Venom: The Last Dance is set to make a splash at the October box office this weekend, with projections of a $65 million domestic debut and $100 million in international earnings. However, this installment may mark the lowest opening for Sony’s popular antihero franchise in North America.
The original Venom debuted with $80.2 million in 2018, breaking October records at the time. It was later surpassed by Joker with a $96.2 million opening a year later. The sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, scored a $90 million debut in October 2021, benefiting theater operators during their post-pandemic recovery and solidifying Sony’s success.
Despite the possibility of lower numbers for this threequel, Sony remains optimistic that dedicated fans will consider this latest installment the best yet, bolstering ticket sales beyond expectations. Reviews for Venom 3 are expected to be released on Wednesday, and the reported production budget stands at $120 million before marketing costs.
Recently, Venom 3 opened in several foreign markets, garnering an impressive $9.3 million on its first day in China, marking the biggest opening for a comic book movie in the region since Spider-Man: Far From Home. This has led Sony to increase its foreign opening forecast to $100 million from an initial estimate of $85 million.
Directed by Kelly Marcel, Venom 3 stars Tom Hardy, who reprises his role as the titular character and co-wrote the script with Marcel, who is making her directorial debut.
In addition to Venom, the weekend will see the release of Edward Berger’s highly admired Oscar contender Conclave, a thriller set within the Vatican that focuses on the election of a new pope. Produced by FilmNation and Indian Paintbrush, the film features a star-studded cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Focus Features, which acquired the rights for domestic distribution, is opening Conclave in 1,742 theaters. The film, aimed at adult audiences with a production cost of just under $20 million, is estimated to debut between $4 million and $6 million, with the potential for a longer run during awards season, supported by a 95 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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