‘Alien: Romulus’ Hits $100M, Overtakes ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

The ninth installment in the long-running “Alien” franchise, “Alien: Romulus,” has made a significant impact at the global box office, surpassing $100 million. The film opened domestically with a strong $41.5 million, making it the second-best opening weekend for the series. Its worldwide gross reached an impressive $108 million, largely driven by strong ticket sales in China, according to multiple outlets.

“Alien: Romulus” reportedly earned $18 million domestically on its opening day, including Friday and preview showings. By the end of the weekend, the film had exceeded its projected $40 million debut, marking the third notable summer opening for Disney. The movie’s performance in China was solid, with Deadline reporting a $25.7 million haul during its opening weekend, marking the second-best opening of any Hollywood film in China so far this year.

“Romulus” has set a new standard for the “Alien” franchise, delivering the second-best domestic opening weekend in the series’ history, trailing only 2012’s “Prometheus.” It surpassed the openings of both “Alien vs. Predator” from 2004, which earned $38.3 million, and 2017’s “Alien: Covenant,” which brought in $36.1 million.

In a surprising turn, “Alien: Romulus” dethroned “Deadpool & Wolverine” from the top spot in U.S. ticket sales for the first time in four weeks. The superhero film, however, continued to perform well, grossing an additional $29 million and securing second place. Following closely behind, “It Ends With Us” brought in $24 million domestically, placing third. “Twisters” came in fourth with $9.8 million, while an anniversary re-release of the cult-classic animated film “Coraline,” originally released 15 years ago, earned $8.9 million.

The “Alien” franchise has grossed $1.3 billion at the global box office, according to Box Office Mojo. This figure is not adjusted for inflation and highlights the enduring popularity of the series. With its $29 million haul this weekend, “Deadpool & Wolverine” has become the highest-grossing R-rated movie in history. Its total gross of $1.14 billion surpasses the 2018 film “Joker,” which earned $1.07 billion globally. A sequel to “Joker,” titled “Joker: Folie à Deux,” is slated for release later this year.

“It Ends With Us” experienced a drop to third place in its second weekend amid controversy involving its cast members. The film’s star, Blake Lively, has faced criticism for her promotional efforts, particularly her focus on her new hair care line, which some argue detracts from the movie’s serious themes of domestic violence and abuse. The internet has been abuzz with rumors of a fallout within the cast, fueled by reports that actor and director Justin Baldoni hired a crisis public relations manager. Despite the drama, “It Ends With Us” exceeded expectations in its opening weekend, grossing $50 million, although it still fell short of “Deadpool & Wolverine’s” $54.2 million.