As the movie industry claws to match last year’s total revenue, each week’s major releases become essential building blocks toward that $10.9 million. The next film that has a chance to boost numbers for 2014 much higher is “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” which comes out July 11.
The Planet of the Apes franchise already has a history of success that dates back to the original picture, which starred Charlton Heston and was released in 1968. Its domestic total gross was $38.6 million, which was an impressive success for that time.
One good sign for the seventh picture in the franchise is that domestic box office numbers for the series has risen with each release. The exceptions are the most recent two. “Planet of the Apes” 2001 posted total domestic ticket sales of $180 million. “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” released in 2011 did $176.8 million. According to Box Office Mojo, adjusted for inflation, the series has brought in $867.7 million.
Box Office Mojo has great hopes for the latest installment. In its summer 2014 forecast, its editors reported:
With goodwill from the first installment and a strong mid-July release date, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes should top its predecessor’s domestic gross. Thanks to the addition of 3D, look for big gains overseas as well. (Domestic: $240 million, Foreign: $460 million)
As a rule, it is better for a major film to be part of a franchise than not. The seven most successful movies of 2014 prove that — among them “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” in first place so far, “X-Men: Days of Future Past” in third place, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” in fifth place and the recently released “Transformers: Age of Extinction” in seventh place.
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” should be one of the 20 most successful movies of 2014, giving the movie industry a chance to match last year’s total take.
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