The latest instalment in the legendary “Alien” franchise, Alien: Romulus, has taken the box office by storm, raking in a massive $108.2 million USD globally during its opening weekend. Directed by Fede Alvarez, the film not only exceeded expectations but also marked one of the most successful openings for the series, trailing only behind Prometheus.
Box Office Breakdown
Alien: Romulus pulled in $41.5 million domestically (US), making it the second-highest domestic opening for the franchise. Internationally, the film earned an impressive $66.7 million, with China leading the charge at $25.7 million. Other top-performing markets included Korea, the UK, France, and Mexico.
The movie’s success was further bolstered by strong word of mouth and critical reviews, particularly in China, where it became the second-best opening for a Hollywood film in 2024. The film’s robust performance was surprising, given the overall downturn in the box office compared to last summer. The international audience responded well to Alvarez’s take on the sci-fi horror, which leaned heavily into the series’ horror roots.
IMAX and Beyond
The film also saw significant success in IMAX, generating $16.8 million globally. This made it the second-highest worldwide start for an August release in the IMAX format. IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond credited Disney’s marketing strategy for the strong turnout, praising the fresh spin Alvarez brought to the beloved franchise.
Deadpool & Wolverine’s Continued Success
Despite Alien: Romulus knocking it off the top spot, Deadpool & Wolverine continued its box office reign, now sitting at a whopping $1.143 billion worldwide. The film added another $29 million domestically (US) over the weekend, solidifying its position as the highest-grossing R-rated movie globally.
It Ends With Us Blossoms Worldwide
Sony’s romantic drama It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively, held strong with a $33.1 million international haul, bringing its global total to $180 million. The film has outpaced similar titles like Girl on the Train and Where the Crawdads Sing, especially in key European markets such as Germany and France.
Despicable Me 4 and Inside Out 2 Hit Milestones
Despicable Me 4 crossed the $500 million mark internationally, making it one of only three films to do so this year, while Inside Out 2 became the highest-grossing animated film of all time internationally, surpassing Frozen 2.
Looking Ahead
As Alien: Romulus continues its global rollout, industry insiders will be watching closely to see if it can maintain its momentum and possibly surpass the franchise’s previous benchmarks. With upcoming releases in major markets like Italy and Japan, the film’s journey is far from over. Meanwhile, the box office remains lively with strong performances from Deadpool & Wolverine, It Ends With Us, and several animated hits, signalling a robust finish to the summer movie season.
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