Is the Alien franchise resurrected? Released only three weeks ago, “Alien: Romulus” has created a storm at the box office and is now trumpeting its name as the highest grossing horror film of the year. This new chapter of the Xenomorphs has earned a huge amount of money for 20th Century Studios, giving horror movie lovers a new thrill experience. It has set a new benchmark for the horror genre in its first week itself.
According to Bloody Disgusting editor-in-chief John Squires, “Alien: Romulus” has grossed $285.3 million worldwide so far, making it the highest-grossing horror film of the year. That figure has surpassed the total of the previous record holder, “A Quiet Place: Day One.” The film has grossed an impressive $90.6 million at the domestic box office while earning $194.7 million in international markets.
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“Alien: Romulus” has done particularly well in China, where it has grossed $93.1 million. And all of this on a mere $80 million budget, which is minuscule by Hollywood standards. This proves that with an impressive script and brilliant direction, even a low-budget film can achieve massive success.
Alien: Romulus: A resounding success in the journey from Hulu to theaters
When “Alien: Romulus” was announced in 2022, the film was planned to be released on the Hulu streaming service. Director Fede Alvarez said at the time that the situation of movie theaters was sluggish after the pandemic, so it would launch on streaming only. However, the increasing number of viewers and the improvement in the situation of theaters changed the direction of the film’s release. According to Alvarez, “This film was going to be an ambitious film for the streaming platform, but when everyone heard that it would come to theaters, everyone expressed happiness.”
After the film’s release, “Alien: Romulus” received rave reviews from critics. An 80 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a box office debut of $42 million made it the franchise’s second-highest opening. It established itself as a major player, surpassing “Prometheus.” Especially in China, where Hollywood films have not been as successful in recent years, “Alien: Romulus” has impressed.
The film’s performance among Chinese audiences has been particularly significant. After “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”, “Alien: Romulus” is the only Hollywood film that has made an impact in China. It is also worth mentioning that “The New Empire” is produced by Legendary Entertainment, a Chinese-owned company. “Romulus” has set a new standard in China, far surpassing the performance of Hollywood films in recent years.
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Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, “Alien: Romulus” grossed over $11 million and ranked second in the weekend’s box office. Domestically, the film has grossed $90.6 million, surpassing the previous film “Alien: Covenant” ($74.2 million domestic, $240.8 million global). This shows that the popularity of the “Alien” franchise and audience interest is still strong.
The journey of “Alien: Romulus” has proven that the success of a film is not limited to the release platform. Whether it is streaming or in theaters, the right story and audience preference determine the fate of the film. This film has taken the “Alien” franchise in a new direction and also provided audiences with a new cinematic experience.
