Will Smith's 'After Earth' opens at no. 1 in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Columbia Pictures’ “After Earth” starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith, rocketed to the No. 1 spot of the Philippine box-office, with a first-day gross of P8.72-million yesterday.

This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.

Described as the ultimate father and son adventure, “After Earth” dislodged “Fast and Furious 6” from the top box-office spot.

“After Earth” is on track to become one of Will Smith's biggest hits locally. “Coming off last year's blockbuster `Men in Black 3,' Will Smith is definitely on a roll,” said Cabrera. “The film's father-and-son theme is also expected to draw in family audiences, and this bodes well for a huge opening weekend.”

The biggest gross on opening day was recorded by Trinoma at P388,872 followed by SM North EDSA at P301,626 and Power Plant with P289,269.

The fourth to tenth place in the rankings are claimed by SM Megamall (P262,989), SM Mall of Asia (P245,070), Glorietta 4 (P242,280), Greenbelt 3 (P214,497), Alabang Town Center (P203,662), Ayala Cebu (P193,716) and Gateway Cineplex (P191,924).

Also posting impressive results are SM Cebu (P187,020), Robinsons Galleria (P172,051), Gaisano Davo (P152,178), SM Fairview (P148,054), Eastwood (P141,493), Market! Market! (P140,942), Robinsons Ermita (P138,945), SM Clark (P135,694), SM Southmall (P127,009) and Harbor Point (P126,160).

In “After Earth,” a crash landing leaves teenager Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) and his legendary father Cypher (Will Smith) stranded on Earth, 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity’s escape. With Cypher critically injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help, facing uncharted terrain, evolved animal species that now rule the planet, and an unstoppable alien creature that escaped during the crash. Father and son must learn to work together and trust one another if they want any chance of returning home.

Now playing across the Philippines, “After Earth” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.