British actor Tom Hardy made headlines when he attended the world premiere of “Venom: The Last Dance” in New York on October 21, 2024. The film, a sequel to the popular “Venom” franchise, did not perform as well at the box office as expected, with a disappointing opening weekend collection of $51 million. This was significantly lower than the previous entries in the series, with the original “Venom” film debuting with $80.2 million and the sequel, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” opening with $90 million.
Despite the lower opening weekend figures, “Venom: The Last Dance” is still expected to turn a profit for Sony Pictures, as its production budget was around $120 million, considerably lower than most comic-book films. The movie also performed better internationally, collecting $124 million over the weekend, including a strong showing in China. Overall, the film has received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, with a 36% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a franchise-low “B-” CinemaScore.
The disappointing performance of “Venom: The Last Dance” adds to a trend of lower box office earnings for superhero films in 2024. Film consultant David A. Gross predicts that superhero films will gross about $2.25 billion worldwide this year, the lowest in over a decade. The only upcoming superhero film, Marvel’s “Kraven the Hunter,” is set to be released in December. This decline in earnings comes after the recent flop of “Joker: Folie à Deux,” indicating a shift in audience interest away from traditional superhero narratives.
Meanwhile, in the world of cinema, the horror sequel “Smile 2” dropped to second place at the box office with $9.4 million in its second week. The papal thriller “Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes, made a strong debut with $6.5 million, positioning it as a potential Oscar contender. With a focus on adult-oriented dramas, “Conclave” attracted an older audience, with 77% of ticket buyers over the age of 35. The film’s success at the box office and critical acclaim could set it up for further success during award season.
Overall, the box office landscape for cinema in 2024 is showing signs of change, with superhero films facing challenges in attracting audiences and generating high earnings. The underperformance of “Venom: The Last Dance” suggests a shift in audience preferences towards different genres and storytelling styles. As the film industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how filmmakers and studios adapt to these changing trends and challenges in the future.
