War for the Planet of the Apeshas been, well, at war withSpider-Man: Homecomingthis weekend at the box office. Estimates had pegged both movies to make somewhere in the upper $50 million range over the weekend withHomecomingstill being powered by immense positive reception and the fact that it’s a Marvel joint, even in its second frame. Nevertheless, the beloved web-slinger was sent to the second spot in its second weekend, making an estimated $45.2 million by the end of today, whileMatt Reeves' exceptional thirdApesfilm took the top spot with $56.5 million.
Though the story arc ofWar for the Planet of the Apesis familiar, grim, and more than a little predictable as things get going toward the climax, it’s hard to overstate just how strange the movie is as a blockbuster. There’s very little dialogue in the film and an astounding amount of sign language, and whereas past movies hinged on men and women who wanted peace, this film places the apes as the clear heroes of the story. Reeves' work with CGI and motion-capture is simply head and shoulders above every other film currently in theaters and most that have been released this decade. If the Academy were to ever give over a statue for motion-capture performance,Andy Serkis' work in this film would be the clearest example of the form’s artistry. It will likely go down as the most thrilling and ambitious big-studio release of the summer alongsideEdgar Wright’sBaby DriverandWonder Woman.
Speaking of which, Wright’s hugely entertaining caper is holding strong in the fourth spot with $8.7 million, right belowDespicable Me 3with $18.9 million in its third frame. And in the fifth spot with $7.6 million, as seemed clear yesterday, isThe Big Sick,Michael Showalter’s lovely romantic comedy, which has proven to be one of the most uniformly beloved movies to be released this year. It’s made a move from a specialty box office hit to being a genuine contender on the big stage, even narrowly beating out Broad Green’sWish Upon, an inoffensive and not particularly memorable horror film. Sure, the franchises are still ruling the box office, but victories likeThe Big Sick’s ascension on the list gives hope and even inspiration to those who want to see a more diverse set of films at multiplexes nationwide, not only in metropolitan areas.
Here’s your top five:
Weekend Domestic BO
Total Domestic BO
- ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’
$56,500,000
2. ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’
$45,200,000
$208,270,314
3. ‘ Despicable Me 3’
$18,947,840
$187,989,990
4. ‘Baby Driver’
$8,750,000
$73,151,857
5. ‘The Big Sick’
$7,600,000
$16,036,824
