Venom: The Last Dance Opens Below Expectations

Sony's "Venom: The Last Dance" opened with $51 million in its debut weekend, falling short of projections that estimated $65 million and significantly down from its franchise predecessors, which grossed $80.2 million and $90 million. Despite the domestic underperformance, the film performed strongly overseas, particularly in China, where it earned $46 million, contributing to an international total of $124 million and a global debut of approximately $175 million. With a production budget of about $120 million, and despite low critical reception (36% on Rotten Tomatoes), the film could still be profitable. However, this disappointing performance signifies a potential decline in the superhero genre, which is projected to experience its lowest-grossing year in over a decade. Industry expert David A. Gross predicts that upcoming superhero films in 2024 may only total around $2.25 billion worldwide, with only one major release, Marvel’s "Kraven the Hunter," remaining for the year. The overall trend indicates a waning dominance of superhero films in theaters.