Los Angeles, California – Sources report that the highly anticipated film “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” from 20th Century Studios has had a strong start during its previews, bringing in approximately $6.5 million. This figure includes earnings from Thursday night showings that began at 3 PM, along with around $1.6 million from special fan screenings held on Wednesday evening.
This sequel, directed by Wes Ball and rated PG-13, is set 300 years after the events depicted in the previous installment, “War for the Planet of the Apes.” With a promising Thursday night performance, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” has surpassed the preview earnings of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” signaling a potentially successful opening weekend.
Critically, the film has garnered positive reviews, holding an 82% rating both with critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. This positive reception bodes well for its performance at the box office, especially in comparison to recent disappointing openings like Universal’s “Fall Guy.”
Notably, the Thursday night earnings for “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” mark a career best for director Wes Ball, exceeding the success of his previous works in the “Maze Runner” series. The film’s runtime of 2 hours and 25 minutes will be a crucial factor in maintaining audience engagement and sustaining momentum throughout the weekend.
As the industry eagerly awaits the official box office numbers for the film’s opening weekend, the strong preview performance indicates a promising start for “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” and suggests potential success in the days to come.