Venom: The Last Dance aims to energize the October box office this weekend with an anticipated domestic opening of $65 million and a projected $100 million from international markets. However, the latest entry in Sony’s antihero franchise is on track to have the lowest North American debut among the trio of Venom films.
The original Venom made a splash in 2018 with an opening of $80.2 million, setting an October record at the time. That record was surpassed the following year by Joker, which debuted with $96.2 million. The sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, released in October 2021, achieved a strong opening of $90 million, providing a significant boost for theaters as they recovered from the pandemic and marking a major success for Sony.
Despite concerns about potential declines common with third films in a franchise, Sony remains optimistic that dedicated fans will regard the third installment as the best yet, which could help drive better-than-expected ticket sales. Reviews for Venom 3 are set to be released on Wednesday, and the film reportedly has a budget of $120 million before marketing costs.
On Wednesday, Venom 3 also debuted in select foreign markets, achieving an impressive $9.3 million on its opening day in China, marking the largest opening day for a comic book movie since the Sony hit Spider-Man: Far From Home. This early success has led Sony to revise their overseas opening forecast from $85 million to $100 million.
Directed by Kelly Marcel, Venom 3 features Tom Hardy reprising his role as the titular character. Hardy co-wrote the script with Marcel, who is making her directorial debut with this film.
Another new release this weekend is Edward Berger’s highly regarded Oscar contender Conclave, a thriller set within the Vatican revolving around the election of a new pope. The film, produced and financed by FilmNation and Indian Paintbrush, boasts a star-studded cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Focus Features, which secured domestic distribution rights, plans to release Conclave in 1,742 cinemas. This adult-oriented specialty film, produced for just under $20 million, is projected to open between $4 million to $6 million, with hopes of maintaining momentum throughout the awards season, bolstered by a 95 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.