Movie

Three new entries, 'The Purge: Anarchy', 'Planes: Fire and Rescue' as well as 'Sex Tape', are not even close to unseating the smart-simian sequel.

• Jul 21, 2014

AceShowbiz - "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" rules the North American box office for second weekend with $36 million. The three new releases this week including "The Purge" sequel could not compete with the 20th Century Fox hit.

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" benefited from strong reviews and strong performance of its prequels, dipping 50 percent from its $72.6 million opening last week. Made on a $170 million budget, the sequel to 2011's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" has grossed $138.9 million so far.

Closest to dethroning "Dawn" was "The Purge: Anarchy". The horror thriller debuts in second place with $28.4 million. Costing $9 million to make, "Anarchy" is the first horror film since last September to open to more than $20 million although it could not compete with the first movie's $34.1 million opening.

"I think people got caught up in the first one, and they came to see the second one," said Nikki Rocco, Universal's president of domestic distribution. "We are really pleased with the results. The marketplace has been very difficult for these types of films. ...There's always a built-in audience when it comes to horror. But maybe there's been nothing compelling until now."

The other two new releases, "Planes: Fire & Rescue" and "Sex Tape", landed at number three and four respectively with disappointing numbers. "Planes" from Walt Disney Pictures took in $18 million while Columbia Pictures' "Sex Tape" earned $15 million. Rounding up the top 5 box office weekend is "Transformers: Age of Extinction" which adds $10 million to its $227.2 million total gross.

1. "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" - $36 million
2. "The Purge: Anarchy" - $28.4 million
3. "Planes: Fire & Rescue" - $18 million
4. "Sex Tape" - $15 million
5. "Transformers: Age of Extinction" - $10 million
6. "Tammy" - $7.6 million
7. "22 Jump Street" - $4.7 million
8. "How to Train Your Dragon 2" - $3.8 million
9. "Maleficent" - $3.3 million
10. "Earth to Echo" - $3.3 million