“Venom: The Last Dance” is set to brighten the October box office this weekend with expectations of a domestic opening of $65 million and $100 million in international markets, although it appears that this latest installment may launch with the lowest figures in Sony’s antihero series. The original “Venom” debuted in 2018 with $80.2 million, setting an October record at the time, which was later surpassed by “Joker” with $96.2 million. The sequel, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” premiered in October 2021 to $90 million, providing a substantial boost for theaters rebounding from the pandemic.
“Venom: The Last Dance” is anticipated to secure the largest opening of October 2024 thus far, especially after “Joker: Folie à Deux” underperformed with a $37 million opening due to a disappointing CinemaScore rating. While threequels often see a drop in performance, Sony is optimistic that dedicated fans will consider this third film the best, potentially boosting ticket sales beyond expectations. Review scores for “Venom 3” will be available at noon on Wednesday, and its production budget stands at $120 million before marketing costs.
On Wednesday, “Venom 3” started its international rollout by earning an impressive $9.3 million on its opening day in China, marking the best debut for a comic book film since “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” leading Sony to revise its foreign opening predictions from $85 million to $100 million. Directed by Kelly Marcel, the film stars Tom Hardy, who reprises his role and co-wrote the screenplay with Marcel, marking her directorial debut.
This weekend also sees the release of Edward Berger’s acclaimed Oscar contender, “Conclave,” a thriller set in the Vatican focusing on the election of a new pope. Produced by FilmNation and Indian Paintbrush, the film features a star-studded cast including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Focus Features has acquired the domestic rights and is releasing “Conclave” in 1,742 theaters. The film, aimed at adult audiences and produced for just under $20 million, is projected to open with between $4 million and $6 million, with hopes to maintain momentum throughout the awards season, currently boasting a 95 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.