TheAlienfranchise has hatched its ninth installment inAlien: Romulus, which is proving to be a box office monster. In fact,Alien Romulus' domestic box officenumbers are the second-best for the franchise, with a massive debut weekend opener of $42 million. Directed byDon’t Breathe’s Fede Alvarez, the film closes in just behind Ridley Scott’s 2012 titan,Prometheus. However,the film may not have received its roaring receptionhad it followed the original plans to release straight to streaming.
2022’sPredatorprequel,Preyis a prime example of this, as although it was praised as one of thebest action movies of 2022, its initial acclaim was never bolstered by a theatrical release. Instead,Preywent on to smash opening weekend movie streaming records on Hulu but was overshadowed by big box office releases likeThe BatmanandTop Gun Maverick. WithPredator: Badlandsin development,Disney must acknowledgeAlien: Romulus’big screen successto avoid another missed opportunity for thePredatorfranchise to shine at the box office.
I’m Nervous About Alien: Romulus Sequels Repeating Disney’s $10 Billion Sci-Fi Franchise Mistakes
Alien: Romulus was fantastic, but I can’t stop comparing it to another major sci-franchise, and it’s got me worried about future sequels.
Alien: Romulus' Box Office Success Proves 2022’sPreyCould’ve Been A Huge Hit In Theaters
The Box Office Smash That Never Was
TheAlienfranchise continues to capitalize on the understanding that its expansive fan base is willing to invade theaters to get a nostalgic glimpse of their favorite sci-fi franchise. With both highly-regarded franchises being more than 30 years old and continuing to draw massive viewership, there’s no reasonPreycouldn’t find greater success. Knowing this, Disney should take note of how both films succeeded, and howPreywas held back by a release methodthat did more harm than goodto one of the most beloved sci-fi franchises.
Preycould have been a box office hit, seeing as how it was watched more in its first three days than any other film or TV show on the platform. According to the film’s director, Dan Trachtenberg, this never came to pass because Disney prioritized the film’s direct-to-stream release as a means to attract audiences to Hulu. WhilePreycertainly accomplished this,it missed the opportunity it deserved to be introduced to a wider audienceand risked being stigmatized as an unworthy release — similar to direct-to-DVD releases.
Disney Must Copy Alien: Romulus' Release Switch With New Predator Movies
Disney Needs A New Blueprint ForBadlands
HadAlien: Romulusbeen released directly to streaming as initially intended, it would likely have followed in the footsteps ofPreyand topped many streaming records. However, it would also likely have found itself written off as less important because it never saw the big screen. With active plans for the continuation of thePredatorfranchise withPredator: Badlandsin development, Disney needs to understand howPrey’s release was a disappointing mistake that can’t afford to be repeated. If so, Disney runs the risk ofstifling the credible growth and evolution of thePredatorfranchise.
Disney shouldn’t allowPredator: Badlandsto fall prey to the same direct-to-streaming trappings that robbed its predecessor of box office glory.
With the success ofAlien: Romulus, Disney should take note of how viewers remain committed to watching their favorite franchises evolve. WherePrey’s direct-to-streaming release proved the risks of such a model,Romulusproved howviewers will pack theaters if a film from a franchise they care about catches their eye again. Disney needs to be observant of this, as the company would be mistaken not to translate this passion to the big screen.Predator: Badlandsshouldn’t be allowed to fall prey to the same direct-to-streaming trappings that robbed its predecessor of box office glory.
