by core from audiences. according to comScore.
ence of acclaimed films in million to produce, added Judd Apatow, made $7.6 Next weekend may well Where available, the latest
release. Five of the top six $46 million from overseas. million — a rare success for continue the streak of well- international numbers also
at the box office (“Apes,” (“Spider-Man: Homecom- a comedy in a summer full reviewed summer releases. are included.
‘’Homecoming,” ‘’Baby ing” was still king overseas, of disappointment . Christopher Nolan’s World Final domestic figures will
Driver,” ‘’The Big Sick” and where it added $72.3 mil- The horror film “Wish Upon,” War II thriller “Dunkirk” lands be released Monday.q
“Wonder Woman”) boast lion to bring its global haul
Rotten Tomatoes rankings to nearly $500 million.)
of 92 or better, and the Aronson believes the good
sixth (“Despicable Me 3”) word-of-mouth will carry
was largely received as “War for the Planet of the
a solid enough family re- Apes.” ‘’At the end of the
lease. day, we’re going to have
Summer, rarely a critics’ a terrific multiple and it will
paradise, is suddenly flush be a lot closer to ‘Dawn’
with good movies. than it will be ‘Rise,’ “ he
“What I think sets the ‘Plan- said.
et of the Apes,’ these three Universal’s family sequel
films, apart from other fran- “Despicable Me 3” pulled
chise films, is that it’s not in $18.9 million in its third
gratuitous sequel-itis,” said week, bringing its cumula-
Chris Aronson, Fox’s distri- tive total to $188 million do-
bution chief. “This is story- mestically.
telling, and it’s episodic Sony’s Edgar Wright action
storytelling. comedy “Baby Driver” fol-
It’s not ‘Well, let’s put the lowed behind with $8.8 mil-
band back together.’ “ lion; its three week gross is
But there were also hints $73.2 million.
of franchise fatigue for the The weekend’s other
“Planet of the Apes” se- most notable new entrant
ries. Reeves’ latest edition was Kumail Nanjiani’s ac-
came in closer to 2012’s claimed romantic com-