"RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES" DOESN'T MONKEY AROUND AT BOX OFFICE

Still from Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is an easy Winner at the Box Office this weekend, taking in $54 million in its debut for 20th Century Fox. Reviews also have been strong for the Film starring James Franco  and Freida Pinto with an 81% rating on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes; it was made for $90 million and likely will earn this back soon.

The Smurfs 3-D is second in its second week with $21 million for Sony Pictures, edging out last week's champion Cowboys and Aliens, which brought in $15.7 million this weekend.

In fourth spot in a soft opening is Comedy The Change-Up starring Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds with $13.5 million, landing just ahead of Captain America: The First Avenger which in its third week earns $13 million - a total domestic gross of $143 million.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. slips to sixth spot for Warner Bros. with $12 million. It has yet to earn back its $50 million budget with a tally of $41.6 in North America, but also it hasn't opened overseas yet also.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Transformers: Dark of the Moon with $3.0 million in its sixth week. To-date it has earned a staggering $344.5 million.

"THE SMURFS 3-D" AND "COWBOYS & ALIENS" BATTLE TOOTH AND NAIL

Still from The Smurfs 3-D

Critics hated them both but Moviegoers loved them both equally... one just a little more than the other.  In one of the tightest finishes at the Box Office in recent memory, Universal Pictures' Cowboys and Aliens, starring Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, fought tooth and nail to edge out The Smurfs 3-D with $36.4 million.  The former  was panned by Critics with a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while the latter equally was torn to shreds with an 18% consensus on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer. The Motion Picture based on those lovable blue creatures who many in the '80s grew-up watching, earned $35.6 million for Sony Pictures.  

Last week's champion Captain America: The First Avenger slips to third spot with $25 million in its second week, bringing its tally to $110 million in North America.  The Marvel adaptation was made for $140 million.

Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 finished just ahead in fourth of another Film from the studio, Crazy Stupid Love. The Rom-Com perhaps had the misfortune of opening on a busy weekend, but it still debuts in a dignified fifith with $18.6 million.  This one looks to be a stayer with many positive reviews pouring in.

Friends with Benefits in its second week, slips to sixth spot with $9.3 million for Sony Pictures, earning $38 million total thus far, just making back its $35 million invested in production costs.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Disney's Cars 2, with $2.5 million earned this weekend.  To-date the Film has made $354 million worldwide in six weeks.