Box Office: ‘Havoc of the Planet of the Apes’ Lands at No. 1 With Soft $22 Million

Variety 

Disney/Fox’s “Havoc on the Planet of the Apes” had an underwhelming liftoff at the domestic box office. The motion-captured spin-off film debuted with $22 million ($35 million including Wednesday and Thursday) from 4,004 North American theaters, below expectations heading into the weekend.

While that was easily enough to top the domestic box office, it marks the lowest start among the franchise’s previous films. To compare, 2014’s “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” debuted with $72 million, 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes” opened with $56 million, and 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” launched with $54 million.

Earlier estimates had indicated that “Havoc” could surpass $50 million in its first five days of release. Part of the reason for the softer opening is likely that the general interest of the franchise diminished since the last release.

“Havoc” carries a $170 million production budget, so the apes will have to resonate overseas should “Havoc” fail to pick up steam at the domestic box office. The movie launched in most international territories this weekend, amassing $103 million from foreign markets for a global start of $139 million.