Scary space movie dethrones funny space movie at US box offices

IN a battle of space films, Ridley Scott's new release Alien: Covenant narrowly beat out the popular Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on North American screens this weekend, according to industry estimates.
Alien, the sixth instalment in a lucrative franchise, took in US$36 million (RM155.52 million) for the three-day weekend, edging past the US$35.1 million (RM151.18 million) logged by Disney's Guardians in its third week, according to specialised site Exhibitor Relations.
The Fox/Scott Free Productions stars Michael Fassbinder, Katherine Waterston, and Bill Crudup in a tense yarn about the crew of space ship Covenant landing on a planet that seems idyllic – until terrifying aliens attack.
Guardians, a lighthearted Disney flick about a band of misfit space adventurers played by Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, showed continued strength, surpassing US$300 million (RM1.29 billion) in domestic ticket sales to date.
In third place was new release Everything, Everything, a Warner Bros. romantic drama about a young woman (Amandla Stenberg) who must spend her life indoors in a sterile environment due to a genetic disorder. But after falling in love with a neighbour (Nick Robinson), she begins doubting her diagnosis. The film took in US$12 million (RM51.68 million) from a largely young and female audience, website BoxOfficeMojo reported.
Next was Snatched from Fox, starring Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer as a mother and daughter on a wild jungle adventure. Its weekend take was US$7.6 million (RM32.73 million).
In fifth was another Fox film, newly released Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul – the latest in the popular series after a five-year hiatus – with US$7.2 million (RM31.01 million). The film stars Jason Drucker as long-suffering 12-year-old Greg, whose mother (Alicia Silverstone) drags the family along on a road trip to Grandma's 90th birthday celebration.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (US$6.9 million)
The Fate of the Furious (US$3.2 million)
The Boss Baby (US$2.8 million)
Beauty and the Beast (US$2.4 million); the film is now in the all-time top-10 worldwide.
How to Be a Latin Lover (US$2.2 million) — AFP