One thing to consider when you look at this week’s numbers: Rise of the Planet of the Apes earned $54 million WITHOUT higher-priced 3D screenings. It seemed weird that they wouldn’t make it in 3D, but nice that I didn’t have to watch it in 3D (Captain America‘s 3D was like wearing sunglasses at night — sucked). But if you compare ROTPOTA to higher-grossing movies like Thor ($61 million with 60% of that from 3D) and Captain America ($65 million with 40% 3D), it was actually better attended. And it was better. I don’t know how it came to be that Fox made two of the best blockbusters this summer (ROTPOTA and X-Men: First Class), but it’s weirding me out. I want my country back. Okay, they also made Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Phew. For a second there, I thought I was going to have to put a cat pillow in the dog house.

Oh, and The Change-Up bombed. Shocking, right? Seemed like such a fresh concept, and everyone seemed to love it.

This Week
Last Week
Title
Weekend Gross% ChangeTheater Count / ChangeAverageTotal GrossBudget*Week #
1NRise of the Planet of the Apes$54,000,000-3,648-$14,803$54,000,000$931
22The Smurfs$21,000,000-41.0%3,395-$6,186$76,202,000$1102
31Cowboys & Aliens$15,748,000-56.8%3,754+4$4,195$67,368,000$1632
4NThe Change-Up$13,502,000-2,913-$4,635$13,502,000$521
53Captain America: The First Avenger$13,000,000-49.1%3,620-95$3,591$143,182,000$1403
64Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2$12,160,000-44.7%3,175-970$3,830$342,801,000-4
75Crazy, Stupid, Love.$12,100,000-36.7%3,020-$4,007$42,185,000$502
86Friends with Benefits$4,700,000-49.3%2,398-528$1,960$48,538,000$353
97Horrible Bosses$4,620,000-35.7%2,025-485$2,281$105,162,000$355
108Transformers: Dark of the Moon$3,015,000-50.5%1,854-750$1,626$344,173,000$1956

[via BoxOfficeMojo]

After the jump: FANTASY SUMMER BOX OFFICE standings.

Fantasy Box Office Standings:

Vince’s Picks:

1. Harry Potter ($168.5 million opening)
2. X-Men: First Class ($55.1 million)
3. Green Lantern ($53 million)
4. Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($54 million)
BOMB PICK: The Change Up ($52 million budget minus $13.5 million opening = $38.5 million)

Running Total: $369.1 million

Ben’s (The Ear Rapist) Picks:

1. Cars 2 ($66 million)
2. Super 8 ($35.45 million)
3. Zookeeper ($21 million)
4. Friends with Benefits ($18.6)
BOMB PICK: The Smurfs ($110 million budget minus $36.2 million = $73.8 million)

Running Total: $214.85

Brendan’s (Human Giant) Picks:

1. Transformers 3 ($98 million)
2. Captain America ($65 million)
3. Bad Teacher ($31 million)
4. Mr. Popper’s Penguins ($18.2 million)
BOMB PICK: Green Lantern ($200 million production budget minus $53 million gross = $147 million)

Running Total: $359.2 million

Bret’s (Grumpiest Man Alive) Picks:

1. Cowboys and Aliens ($36.2 million)
2. Smurfs ($36.2 million)
3. Spy Kids 4
4. Horrible Bosses ($28 million)
BOMB PICK: Transformers 3 ($195 million budget minus $98 million opening = – $97 million. A surprisingly decent pick).

Running Total: $197.4 million

Well unless Spy Kids makes like $200 in its opening weekend, it seems I have prevailed. I’d brag more, but last week I think I said I expected ROTPOTA to do between $30 and $40 million. Of course, that was before it turned out to be a dumb-but-fun movie. Who knows what it could’ve done if Fox hadn’t embargoed all the reviews until the night before the release. They treated it like a movie they didn’t expect anyone to like.