“Venom: The Last Dance” is anticipated to enhance the October box office this weekend, projecting a domestic debut of $65 million and an overseas total of $100 million. However, early estimates suggest that this third installment may have the lowest opening among Sony’s popular antihero series.
The original “Venom,” released in 2018, opened with an impressive $80.2 million, setting an October record. This record was surpassed the following year by “Joker,” which earned $96.2 million on its debut. The second film, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” launched in October 2021 with a strong $90 million opening, benefiting theater owners still rebounding from the pandemic and striking a significant victory for Sony.
“Venom: The Last Dance” is likely to secure the largest opening weekend of October 2024 following the disappointing performance of “Joker: Folie à Deux,” which garnered only $37 million after receiving a surprisingly low D CinemaScore. While it’s common for sequels to experience a decline in box office performance, Sony remains optimistic that fans will consider this third entry the best so far, potentially leading to stronger ticket sales than predicted.
Reviews for “Venom 3” are set to be revealed at noon on Wednesday. The film reportedly has a budget of $120 million, not including marketing costs. On its opening day in select international markets, it grossed a better-than-expected $9.3 million in China, marking the largest opening day for a comic book film since Sony’s “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” This achievement has prompted Sony to revise its international opening forecast to $100 million, up from an initial estimate of $85 million.
Directed by Kelly Marcel, “Venom 3” features Tom Hardy reprising his role as the titular character. Hardy also collaborated with Marcel to write the screenplay, marking her directorial debut.
Additionally, opening this weekend is Edward Berger’s critically acclaimed Oscar contender, “Conclave,” a thriller centered on the Vatican’s process for electing a new pope. Produced by FilmNation and Indian Paintbrush, the film boasts a star-studded cast including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Focus Features, which acquired the domestic distribution rights, is set to release “Conclave” in 1,742 theaters. This film, targeting an adult audience and produced at a cost of just under $20 million, is projected to earn between $4 million and $6 million in its opening weekend while competing throughout the awards season, currently holding a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.