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,” which was close behind with just over $35 million in its third week of release, provided a solid launch to the summer movie season with more than $300 million so far,

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters:

1. “Alien: Covenant,” $36 million

2. “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2,” $35.1 million

3. “Everything, Everything,” $12 million.

4. “Snatched,” $7.6 million

5. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul,” $7.2 million.

6. “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” $6.8 million

7. “The Fate of the Furious,” $3.2 million

8. “The Boss Baby,” $2.8 million

9. “Beauty and the Beast,” $2.4 million

10. “How to Be a Latin Lover,” $2.2 million