The new installment of Hollywood's iconic sci-fi horror franchise "Alien" topped the Chinese box office over the weekend, offering local audiences a rarely experienced thrill and scare.

A still from "Alien: Romulus" shows a horrifying encounter between the protagonist and a Xenomorph. [Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios]

"Alien: Romulus," directed and co-written by Fede Alvarez, known for horror films like "Evil Dead," is a terrifying cinematic experience. Alvarez also serves as executive producer, with franchise creator Ridley Scott producing to maintain the original essence.

For over 40 years, the "Alien" franchise has set the standard for sci-fi horror, captivating generations with its iconic tagline, "In space, no one can hear you scream." The series, launched by Scott's 1979 film, has featured top directors like James Cameron and David Fincher, introducing groundbreaking creatures and effects that epitomize true terror.

Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, it was officially confirmed at the 2019 CinemaCon that future "Alien" films were in development. The journey of "Alien: Romulus" began when Alvarez shared his vision with Scott years ago, and the legendary filmmaker was instantly hooked. His production company, Scott Free, then pitched the idea to 20th Century Studios, and with their enthusiastic approval and Scott's guidance, Alvarez began collaborating with Rodo Sayagues on the screenplay. 

Even Cameron, who wrote and directed 1986's "Aliens" and is now known for some of the biggest films in history like "Titanic" and "Avatar," met with Alvarez early in the writing process, offering invaluable insights and suggestions on everything from character development to the creation of the alien monsters.

"Alien: Romulus," the seventh installment in the franchise, is set about 20 years after the first "Alien" movie and 37 years before "Aliens," making it a standalone interquel. In the film, while scavenging the far reaches of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers comes face-to-face with the Xenomorphs, the most terrifying life forms in the universe, designed by the late Swiss surrealist and artist H.R. Giger.

As the first film in the franchise to feature young adult characters, filmmakers sought fresh talent. The cast includes Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Chinese Canadian actor Aileen Wu.

A still from "Alien: Romulus" shows Rain Carradine, the protagonist heroine played by Cailee Spaeny, ready to fight Xenomorphs. [Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios]

Principal photography on "Alien: Romulus" began on March 9, 2023, in Budapest, Hungary. The filmmakers were particularly drawn to the city for the soundstages at Origo Studios, where almost all the sets were built. Alvarez assembled an impressive creative team, including top designers and visual effects veterans from "Aliens," to craft a visually stunning world that transports audiences to the darkest corners of the universe.

With Scott's blessing, Alvarez decided to return to basics when shooting the film. This included using visual effects techniques that haven't been employed in years. "I wanted to tip my hat to all the filmmakers who have come before me and pay homage to the 'Alien' franchise in a number of ways," the director explained.

"Watching anyone's version of something I've already done, there is always trepidation," said producer Scott. "But I thought 'Alien' needed a really fresh view. I had seen three of Fede's films, so I knew what he was capable of, and what I liked was the fact that he cast young people. That was a really valuable asset to what he was doing and what I knew he could do. So, I was excited from day one. I said, 'You've got a huge movie here.'"

"Alien: Romulus" opened strongly, grossing $41.5 million in North America and $108 million worldwide over the weekend, according to Box Office Mojo. The film received positive reviews from 81% of 262 critics on film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

A Chinese poster for "Alien: Romulus." [Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios]

After its premiere event in China on Aug. 13, both audiences and critics responded enthusiastically, with some describing it as the "scariest" film ever screened in China. The rave reviews led to the film grossing more than 187 million yuan ($26 million) over the weekend, injecting much-needed momentum into the Chinese summer market. However, due to the film's terrifying and violent content, many theaters and the official Chinese posters issued warnings against bringing children.

"The time has come. Prepare to be transported once again to the vacuum of space and all its horrifying unknowns," Scott said.

The previous and only "Alien" installment released in China was "Alien: Covenant" in 2017, which grossed 311 million yuan.

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