Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is off to a spectacular start with a dominating Friday at the box office, while Get On Up opened into third place.
The latest Walt Disney and Marvel flick grossed $37.8 million, with $11.2 million coming from Thursday previews. Forbes reports GOTG will set a new August opening record with a projected $92 million cume, which would be enough to rocket The Bourne Ultimatum's $69 million seven years ago.
The new franchise is performing on par with more entrenched properties this summer, helping to temporarily alleviate a struggling summer box office. The Chris Pratt-led film also has started off well overseas with a combined $11 million gross.
Last weekend's top film Lucy is on pace to snag the second spot for the weekend at the box office after a $5.5 million Friday. The film, which has a current domestic cume of $66 million, will likely gross about $16.5 million for the weekend.
The other wide release film on the weekend, Get On Up grossed $4.9 million, which is a decent enough start for the James Brown biopic. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Chadwick Boseman-starring film is projected to earn $14.5 million for the weekend.
Dwayne The Rock Johnson's Hercules dipped to fourth in its second weekend, grossing $3.2 million on Friday. The Paramount and MGM film will likely earn $11 million, bringing its domestic cume up to $52 million.
In the fifth box office spot is Dawn of the Planet of the Apes after a Friday gross of $2.4 million. The film has now earned $183 million.
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