Los Angeles, California – Hollywood blockbuster “Alien: Romulus” has continued its impressive run at the box office, becoming one of the top-grossing films of the year in mainland China. The movie’s success comes after a strong showing in its second weekend, where it raked in RMB140 million ($19.7 million) in just three days, as reported by consultancy firm Artisan Gateway.
Since its release on August 16, “Alien: Romulus” has amassed a cumulative total of RMB523 million ($73.7 million), solidifying its position as one of the highest-grossing Hollywood imports in 2024. The film is only surpassed by the Chinese-backed “Godzilla v Kong,” which grossed $134 million in the same market.
Surpassing expectations, “Alien: Romulus” has surpassed the $50 million mark, outperforming other Hollywood franchise titles such as “Kung Fu Panda 4,” “Despicable Me 4,” “Dune 2,” and “Inside Out 2.” The movie’s success in China is further highlighted by its strong performance on Imax screens, where it earned $2.75 million over the weekend, contributing to its total earnings of $11.6 million on giant screens.
In a crowded weekend lineup in China, “Alien: Romulus” faced stiff competition from new releases like “The Hedgehog,” a heartwarming drama directed by Gu Changwei. Starring popular actors Ge You and Karry Wang, the film captured the hearts of audiences and earned RMB74.4 million ($105 million) at the box office.
Meanwhile, “Untouchable,” a crime drama directed by Wang Daqing and starring Shen Teng, Zhang Yuqi, and Jack Kao, also made a strong debut, grossing RMB73.4 million ($10.3 million) in its opening weekend. The Chinese crime actioner “Go for Broke” slipped to fourth place in its second weekend, accumulating $7.1 million for a total of $33.4 million since its release.
Japanese animation “Detective Conan: The Million Dollar Pentagram” continued to draw audiences in its second weekend, adding $4.8 million to its total earnings of $29.2 million. Additionally, the Thai comedy-drama “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” opened to a three-day score of $4.4 million, showcasing the diverse range of films captivating audiences in China.
Overall, the weekend box office in China reached $70.8 million, bringing the year-to-date total to $4.62 billion. While this marks a slight decrease compared to the previous year, the success of films like “Alien: Romulus” demonstrates the enduring appeal of cinema in the region.