“Venom: The Last Dance” aims to energize the October box office this weekend with an expected domestic debut of $65 million and $100 million internationally, even though it may be set for the lowest North American launch in Sony’s antihero franchise.
The first “Venom” film debuted to $80.2 million in 2018, setting an October record, which was surpassed the following year by “Joker” with $96.2 million. The sequel, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” opened in October 2021 with $90 million, proving to be a considerable success for theater owners still recovering from the pandemic and a significant win for Sony.
“Venom: The Last Dance” is expected to secure the largest opening of October 2024 to date, especially after “Joker: Folie à Deux” stumbled with a $37 million debut post its unusually low D CinemaScore. Although it is common for third installments to decline in performance, Sony is optimistic that fans will view this latest chapter as the strongest of the series, boosting ticket sales beyond expectations.
Reviews for “Venom 3” are set to be released at noon on Wednesday, and the film has a reported budget of $120 million before marketing costs.
On its opening day in several international markets, “Venom 3” generated a robust $9.3 million in China, marking the largest opening day for a comic book film since the release of fellow Sony title “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” This performance led Sony to revise its overseas opening forecast to $100 million from an earlier estimate of $85 million.
Directed by Kelly Marcel, the film features Tom Hardy reprising his role as Venom. Hardy also co-wrote the script alongside Marcel, who is making her directorial debut with this project.
Another film debuting nationally this weekend is “Conclave,” an acclaimed thriller directed by Edward Berger that centers around the election of a new pope. The film, produced by FilmNation and Indian Paintbrush, boasts an impressive cast including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Focus Features, which secured domestic rights for a distribution fee, will release “Conclave” in 1,742 theaters. The film, targeting adult audiences and produced for just under $20 million, is projected to open between $4 million and $6 million while aiming to remain in theaters through the awards season, currently holding a 95 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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