This weekend marks the conclusion of an era for Sony’s “Venom” series. Since 2018, Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Eddie Brock has brought a blend of slapstick humor that has both amused and puzzled audiences. The latest installment, “Venom: The Last Dance,” serves as a final chapter for the duo before a potential new iteration or character dons the alien suit. However, audience reactions have been lukewarm.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the third installment in the series is projected to earn $51 million domestically, falling short of the $65 million initially anticipated. For comparison, the original film debuted with $80.2 million in North America, setting an October record at that time, while the 2021 sequel, “Let There Be Carnage,” opened with $90 million, a notable figure during the pandemic. International audiences have been more receptive, with the film expected to earn $124 million outside North America, contributing to a global total of $175 million.
“Venom: The Last Dance” received negative reviews and mixed word-of-mouth feedback, possibly compounded by Halloween festivities diverting some audiences. Despite this, it secured the top spot for the weekend, overtaking “Smile 2,” which earned an additional $10.3 million domestically and $12.5 million internationally, reaching a worldwide total of $83.7 million. Additionally, “Terrifier 3” was reported by Variety to have made $4.5 million, bringing its total earnings to $44 million, three times that of its predecessors combined.
Venom’s competition is minimal for the upcoming weekend in terms of notable genre films. However, the following week will see the release of A24’s religious horror film, “Heretic,” and the post-apocalyptic “Elevation” on November 8. Subsequently, audiences can expect the action Christmas film “Red One” on November 15, followed by “Gladiator II” and “Wicked: Part I” on November 22, and “Moana 2” on November 27.
