Alien: Romulus has ousted Deadpool and Wolverine from the top spot at the US box office after the Marvel film enjoyed a three-week reign.
The latest chapter in the Alien saga raked in $41.5 million at the US box office during its opening weekend, as well as an impressive $108.2 million worldwide, according to Variety.
Cinema-goers have been eagerly awaiting the newest instalment in the franchise, flocking to theatres in droves since its global release on Friday. It is the seventh film in the sci-fi series and bridges the gap between the events of Alien, released in 1979, and Aliens, which debuted in 1986.
The plot centres around a group of young space colonists seeking better living conditions who encounter hostile creatures while exploring a deserted space station.
Reportedly produced on a budget of $80 million, the movie has already turned a profit for its creators, surpassing that figure by over $20 million, reports the Mirror.
The film features Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu in leading roles.
The sci-fi horror flick has yet to outperform the previous movie in the franchise, with Alien: Covenant (2017) earning $240.9 million at the box office.
Meanwhile, Deadpool and Wolverine hit theatres on July 26 and amassed a staggering $211 million in its debut, making it the sixth-biggest opening weekend of all time.
Marvel Studios’ latest release has not only shattered records but has also eclipsed Joker’s 2019 earnings, claiming the title of the highest-grossing R-rated movie in history.
The elated president of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, expressed his gratitude on social media with a heartfelt message to fans: “Thanks for making Marvel Studios’ first R-rated movie the biggest of all time. It’s fantastic to see that audiences are loving this movie as we all loved making it.”
Feige fondly reflected on the journey to success, saying, “All those conversations were worth it,” as he concluded his message with a signature on an exclusive Marvel Studios note.
Continuing its box office dominance, the film added a colossal $29 million to its already staggering total during its third weekend, although it slipped to second place. Meanwhile, Blake Lively’s thriller ‘It Ends With Us’ secured the third spot with a global tally of $180 million.
Alien: Romulus is in cinemas now.