Xenomorph in “Alien: Romulus.”
Alien Romulus is looking to take the box office crown from Deadpool & Wolverine with more than $40 million in its debut weekend.
According to Deadline, Alien: Romulus—the seventh film in the Alien franchise—earned $18 million on Friday and is projected to make $40 million to $42 million in domestic ticket sales through Sunday.
Produced by original Alien director Ridley Scott and co-written and directed by Fede Alvarez, Alien: Romulus follows a group of young renegades who are looking to scavenge cryo pods from an abandoned space outpost so they can use them to permanently leave their mining colony.
Once the group boards the outpost, they inadvertently unleash hundreds of Facehugger Xenomorphs who instantly go on the attack.
Set between the events of 1979’s Alien and 1986’s Aliens, Alien: Romulus stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu.
Released by 20th Century Studios, Alien: Romulus is playing in 3,885 theaters domestically.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Drops To No. 2
Another 20th Century release—Deadpool & Wolverine—is looking to drop to No. 2 at the weekend box office after dominating theaters since its opening on July 26.
Per Deadline, Deadpool & Wolverine is projected to make $27 million in 3,960 North American theaters in the Friday-Sunday frame, boosting its domestic tally to $543.8 million.
Last week’s No. 2 film, Columbia Pictures/Wayfarer Studios’ romantic drama It Ends With Us, dropped to No. 3 at the weekend box office.
According to Columbia parent Sony Pictures Entertainment, the Blake Lively film is projected to make $24 million at 3,739 North American theaters. If the estimate holds, it will boost the film’s domestic tally to $97.7 million to date.
Universal Pictures’ weather disaster blockbuster Twisters is projected by Deadline to take the No. 4 spot at this weekend’s box office with $9.2 million in ticket sales in 3,483 theaters.
Deadline projects that the re-release of Focus Features/Laika Studios’ stop-motion animated classic Coraline will finish at No. 5 with $8.3 million in domestic ticket sales in 1,535 theaters. The re-release has earned $11.4 million to date.
Distributed by Fathom Events, director Henry Selick’s film headed back into theaters to celebrate the 15th anniversary. Dakota Fanning voices the title character in the supernatural family adventure.
Note: This box office report will be updated on Sunday with final domestic and international estimates. The final numbers for this weekend’s box office will be released on Monday.