Venom: The Last Dance aims to energize the October box office with a projected domestic debut of $65 million and an international haul of $100 million, although it looks set to record the lowest North American launch in Sony’s antihero franchise. The original Venom launched in 2018 with $80.2 million, setting an October record at the time, which was surpassed the following year by Joker with $96.2 million. The sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, premiered in October 2021 to $90 million, a significant boost for theaters still recovering from the pandemic and a critical win for Sony.
Venom: The Last Dance is expected to achieve the largest opening weekend in October 2024 so far, following the underwhelming debut of Joker: Folie à Deux, which grossed $37 million after earning a rare D CinemaScore. Typically, threequels tend to underperform, but Sony remains optimistic that fans will consider this installment the best yet, potentially leading to stronger ticket sales than anticipated.
Reviews for Venom 3 will be available on Wednesday, with the film’s reported production budget standing at $120 million, excluding marketing expenses. On its first day in international markets, Venom 3 generated an impressive $9.3 million in China, marking the best opening day for a comic book movie since Sony’s Spider-Man: Far From Home. This success has led Sony to revise its overseas opening estimate from $85 million to $100 million.
Directed by Kelly Marcel, Venom 3 features Tom Hardy reprising his role as the titular character. Hardy, who has collaborated closely with Marcel, also co-wrote the screenplay for this film, which marks her directorial debut.
Additionally, this weekend sees the release of Edward Berger’s praised Oscar contender Conclave, a thriller focused on the election of a new pope set within the Vatican. Produced by FilmNation and Indian Paintbrush, the film boasts an impressive cast including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Focus Features, which has acquired the U.S. distribution rights, will release Conclave in 1,742 theaters. This adult-oriented specialty film, made for just under $20 million, is estimated to open with $4 million to $6 million and is expected to continue screening through the awards season, currently holding a 95 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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