Venom: The Last Dance Set to Face Lowest Opening Weekend in Trilogy History

Essential Insights

Venom: The Last Dance has made a shaky debut at the box office, with predictions indicating a $65 million opening weekend.
Negative critical reception and strong competition are impacting its performance compared to earlier films in the series.
International revenue may provide a lifeline for the film, despite an uncertain outlook in domestic markets.

With Venom: The Last Dance now screening in theaters, all eyes are on Sony to see if the conclusion of its beloved Spiderverse series can translate into significant box office returns. While initial feedback is trickling in, the outlook doesn’t seem promising.

Preliminary data suggests that Sony may be facing disappointing news. This installment has been notably the most anticipated of the three Venom films. Although Tom Hardy reprises his iconic role, the film features other prominent actors, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, and Rhys Ifans, aiming to amplify excitement for this final chapter. Unfortunately, it appears that these efforts may not have resonated with audiences.

Venom: The Last Dance Struggles at the Box Office

As reported by Deadline, the Thursday preview showed a lackluster $8 million. While there was a possibility of a late-night surge domestically, the initial figures are disappointing. Current weekend forecasts suggest that Venom: The Last Dance may only reach $65 million in its opening weekend, marking a significant decline for the franchise. This would lead to the lowest opening weekend for any film in the Venom trilogy.

Venom: The Last Dance is insultingly bad and I am amazed it was actually released in theaters. It’s going to be on streaming in two weeks — Oliver VanDervoort (@itmeolliev) October 24, 2024

The unfavorable reviews just prior to the film’s release likely contribute to its lack of traction. If predictions hold, this would represent a decline of approximately $20 million compared to the opening weekend of Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Although the first two films didn’t have substantial debuts either, the previous successes of Carnage and Venom during October—historically a tough month for superhero films—show how dramatically The Last Dance has stumbled.

Venom: The Last Dance
Cast	Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu, Clark Backo, Alanna Ubach
Directed By	Kelly Marcel
Release Date	October 24, 2024

In comparison to other recent superhero films, such as DC’s Black Adam and Joker: Folie a Deux, Venom: The Last Dance is not alone in its struggles. For instance, Black Adam had a teaser preview earning $7.6 million and ended its opening weekend at $67 million. The Joker sequel experienced a disappointing trajectory as well, with an initial $7 million in previews before crashing to just $37 million throughout its opening weekend, marking it as a significant miss in the genre.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXfqeH_xGZ0

VENOM 3: The Last Dance “I Will Annihilate Your World!” New Teaser Trailer (2024) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXfqeH_xGZ0)

This lackluster performance for Joker: Folie a Deux prompted Warner Bros. to fast-track its digital release, making it available for purchase and rental on October 29. Venom: The Last Dance may be sailing toward a similar fate, depending on its domestic box office results. One potential relief could lie in its international performance, which historically has outpaced the domestic earnings of its predecessors.

Source: Deadline

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