'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' tops Aussie box office

Rise of the Planet of the Apes has topped the Australian box office this week.

The prequel to the original 1968 film, which stars James Franco and Andy Serkis, generated over $4.6 million in box office sales in its first week at the cinema, knocking last week's number one Captain America: The First Avenger down to third slot.

Second place is filled by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which broke records for the biggest opening day box office sales when it premiered in Australia last month.

New entry Red Dog made $1,780,296 in ticket sales, while Bad Teacher dropped from third place down to fifth this week.

At number six is Kristen Wiig and Rose Byrne comedy Bridesmaids, followed by Saoirse Ronan thriller Hanna, which generated $400,843 in box office sales.

The box office top ten in full (figures in Australian dollars):

1. (-) Rise of the Planet of the Apes - $4,684,258
2. (2) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - $2,263,723
3. (1) Captain America: The First Avenger - $2,125,120
4. (-) Red Dog - $1,780,296
5. (3) Bad Teacher - $991,592
6. (4) Bridesmaids - $446,766
7. (5) Hanna - $400,843
8. (6) Transformers: Dark of the Moon - $276,169
9. (7) Larry Crowne - $164,979
10. (8) Mr Popper's Penguins - $143,050

Watch the trailer for Rise of the Planet of the Apes below: