Apes reign supreme at the box office, leaving stuntmen in the dust

Nobody expected such a turn of events. As the summer season just began in North American cinemas, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" by Wes Ball continues to dominate, true to its name. Conversely, the anticipated blockbuster "Stuntman," despite its star-studded cast, is performing below expectations. The financial outcomes of these two films are astonishing, albeit for different reasons.

As we mentioned a few days ago, the success of "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" surpassed predictions. Wes Ball's movie generated a profit of CA$75.2 million in the States and CA$96.4 million internationally, totalling a worldwide debut of CA$171.6 million. The premiere emerged as the season's most awaited event, especially when it became evident that "Stuntman" by David Leitch could not rival it.

Initially, the film starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt (both highly acclaimed after the awards season, having featured in 2023's biggest hits, "Barbie" by Greta Gerwig and "Oppenheimer" by Christopher Nolan, respectively) was the frontrunner. However, the first summer release only managed to earn approximately CA$ 35.9 million in a few days, falling short of the anticipated CA$ 42.4–46.5 million, which the industry deemed a disappointment.

The triumph of "Kingdom..." is undoubtedly linked to its roots in the successful series from 2011–2017, comprising "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" by Rupert Wyatt and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" and "War for the Planet of the Apes" by Matt Reeves. Before that, in the late '60s and '70s, five additional movies were released, followed by a series in the second half of the '70s and a film by Tim Burton in 2001. Hence, the "Ape" universe is vast.

No wonder most of its audience consists of older men, though, as The Hollywood Reporter mentioned, younger viewers are also showing interest. Made for CA$212.8 million (excluding marketing expenses), it boasts a smaller budget than the last two blockbusters by Reeves, yet achieved a better financial outcome. "Dawn" garnered CA$72.1 million, and "War" CA$74.8 million.

"Stuntman" secured the second spot in the box office rankings with an estimated income of about CA$66.1 million. Combined with international market revenues, its profits reach ca$136.8 million. A shift in marketing strategy to highlight the romantic aspects slightly improved its performance, attracting more female viewers.

The third place is occupied by "Challengers" by Luca Guadagnino, with a total worldwide revenue of CA$91.3 million (including CA$51 million in the States alone). Fourth place goes to the horror "Tarot: Death Card" by Spencer Cohen and Anna Halberg, earning CA$26.6 million, while fifth place is taken by "Godzilla vs. Kong: New Empire" by Adam Wingard, with over CA$252.4 million in domestic earnings.