Although it’s only midway through its debut weekend, Venom: The Last Dance is already underperforming compared to the box office metrics set by previous installments in the franchise.
This latest comic book film marks the conclusion of Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Eddie Brock, and it was promoted as a wild and exhilarating finale for the unconventional superhero duo. However, despite some viral marketing moments — like the visually striking horse that Eddie and his symbiotic partner ride to hasten their travels — it appears that audiences are not as eager to watch Venom: The Last Dance as they were for the earlier films.
As reported by Variety, Venom: The Last Dance has pulled in just $22 million domestically from all its openings and previews. This puts it on track to significantly miss its initial target of around $65 million for the opening weekend. The film’s first-day earnings also fall short of the $32 million that the original Venom earned back in 2018 and the $37 million that Venom: Let There Be Carnage made in its initial screenings in 2021.
The expectation that Sony’s third, and possibly final, installment of the Venom series will underperform like its predecessors might not be surprising. The movie has faced largely negative reviews ahead of its theatrical launch, with several critics pointing out that it strayed too far from the humorously chaotic dynamic between Eddie and his immature extraterrestrial companion. While the first two films didn’t garner universal acclaim, Venom: The Last Dance‘s current audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes is also trailing behind those of its forerunners.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen if Venom: The Last Dance will come close to matching the impressive global box office totals of $856 million and $506 million achieved by its predecessors. Both Venom and Let There Be Carnage notably made more money internationally than domestically, leaving the door open for The Last Dance to follow suit and potentially outperform its current revenue predictions. Only time will reveal the true outcome.
Venom: The Last Dance is currently screening in theaters.
