Alien: Romulus tops box office, dethroning Deadpool and Wolverine after three-week reign

The film has yet to surpass the earnings of the last installment, Alien: Covenant (2017), which grossed $240.9 million

Alien: Romulus has dethroned Deadpool and Wolverine from the top position at the US box office after the Marvel film enjoyed a three-week reign. 

The latest installment in the Alien saga earned $41.5 million during its opening weekend in the US and an impressive $108.2 million worldwide, according to Variety.

Fans have eagerly anticipated the new chapter in the franchise, flocking to theaters since its global release on Friday. This seventh film in the sci-fi series acts as a bridge between the events of the original Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). The story follows a group of young space colonists searching for better living conditions who encounter hostile creatures while exploring an abandoned space station.

Produced on a reported budget of $80 million, the movie has already turned a profit, surpassing its production costs by over $20 million, according to The Mirror. The film stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu in lead roles.

Despite its success, the film has yet to surpass the earnings of the previous installment, Alien: Covenant (2017), which grossed $240.9 million at the box office.

Meanwhile, Deadpool and Wolverine hit theaters on July 26 and earned a staggering $211 million in its debut, making it the sixth-biggest opening weekend of all time. Marvel Studios' latest release not only shattered records but also surpassed Joker's 2019 earnings, claiming the title of the highest-grossing R-rated movie in history.

Marvel Studios president 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 much as we all loved making it." Feige reflected on the journey to success, adding, "All those conversations were worth it," and signed off with a signature on an exclusive Marvel Studios note.

The film continued its box office dominance, adding $29 million to its total during its third weekend, though 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.