State of Hollywood: Summer Box Office Winding Down

As the summer box office season of 2024 comes to a close, the film industry is emerging stronger and more resilient than it was just a few months ago. Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez, is leading this comeback, a film that has not only breathed new life into a classic franchise but also brings some hope to an industry that’s been through the wringer. After a period of uncertainty and a string of lackluster releases, Alien: Romulus has electrified the box office, proving that the allure of the big screen is far from fading.

Alien: Romulus has done more than just revive the iconic sci-fi horror series—it has blown expectations out of the water. With a domestic opening weekend haul of $45.1 million, the film didn’t just meet its projected debut numbers in the high $20 million range; it nearly doubled them. This stellar performance marks the second-best opening for the Alien franchise, only surpassed by the inflation-adjusted numbers of James Cameron’s Aliens.

The film's success is particularly noteworthy for its broad demographic appeal. Alien: Romulus has captured the attention of younger audiences—a group that’s been somewhat elusive since the pandemic—while drawing in the older fans following the franchise since Ridley Scott’s original Alien in 1979. It's a testament to Álvarez's skillful direction and the film’s ability to blend nostalgia with fresh, modern horror.

While Alien: Romulus has been a highlight, it’s just one chapter in Disney’s summer box office domination. This season, the studio has been a powerhouse, raking in 42 percent of the summer’s total box office revenue. This success story follows the massive hit Deadpool & Wolverine, which held the top spot for several weeks before Romulus came to dethrone it.

Disney’s strategy of capitalizing on its vast library of franchises while embracing new talent and daring storytelling has paid off. The success of Romulus and Deadpool & Wolverine is awe-inspiring, considering the industry's challenges earlier this year, notably the aftereffects of the 2023 Hollywood labor strikes. These strikes, which halted production for several months, resulted in a shortage of new releases earlier in the year, leaving the summer box office to pick up the slack.

It’s worth noting that all those films are sequels—geared towards fan service rather than offering anything new or original that could rekindle the habit of going to the movies.  It Ends With Us is an exception. In its second weekend, It Ends With Us, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, continued to perform well, securing the third spot at the box office. Despite a 52 percent drop, the Blake Lively-led film still pulled in $24 million, pushing its domestic total to under $100 million by Sunday. While not as explosive as Romulus, this performance is still a solid showing in a summer that has seen its fair share of ups and downs.

The 2024 summer box office has ultimately demonstrated that while the film industry is evolving, the traditional cinema experience is still ongoing. The revival of the Alien franchise and the strong performances of films like Deadpool & Wolverine, and It Ends With Us serve as reminders that with the right mix of nostalgia, innovation, and compelling storytelling, the box office can still surprise and delight.

As we look ahead to the fall and holiday seasons, the lessons from this summer will be crucial in shaping the future of film distribution and exhibition. The success of this summer's hits—Deadpool & Wolverine, Despicable Me, Twisters, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, It Ends With Us, and, of course, Alien: Romulus—has shown that there’s still plenty of life left in the big-screen experience.

Amid these box office hits, we also wanted to highlight the films Cold Betrayal and Stay Calm, featuring industry veterans like Billy Zane and Peter Greene, streaming on TheArchive. Zane’s connection to the first movie ever to earn $1 billion worldwide, the iconic box-office hit Titanic, and Greene’s to the wildly popular film The Mask brings a bit of a throwback to this summer’s hits. 

Speaking of Titanic, director James Cameron's 1997 epic has resurfaced in public discourse, albeit under somewhat grim circumstances. Following the tragedy of Oceangate, which saw a vessel vanish during a routine tour of the Titanic's wreckage, interest in Cameron's film spiked again. Netflix even capitalized on this renewed interest by acquiring Titanic's streaming rights shortly after the incident. 

As summer wraps up, one thing is clear: the magic of the movies is alive and well. They may not be at pre-pandemic level attendance, but we’re slowly finding our way back.  Whether it’s the thrill of a new Alien film, the charm of a beloved novel adaptation, or the nostalgia of a ’90s throwback, audiences are still eager to be swept away by the power of cinema. 

Looking for even more ways to watch and enjoy excellent movies & TV series?!? Head on over to YouTube and subscribe to Grapevine Documentaries, Multicom Entertainment, and TheArchive.These channels are dedicated to aficionados and lovers of cinema. You’ll find rare, retro, and restored films and TV, ranging from indies and series to Oscar-winning docs, unearthed MOWs, a killer horror library, and MORE!  

TheArchive channel is dedicated to aficionados and lovers of story, craft, and silver screen fun – streaming rare, retro, and restored films and classic TV. From indies and series, to Oscar winning documentaries, unearthed MOWs, and a killer horror library, TheArchive delivers forgotten, never-before-seen gems for free and many in 4K. Marilyn, Karloff, and Orson Welles stream alongside Reese, Keanu, and Samuel L. Jackson. Find true stories of Queen, Hendrix, and Sinatra, an LGBTQ library, MLK bios, and world history docs. TheArchive has the movies and shows you either saw, should’ve seen, or should be watching now!