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They may not be able to hear you scream in space, but this weekend you could hear exhibitors screaming for joy as ALIEN: ROMULUS devoured the boxoffice.

Hollywood handicappers expected a $35-40M launch, but overperforming is now the name of the game. The Disney/20th Century Studios’ R rated sci-fi thriller hit $41.5M Sunday morning, per Comscore, at 3,885 theatres ($10,682). ROMULUS started out as a streaming movie for Disney’s Hulu, but Disney recognized its boxoffice potential and with the wave of a magic wand it went before the cameras as a theatrical release.

It’s tracking best for first choice with men over 25 (eight points over norm) and next best with men under 25 (one point over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics like it at 81% and audiences are thumbs up at 86%.

ROMULUS producer Ridley Scott directed the 1979 classic ALIEN and  director Fede Alvarez made the 2013 thriller EVIL DEAD. ROMULUS, which reportedly cost $80M to produce, blasted off to $66.7M internationally, per Comscore, for a worldwide cume of $108.2M.

Driven by ROMULUS and the holdover hits DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE and IT ENDS WITH US, this weekend’s domestic marketplace totaled $135.7M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, down 14.5% from the prior weekend and up 35% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2024 at $5.46B, down 15% from $6.43B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was down 16% vs. 2023.

Moviegoers have been voting all summer to keep the movie business alive. Now that the pandemic’s not raging full blast, labor peace has been (temporarily) achieved and the distribution pipeline’s pumping out hits, all Hollywood has to worry about is Hollywood. The formula of consolidating studio ownership and laying off staff to bolster financial statements could cripple the recovery.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney/Marvel’s DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE was #2 in weekend four with $29M (-46%) at 3,960 theatres ($7,323), per Comscore. D&W, which reportedly cost $200M to produce, has done $545.8M domestic and $1.14B worldwide.

Sony’s PG-13 romantic drama IT ENDS WITH US, starring Blake Lively (also a producer) & Justin Baldoni (also the director) was #3 in weekend two with $24M (-52%) at 3,739 theatres ($6,419). US, which cost $25M to produce, has done $97.8M domestic and $180M worldwide.

As for next weekend: MGM/Amazon Studios’ R rated mystery BLINK TWICE is opening at about 3,000 theatres. Pundits expect $20-25M. Rotten Tomatoes critics are okay at 80%. It’s tracking best for first choice with women under 25 (equal to norm).

Lionsgate’s R rated action crime thriller remake THE CROW opens at about 2,600 theatres. Hollywood buzz-ards are looking for $20-25M. It’s tracking under norm for first choice with all demos.