Box Office Update: 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' Opening Weekend Rises to $54.8 Mil

The apes continue to defy expectations.

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Final domestic box office numbers show 20th Century Fox’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes grossing more for the weekend at than estimated on Sunday--$54.8 million, versus $54 million.

That means Rise of the Apes has narrowly edged past Paramount’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra to score the fourth best August opening of all time at the domestic box office.

Universal’s The Bourne Ultimatum is No. 1 ($69.3 million), followed by Rush Hour 2 ($67.4 million) and Signs ($60.1 million).

Directed by Rupert Wyatt and the first title from Chernin Entertainment, Rise of the Apes is one the summer’s biggest box office surprises, and nearly matched the $55.1 million opening of X-Men: First Class, Fox’s other 2011 summer tentpole.

Overseas, Rise of the Apes is off to an equally strong start, grossing $23.8 million as it rolled out in 25 territories, of which only four were major markets—Australia, Spain, Russia and Taiwan. This puts the movie’s worldwide opening at $78.6 million.

The $93 million pic was co-financed by Fox, Dune Entertainment and Ingenious.