Monster debut: ‘Venom’ sequel rakes in $90.1M to set pandemic record
In a monstrous, record-setting debut, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” set a pandemic record with a $90.1 million box office showing after three days.
The darker sequel to “Venom” helped ignite the biggest weekend overall since COVID-19 shut down theaters in March 2020, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The “Venom” sequel was made by Sony Pictures in association with Marvel Studios, Variety reported. Marvel recently unveiled “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Black Widow” — the two highest-grossing films of the year at the domestic box office, the website reported.
“We are also pleased that patience and theatrical exclusivity have been rewarded with record results,” Sony chairman Tom Rothman said in a statement. “With apologies to Mr. Twain: The death of movies has been greatly exaggerated.”
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” did $25 million to $30 million higher than projections, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It became the first sequel of the pandemic era to finish ahead of the original film — “Venom” had an $80.3 million opening weekend, the website reported.
The “Venom” sequel, starring Tom Hardy and Woody Harrelson, topped the record set in July by “Black Widow,” which opened to $80 million in theaters, Variety reported.
“Black Widow” made an additional $60 million on the Disney+ streaming service and was available to customers the same day the movie debuted in theaters.
“Shang-Chi” made $75 million and Universal’s “Fast and Furious” sequel, “F9,″ made $70 million, according to Variety.
Cinemark, one of the nation’s three largest theater chains, enjoyed its biggest October opening weekend in history and its biggest October weekend overall, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“This is another strong example that people want and need to get out of their homes for an immersive entertainment experience,” Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi said in a statement.
“Young adult audiences are less deterred by current pandemic conditions than older and family moviegoers, which is benefitting superhero, action and horror movies,” David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, told Variety. “For these movies, playing exclusively on the big screen is clearly an advantage.”
