By Anthony D'Alessandro

Editorial Director/Box Office Editor

Alien: Romulus is off to a strong start with $6.5 million in previews. Critics and audience scores remain high on Rotten Tomatoes, with 82% and 88% for the Fede Alvarez-directed version of the Ridley Scott production.

In terms of comps, Alien: Romulus is not far behind A Quiet Place: Part Two ($6.7 million previews, $52 million opening), Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ($6.6 million, $58 million opening) and Bad Boys: Ride or Die ($6.1 million, $57 million). The Cailee Spaeny-starring installment, set between "Alien" and "Aliens," is expected to open in first place with $40 million+, suggesting a massive late summer hit that could keep us rolling until September before Warner Bros.' Beetlejuice takes over. The film is booked into 3,885 theaters, which includes 400 Imaxes, 900 PLFs, 275 D-Box/4D screens and 90 ScreenX locations.