‘Transformers’ edge out ‘Spider-Verse’ to claim first place at box office

In the box office showdown this weekend, it was a tight race between Miles Morales and the Spider-Verse and the “Transformers.” Ultimately, the robots triumphed.

“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” the latest installment in the franchise, seized the No. 1 position during its opening weekend in North American cinemas, grossing $60.5 million, as per Sunday’s studio estimates. Not far behind, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” bagged an estimated $55.4 million in its second weekend.

Paramount Pictures unveiled “Rise of the Beasts” across 3,678 theaters beginning with Thursday previews. Set in the year 1994, it’s in effect a follow-up to the 1980s-oriented “Bumblebee,” as well as a prelude to the rest of the series. A rejuvenated cast, led by Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, and Steven Caple Jr. at the director’s helm, represent an effort to reinvent and infuse new vitality into the franchise worth $4.8 billion.

The film did not charm the critics, a common theme for this franchise. Rotten Tomatoes registered a lukewarm 52% rating.

The only installment to achieve a positive rating was “Bumblebee,” which ironically grossed the least. However, the audience’s reception was more favorable, awarding “Rise of the Beasts” an A- CinemaScore.

An opening of $60.5 million might appear insufficient for a $200 million production budget, but the real earnings for “Rise of the Beasts” are expected to come from overseas. Since 2011’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” international sales have constituted at least 70% of the worldwide box office total. Notably, two of the seven films, “Dark of the Moon” and 2014’s “Age of Extinction,” crossed the $1 billion mark.

The sequel to Sony’s “Spider-Verse” saw a decline of approximately 54%. Despite that, in just two weeks, it has already outperformed the total domestic box office earnings of its predecessor with $225.4 million in ticket sales and set a new record for Sony Pictures Animation. Bolstered by positive reviews, “Spider-Verse” is predicted to have a prolonged run at the box office.

Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” secured third place, making $23 million in its third weekend across 4,320 locations in the U.S. and Canada. The live-action film’s global earnings stand at $414.2 million so far.

Rounding out the top five were two other Walt Disney Co. releases – “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” in fourth place with $7 million in its sixth weekend, and “The Boogeyman,” in its second weekend, in fifth place with $6.9 million.

The summer movie season promises to get more exciting with major releases nearly every week. Up next for family audiences is Pixar’s “Elemental,” while superhero fans can look forward to “The Flash.”

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More about Weekend Box Office Results

• Box Office Mojo: Get detailed box office information and performance analysis.
• Rotten Tomatoes: Read aggregated movie reviews and ratings from critics and audiences.
• IMDb: Explore movie details, cast information, and more.
• Paramount Pictures: Official website of Paramount Pictures, the studio behind “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.”
• Sony Pictures Animation: Official website of Sony Pictures Animation, the studio behind “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”
• Disney: Official website of The Walt Disney Company, the studio behind “The Little Mermaid,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” and “The Boogeyman.”
• Pixar: Official website of Pixar Animation Studios, the studio behind “Elemental.”
• DC Comics: Official website of DC Comics, the source material for “The Flash” movie.