“Venom: The Last Dance” is set to make a splash at the October box office this weekend, anticipating a domestic opening of $65 million and $100 million internationally. Despite these impressive numbers, it appears that the third installment may see the lowest opening among Sony’s popular antihero franchise.
The original “Venom,” which debuted in 2018, opened to $80.2 million, setting a record for October until it was surpassed by “Joker” the following year with $96.2 million. The sequel, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” released in October 2021, had a strong debut of $90 million, which was crucial for theater owners recovering from the pandemic and a significant success for Sony.
With the underwhelming performance of “Joker: Folie à Deux,” which grossed $37 million in its debut, “Venom: The Last Dance” is positioned to have the largest opening of October 2024 thus far. Although threequels often see a decline in opening numbers, Sony remains optimistic that dedicated fans will consider this installment the best yet, bolstering ticket sales.
Reviews for “Venom 3” are expected to be released at noon on Wednesday, with the film’s budget reported at $120 million before marketing costs. On its opening day in several foreign markets, including China, “Venom 3” garnered $9.3 million, marking the largest debut for a comic book movie since “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” This strong performance prompted Sony to raise its international opening forecast from $85 million to $100 million.
Directed by Kelly Marcel, “Venom 3” stars Tom Hardy, who reprises his role as the titular character and co-wrote the script with Marcel, marking her directorial debut.
Additionally, this weekend sees the release of “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger, an acclaimed Oscar contender set in the Vatican about the election of a new pope. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Produced by FilmNation and Indian Paintbrush, “Conclave” will be released by Focus Features in 1,742 theaters, with projections of an opening between $4 million and $6 million. The film, targeting adult audiences, has a production budget of just under $20 million and maintains a fresh rating of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
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