If the feedback from preview screenings is true, we could be see an excellent opening weekend between 60-70 million. Assuming the film exceeds the Prometheus box off and reaches around $500m - I have absolutely no doubt Alien Awakenings AND Alien 5 will go into production (even Scott can't supress this much longer, he doesn't own the intellectual property after all).
Hollywood fanchises are building there own better worlds in the form of "expanded universes" these days. The Alien property is one of Fox's most valuable - both in film and merchandising. It's here to stay this time round - look at the spin off material soon being released in novels and comic books alone. Covenant's release date was brought forward and is indicative of the studio's confidence in the film. I think we're on to a winner - I hope Fox will reconnect to the global love and sentimentality audiences have for RIPLEY, and bring her back somehow, giving her the satisfying conclusion to her story arc we all crave.