Disney’s Box Office Revival: Success of ‘Alien: Romulus’ and Other Recent Hits

Disney’s Box Office Recovery with “Alien: Romulus”

The recent release of “Alien: Romulus” is projected to garner at least $40 million at theaters across the United States and Canada this weekend. This impressive total marks a significant turning point for Disney’s film division, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years.

Since 2021, Disney’s various movie studios—including Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Disney Animation, and Walt Disney Pictures—have struggled to maintain their momentum. The push to generate content for Disney’s streaming service, compounded by the effects of the pandemic, led to a series of disappointing releases. Films such as “Jungle Cruise,” “Strange World,” “Lightyear,” “Haunted Mansion,” “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” “Nightmare Alley,” “The Marvels,” and “Wish” did not meet expectations, resulting in growing investor frustration.

This dissatisfaction placed immense pressure on Robert A. Iger, Disney’s CEO, and Alan Bergman, the company’s top film executive, to produce better results. Movies hold particular significance at the Walt Disney Company, serving not just as a source of box office revenue but also as a driving force behind its extensive consumer products division and the development of theme park attractions.

It appears that Disney is regaining its footing in the box office landscape. According to data from Box Office Mojo, from May 1 to last Sunday, Disney films have captured an impressive 42 percent of total ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada. In stark contrast, the previous summer saw Disney holding only a 27 percent market share.

Alan Bergman, who co-chairs Disney Entertainment, oversees a diverse portfolio of seven movie studios, including the renowned Marvel and Pixar. In light of the recent success of “Alien: Romulus” from 20th Century Studios, Disney has now achieved a remarkable streak of four consecutive hits. This resurgence began in May with the release of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” which, despite its production budget of approximately $160 million, has raked in nearly $400 million globally.

Following that, “Inside Out 2” from Pixar debuted in June and has since grossed an astounding $1.6 billion worldwide. In July, “Deadpool & Wolverine” set a new benchmark by achieving the largest R-rated opening in Hollywood history, ultimately accumulating a remarkable $1.1 billion in ticket sales.