NORTH AMERICA: ‘Lucy’ Strong with $48.9M in Four Days; $33.1M for ‘Hercules’ Over the Same Span

Universal’s Lucy took in $4.97 million on Monday to lead the daily box office for a fourth consecutive day. The modestly budgeted sci-fi action film starring Scarlett Johansson fell 58 percent from Sunday. Lucy continues to exceed expectations with a strong four-day start of $48.87 million and will zoom past the $50 million mark today. The film is currently running 22 percent ahead of the $40.13 million four-day take of 2010’s Salt.

Hercules continued to hold its own with a second place take of $3.34 million. The Dwayne Johnson led 3D action-adventure film from Paramount and MGM did fall 61 percent from Sunday, which represented the day’s poorest daily percentage hold among wide releases. Hercules has grossed a stronger than expected $33.14 million in four days. That places the film 8 percent behind the $36.03 million four-day start of 2012’s Wrath of the Titans.

Fox’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes took third place with $2.21 million. The critically acclaimed 3D sci-fi action sequel was down 58 percent from Sunday and down a so-so 47 percent from last Monday. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has clearly taken a bit of a hit from the stronger than expected performances of Lucy and Hercules. With that said the film continues to exceed expectations with $174.67 million in 18 days.

Universal’s The Purge: Anarchy claimed fourth with $1.53 million. The low budget horror sequel was down just 50 percent from Sunday and down a respectable 54 percent from last Monday. The Purge: Anarchy continues to perform well and has now grossed $53.39 million in eleven days. That places the film just ahead of the $53.14 million eleven-day take of last year’s The Purge.

Planes: Fire and Rescue followed closely behind in fifth with $1.499 million. The modestly budgeted computer animated sequel from Disney fell 51 percent from Sunday and just 19 percent from last Monday. With an eleven-day take of $36.85 million, Planes: Fire and Rescue is currently running 21 percent behind the $46.76 million eleven-day gross of last year’s Planes.