Theater counts: Alien: Romulus can’t unseat Deadpool & Wolverine as widest release

August 15, 2024

It was another stellar weekend for Deadpool & Wolverine at the domestic box office, as the film secured over $53 million and currently enjoys $511 million in 20 days of big screen play. This weekend, we will see what its studio cousin can do as Alien: Romulus arrives in theaters, along with a trio of other wide releases sure to fit nearly every film buff’s desire.

The latest in the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus follows a group of space colonists who, while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. Launching in 3,885 theaters, the film presents itself as a standalone “interquel” set between the events of Alien and Aliens. Due to the studio’s confidence in the film, it was shifted from an original Hulu debut to its current theatrical time slot. Fede Álvarez directs the Ridley Scott-produced feature.

Also opening in wide release this weekend is My Penguin Friend, starring Jean Reno and Adriana Barraza. The film is the heartfelt, true-life story of a fisherman who rescues a distressed penguin from an oil spill and, after rehabilitating it, begins a unique lifelong friendship. The David Schurmann-directed family adventure will debut in 1,080 locations.

Making its cinematic arrival on Friday is Elizabeth Bank’s crime thriller, Skincare. The movie follows a West Hollywood aesthetician who becomes convinced someone is trying to destroy her life. Banks was last seen (or heard rather) in the animated feature, Migration, which she lent her voice to, a film that went on to collect just shy of $300 million in global receipts after opening over the Christmas holiday last year. Skincare will start its run in 768 cinemas.

Lastly, opening in 1,285 movie houses this weekend is Ryan’s World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure. The film, based on the popular YouTube series, follows a boy who must retrieve his younger twin sisters after they are sucked into a mystical comic book.

Rounding out the top five widest releases weekend, we start with the movie that is still the widest-playing movie in the land, with Deadpool & Wolverine logging in with 3,960 locations. Occupying the third-widest release spot is last week’s newcomer, It Ends With Us, adding 78 cinemas to its opening count for a total of 3,739 theaters. Showing in 3,483 cinemas this weekend is former box office champ Twisters. And finally, another film beginning its sophomore frame with Borderlands retaining its opening weekend count of 3,125 venues.

Looking ahead to next weekend, we witness the arrival of a triumvirate of films making their way into theaters. The largest of the three will likely be the Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie thriller, Blink Twice. That film is projected to start its run in approximately 3,000 theaters. Also opening in wide release is the gothic super-hero film, The Crow. The movie, starring Bill Skarsgård, is expected to open in approximately 2,600 locations. Lastly, faith-based drama The Forge will be available in about 1,700 movie theaters.

Filed under: Theater Counts, Alien, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wolverine, Deadpool, Twister, Elizabeth Banks, Adriana Barraza, Jean Reno, Ridley Scott, Channing Tatum, Bill Skarsgård, Fede Álvarez, Naomi Ackie