After struggling in the U.S. market, Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance is shifting its focus to international audiences.
The Venom series, which is a spin-off from Spider-Man, has always done very well outside of the United States. This is especially true in China, where both previous films found great success.
However, Venom: The Last Dance did not perform well in the domestic market. It had a low opening compared to previous films in the franchise. Fortunately, it seems to be compensating for this with a strong performance overseas, especially in China.
The first Venom movie was released in 2018 and directed by Ruben Fleischer. It became a massive hit in China, earning around $270 million. This film eventually made over $850 million worldwide, while its production budget was about $110 million.
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Because of this success, Sony quickly decided to make a sequel. The second film, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, was directed by Andy Serkis. It faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic but still did surprisingly well when it was released in late 2021.
This sequel earned over $500 million globally, despite not being released in China at that time. While many other Hollywood films have seen a drop in popularity in China, Tom Hardy’s role as Eddie Brock, the journalist who hosts the alien symbiote Venom, seems to resonate with audiences there.
Now, Venom: The Last Dance has grossed around $45 million during its extended debut in China. This number is similar to its $51 million earnings in the domestic market. Notably, this opening in China marks the biggest for a comic book movie since the pandemic.
When you combine the earnings from both regions, the film made approximately $175 million worldwide in its opening. This figure is close to what industry experts expected.
The film had a reported budget of $120 million and is directed by Kelly Marcel, who is making her directorial debut. Marcel was a writer on both previous Venom films.
Critics have not been very kind to the Venom movies. Neither of the first two films received great reviews, but audiences seemed to enjoy them for their fun and silly moments. However, it appears that viewers’ patience with the franchise may be wearing thin.
Venom: The Last Dance received a B- CinemaScore from audiences on its opening day. This score is two grades lower than those of the first two films.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 36% approval rating, which is a significant drop from the second film’s 57% score. In his review for Collider, Aidan Kelley noted, “the film is still bogged down by a litany of other issues that distract from the positive aspects.”
The cast of Venom: The Last Dance includes well-known actors such as Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, and Stephen Graham.
This film exists in the same universe as Sony’s live-action Spider-Man movies featuring Tom Holland. Sony has attempted to expand this universe, but these efforts have not gone well.
Two other films, Morbius and Madame Web, both flopped at the box office and received harsh reviews from critics. Despite these setbacks, Sony is hopeful for better results with the upcoming Kraven the Hunter film.
While Venom: The Last Dance struggles in the U.S., its strong international numbers show that it still has a solid fan base around the world.
The series continues to have a special place in the hearts of many viewers, especially in markets like China. The international success of Venom proves that even if a movie does not perform well in one country, it can still thrive in another.
As the franchise moves forward, it will be interesting to see how Sony balances the interests of its domestic and international audiences.
Will future films focus more on the elements that resonate with international viewers, or will they try to win back American audiences? Only time will tell. The future of the Venom series may depend on how well it can adapt to the changing tastes of its fans.
Venom: The Last Dance shows the complexity of the movie industry today. It is a reminder that a film’s success is not just about how it does in the United States.
The international market plays a crucial role in determining a movie’s full performance. The Venom franchise has shown that it can be successful outside of the U.S. market, but it will need to address the concerns of critics and audiences alike to continue its success in the future.
