The latest installment in the 'Venom' franchise, titled 'Venom: The Last Dance,' debuted at the box office with a collection of $51 million in its opening weekend, falling short of initial projections. This figure is notably lower than the previous entries in the series, with the original 'Venom' film opening at $80.2 million in 2018 and its sequel, 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage,' debuting at $90 million in 2021.
Despite the lower domestic performance, 'Venom: The Last Dance' is faring better internationally, raking in $124 million over the weekend, including a strong showing in China with $46 million over five days. The film, starring Tom Hardy in a dual role, has a production budget of around $120 million, making it more cost-effective compared to other comic-book adaptations.
However, critical reception for 'The Last Dance' has been lukewarm, with a 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a franchise-low 'B-' CinemaScore from audiences. This underwhelming box office performance contributes to a downward trend in superhero films, with industry experts predicting a lower overall gross for the genre this year.
Meanwhile, the horror sequel 'Smile 2' from Paramount Pictures slipped to second place at the box office, adding $9.4 million to its two-week total of $83.7 million worldwide. On a more positive note, the papal thriller 'Conclave,' directed by Edward Berger and starring Ralph Fiennes, made a strong debut with $6.5 million in 1,753 theaters, positioning it as a potential Oscar contender.
With a majority of its audience over the age of 35, 'Conclave' stands out as a rare adult-oriented drama finding success in theaters. The film's positive reception and box office performance suggest a promising trajectory both commercially and in awards season discussions.
