Alien: Romulus, the latest entry in the Alien franchise, has made a formidable debut, raking in US$108.2 million globally during its opening weekend. Directed by Fede Álvarez and distributed by 20th Century Studios and Disney, the film exceeded expectations, especially with a strong US$41.5 million from the domestic box office and an impressive US$66.7 million from international markets.
The film’s robust start was significantly boosted by its performance in China, where it garnered US$25.7 million, marking it as the second-best opening for a Hollywood movie in 2024. This early success also marks a significant career milestone for Álvarez, with Alien: Romulus being his biggest opening yet.
Alien: Romulus sits at a pivotal place in the Alien saga, unfolding between Ridley Scott’s original 1979 Alien and James Cameron’s 1986 Aliens. The story plunges a group of young colonists into a nightmare when they stumble upon a derelict space station and encounter the notorious alien creature. The cast features Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, and Spike Fearn, who together navigate the harrowing challenges posed by the iconic extraterrestrial antagonist.
Critically, the film has been well-received, earning a Certified Fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes and boasting an 82 per cent critics’ score. Audiences have also given it a near-franchise best B+ CinemaScore, indicating strong approval from moviegoers. Notably, Alien: Romulus managed to dethrone Deadpool & Wolverine from the top spot at the box office, where the Marvel film had reigned for three consecutive weeks.
Interestingly, Alien: Romulus was initially slated for a streaming release on Hulu but was shifted to a theatrical rollout, a decision that seems to have paid off given its box office performance. The film has not only attracted a younger male demographic but also appealed to older fans familiar with the franchise.
Elsewhere at the box office, Deadpool & Wolverine continued its impressive run, amassing US$1.142 billion worldwide and securing its position as the top-grossing R-rated film globally of all time. Meanwhile, It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively, held strong in its second week with a total of US$180 million globally. Twisters and the 15th-anniversary rerelease of Coraline also made notable impacts with a total of US$238.4 million and US$11.3 million respectively.
Overall, the weekend saw North American box office revenues hit about US$139 million, a significant increase over previous years, with summer box office figures showing a robust recovery. Disney’s Inside Out 2 remains the standout performer of the season, now the highest-grossing animated film internationally with US$1.625 billion, underscoring a successful period for cinematic releases.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
Kevin Low
