Ridley Scott’s latest «Alien» exploit opened with $36 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — «Alien: Covenant» edged out «Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2» in the weekend box-office space battle.
Ridley Scott’s latest «Alien» exploit opened with $36 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. «Guardians» was close behind with just over $35 million in its third week of release.
«You couldn’t get two outer-space operas that are more different in terms of point-of-view and execution, » said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for ComScore.
Fox’s «Alien: Covenant» is a dark, R-rated scare-fest about slimy, parasitic space monsters; Disney’s «Guardians» is a sweet, family-centered romp across the cosmos.
«‘Alien’ is sort of the dark side, » Dergarabedian said. «It’s the R-rated yin to ‘Guardians’ PG-13-rated, fun yang.»
Two other new releases landed in the top five. Warner Bros.’ teen romance «Everything, Everything» debuted in third place with $12 million, and Fox’s «Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, » opened in fifth with $7.2 million.
«Snatched, » Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn’s R-rated comedy from Fox, fell to fourth place in its second week of release with $7.6 million.
«Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2» provided a solid launch to the summer movie season with more than $300 million in North American ticket sales so far, Dergarabedian said, though grosses are running about 10 percent behind last summer’s totals.
May is following a typical pattern, he said. Marvel movies kick off the month, which ends with Memorial Day tent poles like next weekend’s «Baywatch» and «Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.»
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U. S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. «Alien: Covenant, » $36 million.
2. «Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, » $35.1 million.
3. «Everything, Everything, » $12 million.
4. «Snatched, » $7.6 million.
5. «Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, » $7.2 million.
6. «King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, » $6.8 million.
7. «The Fate of the Furious, » $3.2 million.
8. «The Boss Baby, » $2.8 million.
9. «Beauty and the Beast, » $2.4 million.
10. «How to Be a Latin Lover, » $2.2 million.
