#BOXOFFICE: MOVIEGOERS EXPERIENCE MONKEY MADNESS AS “DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES” OPENS BIG

It’s the dawn of a new beginning!  Dawn of the Planet of the Apes unquestionably dominates the Box Office this weekend with a $70 million-opening from 3,967 theatres for 20th Century Fox. By comparison the last Film in Franchise opened in 2011 with $53 million, meaning that Moviegoers truly have Monkey Madness!  Without any A-List Names in the Cast, the Blockbuster still managed to be and Critics rewarded it with a 91% on the Tomatometer and Audiences gave it an A CinemaScore.

Transformers: Age of Extinction in its third week, pulls-in $17 million for Paramount Pictures for second spot. It just surpasses the $200 million-mark earlier this week, tallying-in at $208 million domestically.

Tammy continues to perform well in third spot this weekend with $13 million in its second week in theatres for Warner Bros.  It edges close to the $60 million-mark cumulatively.

22 Jump Street continues to perform exceptionally well, showing some staying power.  In its fifth week it lands in fourth spot with $6.7 million for Sony Pictures. It has grossed over $171 million in North America thus far.

Earth to Echo places fifth this weekend for Relativity Media/eOne Films with $5.7 million in its second week out.

Begin Again, from the same people who brought us Once, opens in ninth spot with $5.3 million for The Weinstein Co. and eOne Films.  Starring Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Adam Levine in his Feature debut, Critics responded well to the Musical-Drama with an 80% Tomatometer score.

Jersey Boys, another Musical-Drama, rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.4 million for Warner Bros. from 1,968 theatres in its fourth week.