12 minutes cost millions in lost profits on opening weekend.

The finished movie was 2hrs and 17mins long which meant that it could only be played 4 times per day at theater screen…but if Cameron’s team could shave off 12 minutes, then it could be played 5 times per day. Going against Fox Studio’s wishes, they didn’t edit down the running time. It’s estimated that twelve minutes cost Aliens $4 million in lost gross-profit during its first weekend.