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May 22, 2017, 2:24 AM UTC / Updated May 22, 2017, 2:24 AM UTC

LOS ANGELES "Alien: Covenant" edged out "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2" in a weekend space battle at the box office.

Ridley Scott's latest "Alien" exploit opened with $36 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. "Guardians" was close behind, with just more than $35 million in its third week of release.

"You couldn't get two outer-space operas that are more different in terms of point-of-view and execution," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for ComScore.

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A scene from 'Alien: Covenant.' Twentieth Century Fox via AP

Fox's "Alien: Covenant" is a dark, R-rated scare-fest about slimy, parasitic space monsters; Disney's "Guardians" is a sweet, family-centered romp across the cosmos.

"'Alien' is sort of the dark side," Dergarabedian said. "It's the R-rated yin to 'Guardians' PG-13-rated, fun yang."

Two other new releases landed in the top five. Warner Bros.' teen romance "Everything, Everything" debuted in third place, with $12 million, and Fox's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul," opened in fifth, with $7.2 million.

"Snatched," Amy Schumer's and Goldie Hawn's R-rated comedy from Fox, fell to fourth place in its second week of release, with $7.6 million.

"Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2" provided a solid launch to the summer movie season, with more than $300 million in domestic ticket sales so far, Dergarabedian said, although overall grosses are running about 10 percent behind last summer's totals.

Still, May is following a typical pattern, he said. Marvel movies kick off the month, which ends with Memorial Day tent poles like next weekend's "Baywatch" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.