by 
Updated on December 10, 2021
As expected, “Guardians of the Galaxy” dominated the box office this weekend, with a $94 million domestic debut. Overseas, the film starring Rocket Raccoon and friends has earned $66.4 million, for a global total of $160.4 million. Forbes notes that its success might indicate that August could be more than just a late-summer film dumping ground. I saw “Guardians” yesterday and enjoyed it, along with the audience in the crowded theater. “Guardians” will probably fall off next weekend, though, given stiff competition/a sizable number of other films opening.
Elsewhere, “Lucy” earned 100% of its second-place earnings of $18.3 million, for a total of $79.6 million domestic and $5.1 million overseas, for a global total of $84.7 million. Again, no Black Widow film?
The James Brown biopic “Get On Up” has earned $14 million in third place on its opening weekend.
“Hercules” came in fourth place, earning $10.7 million, for a total to date of $52.3 million domestically and $56.5 million overseas, or a global total of $108.8 million. Again, it’ll probably do better overseas.
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” starring the talking apes, came in fifth place, earning $8.7 million. Its domestic total stands at $189.3 million and overseas total at $258.2 million, for a global total of $447.5 million.
“Planes: Fire & Rescue” came in sixth place, earning $6.4 million. Its domestic total is at $47.6 million and overseas total at $30 million, for a global total of $77.6 million.
“Transformers: Age of Extinction” finally fell out of the top 10, but its $1 billion+ global total now puts it as the 18th top earning film of all time (non-inflation-adjusted), surpassing “The Dark Knight.” If curious, three-fourths of “Extinction”‘s earnings came from outside North America, just like the much-lower-grossing film “Pacific Rim.” “Rim” made $101.8 million here and was considered a flop (per its $190 million budget), but made $309.2 million overseas, for a global total of $411 million…enough to earn it a sequel (and other media spinoffs). Guess non-North Americans really like giant fighting robots?
Next week sees various films opening, including thriller “Into the Storm,” drama “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” and another “Step Up” film (“Step Up All In”) that’ll surely do better overseas than in North America. “All In”‘s already earned $26 million overseas. The biggest opening next weekend, however, poses the most competition to the talking raccoon and talking apes: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” starring the hideous-looking (in my opinion) CGI-rendered talking turtles.
