The failure of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to kick on and repeat the exploits it once made fueled concerns about Disney Studios’ outlook. The last thing you want is for your leading franchise to drop the ball. But the studio can put the ghosts of the MCU to bed (for now at least) and celebrate a success that acts as a much-needed succor to the team – the blockbuster opening week of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
The hype for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was unreal
It seems like a rampage of apes is all set to rule the box office this year.
Wes Ball’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has made waves already, earning $129 million on its worldwide opening weekend. Fans have flocked to the theatres in large numbers to prove how content they are with the stories that have been coming their way. After all who doesn’t want to see more of the apes in action?
After the trilogy focusing on Andy Serkis’s Caesar came to an end with 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, fans were left wanting for more. And they finally got the reward for their patience after 7 years, with the movie starring Freya Allen and Owen Teague. And they couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes set the ball rolling
The trailer of the latest entrant created enough hype amongst the fans prompting them to go gung-ho about the flick. A testimony to this hype is the sheer number of people who went on to watch the movie on its opening weekend. And they weren’t disappointed.
‘KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES’ earned $129M on its worldwide box office opening weekend.
The film had a $160M budget. pic.twitter.com/EMoNIsj7sy
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) May 12, 2024
Word has it that this film has set us up for another blockbuster trilogy revolving around the ‘Planet of the Apes’. This means that people are already in on the project. Another thing that the movie has got going for itself is word of mouth. Largely positive reviews, coupled with a sense of nostalgia, mean the movie has all that it takes to even top the charts this year.
Disney is ready to bounce back
These figures are a good sign for Disney, which was in the doldrums last year, courtesy of the lackluster performance of the MCU. With a dominant run at the Box Office, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes might even surpass Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. What a turnaround in fortunes it is for Disney.
After a weak 2023, 2024 is the year Disney is back on top.
— Timothy Osborne (@TimothyBOsborne) May 12, 2024
We need Ape only movies now; Ape rom-coms, ape sport movies, ape political thrillers, slasher flicks pic.twitter.com/FrvsrG0csK
— lasthavenmedia (@carpingobserver) May 12, 2024
The opening was ok.. that 500m milestone is still doable 👏 https://t.co/tpEiyR6qRE
— Box Office Forecast 🎬 (@BoxOfficeFcst) May 12, 2024
The success of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will give the people in power at Disney a lot to think about. Apart from being a silver lining, it shows how in the current era of superhero fatigue, looking for other alternatives might be the way forward.
