NORTH AMERICA: Impressive $134.4M for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ in Seven Days

Guardians of the Galaxy took in $7.63 million on Thursday to lead the daily box office for a seventh consecutive day. The blockbuster 3D sci-fi superhero film from Disney and Marvel was down 13 percent from Wednesday. It should be noted that wide releases in general experienced sizable daily percentage declines on Thursday due in part to both Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Warner’s Into the Storm entering the marketplace on Thursday evening. Guardians of the Galaxy rocketed to a stronger than expected first week performance of $134.39 million. That places the film an impressive 14 percent ahead of the $117.61 million seven-day start of Captain America: The Winter Soldier earlier this year.

Universal’s Lucy held steady in a distant second with $1.68 million. The modestly budgeted sci-fi action film starring Scarlett Johansson fell 12 percent from Wednesday and 48 percent from last Thursday. Lucy placed in second for the week with $26.74 million. That was down a sizable 56 percent from the previous frame, but brings the film’s two-week total to a strong $88.02 million. Lucy is currently running 9 percent ahead of the $80.88 million two-week take of 2010’s Salt.

Hercules took in $0.89 million to remain in third place. The Dwayne Johnson led 3D action-adventure film from Paramount and MGM was down 23 percent from Wednesday and a sharp 58 percent from last Thursday. Hercules finished in fourth for the week with $16.11 million. That was down 61 percent from the previous frame and brings the film’s two-week total to a respectable $57.76 million.

Universal’s Get on Up claimed fourth place with $0.80 million. The James Brown biopic starring Chadwick Boseman decreased 16 percent from Wednesday. Get on Up finished in third for the week with a seven-day start of $17.91 million. That was below pre-release expectations and was a disappointing 50 percent softer than the $36.03 million seven-day take of last year’s 42.

Fox’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes rounded out the day’s unchanged top five with $0.74 million. The 3D sci-fi action sequel fell 22 percent from Wednesday and 54 percent from last Thursday. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes continues to exceed expectations with a 28-day take of $193.43 million. That leaves the film just $6.57 million away from reaching the $200 million domestic milestone.