Follow-Up Flick Rakes in $18 Million on Day One

Oh, Hollywood, you’ve done it again! Bringing the drama, the thrills, and, of course, the cha-ching at the box office. Let’s dive into today’s juicy updates, shall we?

Hollywood Box Office: The Alien Invasion and Other Money-Making Shenanigans

Alien: Romulus seems to have crash-landed in theaters with a bang, raking in a cool $18 million from 3,885 locations. 😱 Looks like Disney’s pet project is about to exceed expectations, potentially hitting a $40 million opening weekend. Talk about a killer debut! Not to mention, this sci-fi thriller is getting a leg up from Imax and other premium formats. Disney must be doing a happy dance, especially since they’ve been ruling the box office with "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Inside Out 2" this summer. 🕺💃

Originally slated for a Hulu release, Disney had a change of heart and decided to give "Romulus" the theatrical treatment it deserves. Kudos to them for recognizing that the Alien franchise still has some teeth, even after nearly 50 years. 🎉 Ridley Scott’s earlier entries, "Prometheus" and "Alien: Covenant," had varying degrees of success, but "Romulus" seems to be injecting fresh blood into the series. And oh, it’s doing it at a relatively lower production cost of $80 million. Smart move, Disney. 📈

So, what makes "Romulus" special? A new cast of victims, er, heroes, including Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, and Isabela Merced. These young guns have audiences rushing to the theaters, and with positive reviews and a CinemaScore of B+, it looks like they’ve hit the jackpot. 🎰

Meanwhile, Deadpool & Wolverine is finally stepping down from its No. 1 spot after a four-week reign. The R-rated comedy bagged $8.1 million on Friday, making it the highest-grossing R-rated film ever, surpassing "Joker." Kudos to the team for crossing the $1 billion mark worldwide. Who knew breaking the fourth wall could be so profitable? 🤯

Third place goes to It Ends With Us, the Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni drama. It raked in $7.7 million on Friday and is holding strong. With a modest production budget of $25 million, this adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel is proving to be a sleeper hit, soon to cross the $100 million threshold in North America. 📚🎬

And let’s not forget Twisters still spinning strong, with a projected $9.2 million over the weekend. This Amblin production is climbing the charts with a domestic gross of $230 million. 🌪️

Lastly, a blast from the past! Coraline is back, celebrating its 15th anniversary with a remastered 3D edition. The stop-motion classic pulled in $5.8 million across 1,564 locations. Seems like nostalgia is a money-maker too, huh? 🎥✨

Moral of the Story: In Hollywood, Old Franchises Never Die, They Just Get Rebooted! 🤖🔄

Keep your popcorn ready, folks! The box office rollercoaster has only just begun. 🍿🎢