Sony’s latest Marvel film sets the stage for a robust global opening, projected to reach $165 million.
Sony’s highly anticipated film, Venom: The Last Dance, has kicked off its international box office journey with a strong performance in China, raking in an impressive $9.3 million on its opening day. This marks the highest opening day for a superhero film since Spider-Man: Far From Home, signalling a promising trajectory for the movie’s five-day launch in the region, which is now expected to hover around the upper $30 million mark.
The film’s initial performance exceeds recent Hollywood releases, although comparisons are somewhat complex due to the timing of openings. In today’s market, any debut exceeding $20 million in China is regarded as a significant achievement, especially for a superhero film. Early indicators from the audience feedback platform Maoyan show a high social score of 9, which is likely to influence box office outcomes in the coming days.
In a historical context, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the second instalment in the franchise, didn’t release in the Chinese market, but the original Venom film achieved phenomenal success with a $107.7 million debut and a final tally of $269.2 million in the region. Maoyan currently predicts a total run of approximately $82.5 million for this latest instalment, The Last Dance.
As it stands, projections suggest a potential global opening of $150 million, with overseas earnings initially estimated at $85 million. However, given the positive start in China, those figures may be revised upwards, with some analysts now speculating a total closer to $165 million if the film can maintain momentum in its opening weekend.
Directed by Kelly Marcel, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside lead actor Tom Hardy, Venom: The Last Dance will be available in approximately 90% of its international markets by Friday, with major territories like France and Japan set to join the rollout later in the release schedule.
This strong opening positions Venom: The Last Dance as a frontrunner for box office success this season, and its performance in China will be closely watched as the film continues its international journey.
