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tomatometer:

73% Alien: Covenant

81% Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

43% Everything, Everything

37% Snatched

19% Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

metacritic:

*click pic(s) for source*

‘Alien: Covenant’ Slides Past ‘Guardians 2’ to Win Weekend With $36 Million

As this weekend approached, the question lingered if “Alien: Covenant” would be able to unseat “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” from the top spot at the domestic box office.

Now, we have an answer. As of Sunday morning, “Covenant,” from 20th Century Fox and Scott Free Productions, looks to be the winner with a three-day estimate of just over $36 million from 3,761 locations. That’s just above Disney’s “Guardians” sequel which is raking in an additional $35.3 million from 4,347 spots. The super sequel is seeing only a 46% drop from last weekend, and its total domestic earnings now exceed $300 million.

While “Alien” may have won, the film’s price tag in the $100 million range and marketing costs detract from the victory. The sixth installment in the Alien franchise (not counting the two Alien vs. Predator films) was directed by Ridley Scott and stars Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, and Danny McBride. It holds a 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is in line with 2012’s “Prometheus.” Although it came in already having made $42 million overseas and $36 million was enough to land in the top slot, “Alien” grossed less during its first weekend in the U.S. than “Prometheus” did in 2012 ($51 million). Its final domestic earnings also came in below earlier projections, which pegged the horror flick at at least $40 million.

While the “Alien” franchise is still able to generate decent interest, the same cannot be said for Fox’s other release this weekend, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul.” The fourth live-action movie based on Jeff Kinney’s middle school-centric book series opened to $7.2 million from 3,157 locations. David Bowers, who directed movies two and three, returned to the helm nearly five years after the last iteration, and anointed a new titular wimp in Jason Drucker.

The only other major release of the weekend was “Everything, Everything,” from Warner Bros. and MGM. The sick-lit adaptation will earn $12 million by the end of the weekend from 2,801 locations. That’s enough to land in the top three. “Hunger Games” standout Amandla Stenberg stars as a girl with an autoimmune disease that keeps her locked up indoors. Nick Robinson plays her love interest named Olly. “Everything, Everything” earned the highest CinemaScore of the new released (an A- overall). 82% of its audience was female, and 74% were under 25 years old.

Amy Schumer’s “Snatched,” also from Fox, will see an additional $7.6 million in earnings from 3,511 theaters, putting it in the fourth slot, ahead of “Wimpy Kid.” Also in its second weekend, “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” continues to flop miserably with a weekend total of less than $7 million.

With Memorial Day weekend on the horizon, the overall domestic summer box office is ten percentage points lower than it was at this time last year. That means all eyes are fixed on a duo of splashy summer releases — Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” and Paramount’s “Baywatch” — to hopefully make up some ground.

*click pic for full list/source*


*click pic for full list/source*

 

[Bobby Roberts]

So Covenant will be kind of a disappointment for Fox, financially, likely finishing its domestic run under its reported budget by 5-10mil.

I can see them tossing Scott 75-80 mil for one last prequel film to tie off whatever it is he's been doing with this series. Set it entirely on a spaceship (or two) and shrink the cast down to like, 4 or 5 people. But I doubt they're gonna let him move forward with his weird ideas for prequel-sequels and sequel-prequels for the next 4-6 years.

He'll get one more mid-budget whack at this, and then they'll revive it down the line (5-10yrs, probably) as an anthology or some shit. Or they'll just remake Alien.

 

[Kart94]

LOL it had a 4.2 million preview, a 15.3 friday and now it is only 1 million ahead of Guardians. People must not be liking this movie too much.

So is it ok to say that Ridley Scott is to Alien as what George Lucas is to Star Wars?

 

[Sibersk Esto]

How did Power Rangers suddenly get a bunch of new theaters?

 

[Kusagari]

I actually am starting to think the Prometheus naming is what led to that movie doing so well.

Probably should have just called Covenant Prometheus 2.

 

[gamz]

LOL it had a 4.2 million preview, a 15.3 friday and now it is only 1 million ahead of Guardians. People must not be liking this movie too much.

So is it ok to say that Ridley Scott is to Alien as what George Lucas is to Star Wars?

Nah. Lucas Star Wars made oodles of money.

 

[jack_package_200]

For what it was, I enjoyed Alien: Covenant. Flawed but enjoyable.

I don't look forward to the endless whiny nitpicking and vitriol the movie is going to get like Prometheus did.

 

[CREMSteve]

How did Power Rangers suddenly get a bunch of new theaters?

It hit the cheapie theaters, I'm guessing.

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

I wonder where the Alien franchise will go from there. Covenant is certainly not a bomb but it's not a success either. And I'm surprised that Ridley Scott managed to make that film for only $97M. His films tend to be expensive.

 

[kswiston]

Worldwide Updates

Beauty and the Beast - $1.222B
Fate of the Furious - $1.213B
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - $733M
Alien Covenant - $118M
King Arthur - $93M

 

[mreddie]

Fox had 3 films come out in 2 weeks and only one will see its budget back.

 

[jack_package_200]

Worldwide Updates

Beauty and the Beast - $1.222B
Fate of the Furious - $1.213B
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - $732M
Alien Covenant - $118M
King Arthur - $93M

I'm surprised Beauty and the Beast maintained its lead.

 

[LilWayneSuckz]

I loved Prometheus and did not like Alien: Covenant.

The "low" box office is deserved..

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Fox had 3 films come out in 2 weeks and only one will see its budget back.

Nah, both Wimpy Kid & Snatched will probably eke over that line.

 

[kswiston]

I'm surprised Beauty and the Beast maintained its lead.

BatB will outgross F8. Japan is a leggy territory and it is doing big numbers there. The gap will start widening next weekend.

 

[Biggest-Geek-Ever]

I really don't see Alien: Covenant having more than a 2.25 multiplier. WOM is not good and it's staring down the barrel of a huge amount of competition. Realistically, the ingredients are there for it to have Godzilla legs.

So Covenant will be kind of a disappointment for Fox, financially, likely finishing its domestic run under its reported budget by 5-10mil.

I can see them tossing Scott 75-80 mil for one last prequel film to tie off whatever it is he's been doing with this series. Set it entirely on a spaceship (or two) and shrink the cast down to like, 4 or 5 people. But I doubt they're gonna let him move forward with his weird ideas for prequel-sequels and sequel-prequels for the next 4-6 years.

He'll get one more mid-budget whack at this, and then they'll revive it down the line (5-10yrs, probably) as an anthology or some shit. Or they'll just remake Alien.

You're probably right, but if I was Fox, I'd be hesitant about letting Ridley Scott do even one more Alien. After two films with weak WOM, I think another film of similar quality would have a difficult time opening to $20M

 

[mreddie]

Nah, both Wimpy Kid & Snatched will probably eke over that line.

Oh right, Snatched might make the budget back if you don't count the AD budget but I think that too was low.

 

[Kart94]

Diary of a Wimpy kid looks like a direct to video sequel, complete with replacing the entire cast. I don't know why it needs to exist.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Oh right, Snatched might make the budget back if you don't count the AD budget

The ad budget doesn't count. It's separate.

 

[Obliterator]

Yeah not a great performance there for Alien and word of mouth doesn't seem that great. Likely will have very poor legs.

Guardians still doing great. It'll be interesting to see how much Wonder Woman affects it

 

[kswiston]

From the tail end of the last thread:

Dangal is at $114M in China and could end up hitting $150M there. More than the film made in the rest of the world, and almost certainly the first time a big Indian film made more outside of India than in India.

Power Rangers saw a 99% drop in its second weekend in China.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Power Rangers saw a 99% drop in its second weekend in China.

wow

I mean, I know the circumstances are unique, but that is not a thing I expected to see in this thread ever.

 

[Obliterator]

wow

I mean, I know the circumstances are unique, but that is not a thing I expected to see in this thread ever.

In general Power Rangers did very poorly overseas. I would think a sequel is really unlikely

 

[3N16MA]

Maybe Covenant will have a miracle Robin Hood run for, Scott.

Probably not.

 

[IdreamofHIME]

Worldwide Updates

Beauty and the Beast - $1.222B
Fate of the Furious - $1.213B
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - $733M
Alien Covenant - $118M
King Arthur - $93M

Kurt Russel starring in 2 movies worth 2 billion dollars. And People say this is the darkest timeline? No way.

 

[Calm waterfall]

King Arthur flopped big time. Who thought this movie made financial sense?

 

[3N16MA]

King Arthur flopped big time. Who thought this movie made financial sense?

No one knows what WB is thinking.

 

[mreddie]

Kurt Russel starring in 2 movies worth 2 billion dollars. And People say this is the darkest timeline? No way.

 

[Future Foundation]

From the tail end of the last thread:

Dangal is at $114M in China and could end up hitting $150M there. More than the film made in the rest of the world, and almost certainly the first time a big Indian film made more outside of India than in India.

Power Rangers saw a 99% drop in its second weekend in China.

wow

I mean, I know the circumstances are unique, but that is not a thing I expected to see in this thread ever.

I could've sworn GiTS did something like that. Like some horrendous-ass drop in China after its release.

 

[kswiston]

Next weekend will be interesting. Pirates 5 is having a worldwide opening save Japan (they have to wait until July).

 

[Bobby Roberts]

yeah, but not 99%

Like, I dont' care that it was Power Rangers (I dont' really care about Power Rangers, period) but just the number itself is amazing. Wouldn't have mattered which movie it was.

 

[kswiston]

I could've sworn GiTS did something like that. Like some horrendous-ass drop in China after its release.

yeah, but not 99%

Like, I dont' care that it was Power Rangers (I dont' really care about Power Rangers, period) but just the number itself is amazing. Wouldn't have mattered which movie it was.

GitS was a 97% drop in weekend #2 in China. So technically it held 2-3x better depending on actual decimal point numbers

 

[Heshinsi]

I loved Prometheus and did not like Alien: Covenant.

The "low" box office is deserved..

Same. In fact I think I hate Covenant. Stupid movie, with even dumber characters.

 

[Future Foundation]

So, Trokil was redeemed (?)

 

[Sibersk Esto]

GitS was a 97% drop in weekend #2 in China. So technically it held 2-3x better depending on actual decimal point numbers

Suck it Ant-Man

 

[mreddie]

Suck it Ant-Man

I forgot, what started this?

 

[border]

I am still surprised that Prometheus had a bigger opening weekend than a proper Alien film. Is it possible that the premise of Prometheus ("discovering our ancient alien ancestors") is actually just more interesting to audiences than the premise of Alien ("a monster kills idiots in the dark")?

 

[Sulik2]

I am still surprised that Prometheus had a bigger opening weekend than a proper Alien film. Is it possible that the premise of Prometheus ("discovering our ancient alien ancestors") is actually just more interesting to audiences than the premise of Alien ("a monster kills idiots in the dark")?

Prometheus has some of the best trailers ever made. That's the reason for that number.

 

[Bronx-Man]

Still keeping my eye out for how Blade Runner 2049 does.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Yeah, expectations for 2049 are gonna be interesting. Blade Runner wasn't a b.o. success, it wasn't even a critical success, and even now, as everyone seems to unanimously regard it as a legendary sci-fi film, it's not really thought of as a blockbuster or anything./

If this movie is as challenging visually/thematically as Blade Runner was, it's entirely possible reviews will be mixed, word of mouth will be confused, and the film won't do very well at the b.o.

Which would be perfectly in line with its predecessor.

 

[John Dunbar]

Yeah, expectations for 2049 are gonna be interesting. Blade Runner wasn't a b.o. success, it wasn't even a critical success, and even now, as everyone seems to unanimously regard it as a legendary sci-fi film, it's not really thought of as a blockbuster or anything./

If this movie is as challenging visually/thematically as Blade Runner was, it's entirely possible reviews will be mixed, word of mouth will be confused, and the film won't do very well at the b.o.

Which would be perfectly in line with its predecessor.

it would also need some major changes later on to be good.

 

[Ridley327]

I forgot, what started this?

Trokil had some deep investment in GitS for reasons that will remain mysterious.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

it would also need some major changes later on to be good.

The changes applied to Blade Runner weren't all that major, and the movie was already good.

So nah, John.

 

[Kusagari]

Is there really any reason to think Blade Runner does much better than GitS?

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Better branding, more "star power" (for whatever that bullshit is worth), more "prestige" (for whatever that bullshit is worth), and possibly better marketing.

Oh, and no whitewashing bullshit, either.

 

[Ridley327]

Is there really any reason to think Blade Runner does much better than GitS?

It has a less aggressive schedule that it's facing when compared to GitS. Legs will be a problem by the end of October, but that was always going to be a challenge considering what it's a sequel to.

 

[Sibersk Esto]

Is there really any reason to think Blade Runner does much better than GitS?

No whitewashing controversy for one.

 

[BronsonLee]

Bobby make Wonder Woman come out already so I can watch it

 

[Bobby Roberts]

I would love for that movie to crack 100mil OW.

 

[Bronx-Man]

Better branding, more "star power" (for whatever that bullshit is worth), more "prestige" (for whatever that bullshit is worth), and possibly better marketing.

Oh, and no whitewashing bullshit, either.

It has a less aggressive schedule that it's facing when compared to GitS. Legs will be a problem by the end of October, but that was always going to be a challenge considering what it's a sequel to.

No whitewashing controversy for one.

On the other side, apparently way more of a bigger budget and an R-rating vs GITS' PG-13.