IMAX moviegoers worldwide have felt the terrifying embrace of Disney/20th Century’sAlien: Romulus, as the film gestated a staggering $16.8 million at the IMAX box office, accounting for a chest-bursting 15.5% of the global opening weekend total. This impressive performance marks the second-highest global opening ever for IMAX in the month of August, signaling the enduring appeal of theAlienfranchise.Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX, expressed enthusiasm about the film’s success, stating:
“Disney’s strategy to lean into IMAX in its marketing paid off in a big way — with our network driving strong double-digit share of the box office around the world, including China. Fede Álvarez delivered one of the best entries in this series and Disney successfully leveraged IMAX to help put a fresh spin on this beloved, long-running franchise.”
Alien: Romulus, the latest addition to the 45-year-old franchise, was presented entirely in the exclusive IMAX expanded aspect ratio, providing a visually immersive experience that resonated with a new generation of moviegoers. The film earned $7.3 million from 400 screens in North America alone, making up a substantial 17.6% of the domestic total. International markets also showed strong support, withRomulusopening to $9.5 million, including a significant $5 million from the IMAX China network, representing 23% of the total box office in the region. The success ofAlien: Romulusis expected to continue as it remains on IMAX screens globally, with the film set to debut in India later this week.
The movie currently sits at a “fresh” 81% score on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, with the audience score standing at a slightly better 86%.Alien: Romulusalso earned a B+ CinemaScore from opening day crowds, the best in almost 40 years for the franchise.In his review, Collider’sRoss Bonaimewrote that the film “has a promising beginning and end, but the middle gets a bit too muddled in nostalgia for this franchise.”
What Else Played in IMAX This Week?
In other IMAX news, Disney/Marvel’sDeadpool & Wolverinecontinues to claw its way up the charts, crossing $81 million in IMAX global box office, solidifying its place as one of the all-time Top 25 IMAX titles.
Meanwhile, the Chinese market saw a more modest debut withDetective Conan: Million Dollar Pentagram, which opened to $500K while sharing IMAX screens withAlien: Romulus, bringing the IMAX cumulative total to $5.1 million in China. This week, IMAX will also host the opening ofFilmnation/Lionsgate’sThe Crowon 625 screens across 44 markets, including North America, the UK, the Middle East, Mexico, and Brazil.
Stay tuned at Collider for further box office updates.
Alien: Romulus
In Alien: Romulus, a crew of space explorers lands on a distant, uncharted planet, only to uncover a horrifying secret lurking beneath the surface. As they delve deeper into the alien environment, they encounter deadly creatures and ancient ruins that hint at a terrifying history. The team’s survival becomes a desperate battle against the relentless xenomorphs, forcing them to rely on their wits and technology to escape the nightmarish world.
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