As a lifelong fan of the “Alien” saga, I can’t help but marvel at how this timeless franchise continues to captivate audiences across generations. Unlike some other iconic franchises that seem to thrive on reboots and sequels every few years, the “Alien” movies maintain a consistent level of quality and intrigue that keeps fans coming back for more.
In outer space, no one can physically hear your screams, but on Earth, people are constantly discussing their fondness for the “Alien” movie series. This popular franchise has continued to produce new films such as “Alien: Romulus” in 2024, ever since its debut in 1979. Fans worldwide can’t seem to get enough of the creepy Xenomorphs and iconic characters like Ellen Ripley (portrayed by Sigourney Weaver).
Each installment in the “Alien” franchise offers unique visual styles, catering to diverse preferences among viewers. For example, the original “Alien” film delivers a chilling horror ambiance, contrasting starkly with the more contemporary PG-13 thrills found in “Alien vs. Predator.” The “Alien” series showcases a remarkable adaptability across several movie aspects. One such flexible component within this franchise is the financial success of its individual releases at the box office.
Over approximately five decades, the assortment of “Alien” films have displayed a variety of box office performances. Some fell flat, others were moderate successes, while some became monumental hits that left an indelible mark on Hollywood. Ranking the “Alien” movies in order of their global box office earnings (and examining the implications of the franchise’s box office trend) demonstrates the diverse financial results the “Alien” series has garnered. A failure can be succeeded by a massive triumph. Despite its lowest points financially, the franchise has never diminished fans’ enthusiasm for these movies. Much like those unyielding Xenomorphs, the “Alien” films continue to endure and astonish audiences.
8. Alien vs. Predator: Requiem
The film “Alien vs. Predator: Requiem,” released in 2007, had a tough time at the box office due to several factors. Firstly, the novelty of the Alien and Predator creatures fighting had already diminished following its predecessor from 2004, “Alien vs. Predator.” Moving the action to an Earth city didn’t offer a completely new twist since the original film also occurred on our planet, just in the Arctic. Additionally, there were no major actors in the cast or significant ties to the iconic 20th-century Alien and Predator films to generate excitement for “Requiem.”
As a gamer, I was initially optimistic about the latest Alien installment, “Requiem.” With a strong $9.5 million opening day in the U.S., it seemed like we were in for an exciting ride amidst the crowded movie market. However, the excitement quickly waned as this Christmas Day newcomer plummeted, gathering only $41.7 million domestically. Unfortunately, “Requiem” became the only Alien film to date that didn’t cross the $45 million mark in North America.
7. Alien 3
Following the massive success of an “Alien” sequel, it seemed only logical to attempt another one. The third installment, “Alien 3”, graced the screens during Memorial Day weekend in 1992, aiming to replicate its predecessors’ remarkable box office performances. Director David Fincher shifted the franchise to a planet prison setting and introduced daring storyline twists, such as eliminating popular “Aliens” characters like Newt. Unlike James Cameron’s “Aliens”, which was both brutally intense and triumphantly ended with Ripley and Newt escaping from the Xenomorphs, “Alien 3” offered a darker, more subdued narrative that concluded with Ripley sacrificing herself. Given its somber tone, transforming this story into an upbeat summer blockbuster was always going to be difficult — in fact, “Alien 3” almost didn’t make it to theaters.
1992 saw “Alien 3” start off strongly with a fifth-largest domestic opening weekend, suggesting a warm reception in cinemas that promised a long box office run during the year’s peak months. Unfortunately, its success was short-lived due to negative word of mouth, causing it to earn only $54.9 million in North America, significantly less than its predecessors even when adjusting for inflation. Abroad, the movie grossed an impressive $103.5 million, totaling $158.5 million globally. However, with “Aliens” earning over 11 times its budget overseas just six years prior, 20th Century Fox likely expected greater returns from “Alien 3.”
6. Alien: Resurrection
In much the same way as characters like Jason Voorhees, Han Lue, or Jon Snow have shown us, a beloved character’s death doesn’t always mean the end of their story. Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley seemed to meet her demise in the somber finale of “Alien 3,” but to everyone’s surprise, she reappeared on the silver screen five years later through the wonders of cloning in “Alien: Resurrection.” This new Ripley was no ordinary human; she carried Xenomorph DNA in her genetic makeup, making her a unique blend – part human, part the very alien she had spent her life hunting.
In this edition, Ripley was teamed up with actors such as Ron Perlman and Winona Ryder for a project aimed at revitalizing the “Alien” series to its former box office success before 1992. Unlike the previous three installments, “Resurrection,” released in 1997, premiered during Thanksgiving weekend instead of Memorial Day. This choice led to an opening weekend gross of $16.4 million in the U.S. and a total lifetime gross of $47.8 million in North America. Given the stiff competition from big hits like “Scream 2” and James Cameron’s new film, “Titanic,” which were both released in December 1997, it was no surprise that “Alien: Resurrection” had a short run at the box office.
Typically, the overseas box office performance saved “Alien: Resurrection” from underperforming domestically. International audiences helped the movie rake in $160.7 million, surpassing the final global earnings of “Alien 3” by a slim margin. However, this achievement couldn’t dispel the lingering sense of disappointment surrounding the theatrical release of “Alien: Resurrection.”
5. Alien vs. Predator
In the year 2005, David S. Goyer, who later became a screenwriter for “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” publicly expressed his view that a film featuring Batman and Superman in a fight was a poor concept. According to him, such a scenario represented creative stagnation on the part of writers and desperation from studio executives. Contrastingly, this idea sounded like a great opportunity for executives at 20th Century Fox around the turn of the 21st century when they approved “Alien vs. Predator,” a crossover movie designed to revitalize both the “Alien” and “Predator” franchises. With Ripley’s storyline reaching its limit, the idea was to let the Xenomorph engage in combat with another renowned extraterrestrial character.
Watching these two formidable creatures clash for the first time was a spectacle moviegoers couldn’t resist. In its domestic box office alone, “Alien vs. Predator” earned an impressive $80.2 million, ranking it third among all “Alien” films in terms of gross earnings (as of now). Interestingly, “Alien vs. Predator” didn’t perform as well overseas as the two 1990s “Alien” movies did. Despite this, Paul W.S. Anderson’s film easily amassed a total of $172.5 million worldwide.
At times, it’s not hard to see why a film becomes a blockbuster sensation. The prospect of seeing both “Alien” and “Predator” carnage in one movie had me pumped and many others too, judging by the box office numbers. To me, the idea seemed run-of-the-mill at first, but boy was I wrong – it turned out to be a golden opportunity for the “Alien” series.
4. Aliens
It might be hard to fathom, but there was a period when James Cameron’s movies didn’t routinely earn over $2 billion globally at the box office. This bygone era began with Cameron launching his directorial career post-“Piranha II: The Spawning” in 1984, as “The Terminator,” a sci-fi sleeper hit, garnered $78.3 million worldwide. This film paved the way for Cameron to take charge of the “Alien” series, with this installment focusing more on action than horror. However, Cameron wasn’t the only newcomer in the picture when it came to “Aliens.” Executives at Fox were hesitant about making a sequel to the original “Alien,” especially one that was significantly more expensive to produce than its predecessor.
Turns out there was no need to fret about it: The movie “Aliens,” released in July 1986, raked in an astounding $183.2 million worldwide. In North America alone, it earned a staggering $85.1 million. Globally, it ranked third for the year, while domestically, it was the seventh-biggest film of 1986. The positive reception from the original “Alien” certainly helped, but the sequel’s strong word-of-mouth kept “Aliens” among the top five films in America every weekend until Labor Day 1986. This blockbuster success officially established the “Alien” franchise and marked James Cameron’s first global megahit. He would go on to achieve more such milestones.
3. Alien
Originally, the “Alien” series was virtually unheard of in the American pop culture landscape, but in 1979, it was a complete mystery at the box office. Despite the massive success of “Star Wars” in 1977, there was still uncertainty about “Alien” and the future of the sci-fi genre. However, all doubts were swiftly put to rest when “Alien” made an astounding $186.9 million at the global box office on a budget of only $10.7 million. In its domestic run, it earned enough to rank as the ninth highest-grossing movie in North America for 1979, generating $64.3 million.
In Sigourney Weaver’s extensive acting career, the film “Alien” remains one of the most colossal non-“Ghostbusters” live-action movies. At the time it was released, there weren’t many examples of expensive science fiction/horror films in the movie marketplace. This scarcity of previous successes made Fox executives apprehensive, but it also helped “Alien” capture the attention of cinema-goers. The film offered a unique cosmic narrative that wasn’t frequently seen on the big screen.
Introducing something novel, along with the subtle fear-inducing elements similar to what made “Jaws” popular in its time, proved to be a hit at the box office. As a result, “Alien” transformed from an unpredictable newcomer into a cultural phenomenon, igniting a multi-platform franchise that remains relevant today.
2. Alien: Covenant
As a devoted fan, I recall the enigma surrounding “Prometheus” before its release, with the creative team keeping tight-lips about its ties to the broader “Alien” universe. Contrasting this, the sequel was transparent, boldly stating its foundation on the “Alien” franchise – right down to being titled “Alien: Covenant” instead of “Prometheus 2.” With a title deeply embedded in the “Alien” narrative and posters showcasing the fierce Xenomorph, “Alien: Covenant” became the first solo “Alien” film marketed as such to grace our screens in almost two decades.
Despite the long gap since “Alien: Resurrection,” “Covenant” wasn’t a blockbuster movie at the box office. In North America, it only managed to earn $74.2 million, which was less than the domestic earnings of “Aliens” from 31 years prior. Additionally, its earnings were 41% lower than the lifetime domestic total of “Prometheus.” Although “Covenant” made a total of $238.5 million worldwide, it still fell short due to its production cost of $97 million. The intense competition in May 2017, particularly from the early hit “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” didn’t help either.
Instead, it seems that the main issue could have stemmed from the polarizing audience reactions towards the film “Prometheus.” It appears that delving further into this segment of the “Alien” universe wasn’t something that appealed to many cinema-goers. That might be why the marketing strategy for “Alien: Romulus” has been focused on emphasizing its ties to the original “Alien” movie, rather than the Engineers introduced in “Covenant” and its predecessor.
1. Prometheus
People have been curious about our origins and who made us since time immemorial, and the movie “Prometheus” attempted to answer these questions while incorporating elements from the original “Alien” film’s backstory. This daring project was led by Ridley Scott, the director of the first “Alien” movie, marking his comeback to the franchise after over three decades. For long-time “Alien” fans, Scott’s return served as a comforting signal that things were getting back on track for the troubled and perplexing “Alien” series, which had been marred by two “Alien vs. Predator” films and mixed reviews of the 1990s “Alien” movies. In essence, Scott aimed to restore the reputation of the “Alien” franchise with “Prometheus.”
The unique aspects of the film, along with its captivating marketing campaign for “Prometheus,” helped it set new box office milestones within the “Alien” franchise. To this day, “Prometheus” stands alone among the “Alien” series as the only installment to earn over $100 million domestically and $250 million worldwide. Its global earnings surpassed these records significantly, totaling a worldwide gross of $402.4 million, with $126.4 million coming from North America alone.
After the summer of 2012 came to an end and the dust had settled, “Prometheus” emerged as the tenth highest-grossing film domestically. Its success at the box office was boosted by a strategic marketing campaign that emphasized its originality. This wasn’t just a horror movie for die-hard “Alien” fans; it was accessible and boasted an impressive cast, making it appealing to a wide audience. Furthermore, for those deeply invested in “Alien,” having Ridley Scott back as director was a must-see event.
No billion dolllar grossers, no problem
The “Alien” series, which began in the 1960s and 1970s, is one of the longest-running film franchises still active today. Unlike other classic properties from those decades that continue to fill cinemas, none of the “Alien” films have set any box office records. For example, movies like James Bond and Star Wars each have at least one installment that’s earned over $1 billion globally, but only one Alien film has just barely surpassed $400 million. The individual worldwide grosses for the Alien films are lower than what you might anticipate for such a long-lasting brand. One wonders why we don’t see any films from this series breaking $700 million, as is common in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or Wizarding World sagas.
One strength of the “Alien” series is its consistent success. Over almost five decades, an “Alien” movie can reliably earn over $125 million globally. Each installment has been profitable in some way, and the lower budgets for each film have prevented major flops like “Dark Phoenix” or “Terminator: Genisys,” which crippled other well-known franchises.
Interestingly, the “Alien” film series continues to captivate audiences throughout every decade, consistently being labeled as a must-watch. Unlike some films that require long periods of absence before returning as events, even a brief hiatus of five or six years is often enough to spark renewed interest in new “Alien” movies among fans. While it’s true that those funding these science fiction and horror films aim for the $1 billion club, the “Alien” saga demonstrates that consistent, reliable returns can be just as valuable as occasional box office blockbusters that break records.
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2024-08-13 14:31