Venom: The Last Dance is set to invigorate the October box office this weekend, anticipating a domestic opening of $65 million and $100 million internationally. However, this latest installment may debut with the lowest figures in Sony’s antihero franchise.
The original Venom was released in 2018 to an impressive $80.2 million, setting an October record that was later surpassed by Joker in 2019 with $96.2 million. The sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, premiered in October 2021, earning $90 million and giving theater owners a much-needed boost during their recovery from the pandemic.
With Joker: Folie à Deux having underperformed with a $37 million opening, Venom: The Last Dance is projected to secure the largest October 2024 opening thus far. Despite a historical trend of lower earnings for third installments, Sony remains optimistic that fans will view this third entry as the franchise’s best, potentially leading to stronger ticket sales than anticipated.
Reviews for Venom 3 will be released on Wednesday, with the film having a reported budget of $120 million before marketing costs. The film opened in several international markets on Wednesday and earned an impressive $9.3 million in China, marking the best opening day for a comic book film since Sony’s Spider-Man: Far From Home. This success has prompted Sony to raise its international opening forecast from $85 million to $100 million.
Directed by Kelly Marcel, Venom 3 features Tom Hardy reprising his role, with Hardy also co-writing the script alongside Marcel, who makes her directorial debut with this project.
In addition to Venom 3, Edward Berger’s highly regarded Oscar contender Conclave will also debut this weekend. Set in the Vatican and centered on the election of a new pope, the film boasts a star-studded cast including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Acquired for domestic distribution by Focus Features, Conclave will open in 1,742 theaters, with expectations of earning between $4 million and $6 million during its first weekend. The film, produced for just under $20 million, has received critical acclaim, holding a 95 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Leave a comment