Sony has one moreMarvelmovie set to release in 2024, andVenom: The Last Dance’s box office could illustrate how successful the studio’s next film could be. TheSony Spider-Man Universe movie rosterhas been a mixed bag since 2018’sVenom. None of its films are critical darlings, but audiences enjoy the Venom series, and the franchise has experienced international success. The same can’t be said aboutMadame WebandMorbius, two box office bombs that failed to land with audiences and critics. Currently, the Venom films have been the live-action universe’s only real success.
However,Venom 3is the final film in the Tom Hardy trilogy, meaning it appears the Sony Spider-Man Universe can’t rely on the franchise moving forward. Itsnext film isKraven the Hunter, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the titular role. Kraven’s success could be significant for Sony, as it decides what to do with its Spider-Man characters moving forward. It’s hard to predict whetherKraven the Hunterwill be a box office hit, butVenom 3’s box office performance suggests the upcoming film has a chance.
Venom: The Last Dance is holding steady after a disappointing opening weekend.
Venom 3didn’t have a great start, earning $51 million domestically in its opening weekend, performing well under expectations. It was also the lowest debut for any film in theVenomtrilogy. However, the film is holding up better than expected in its second weekend. It topped the weekend box office charts again, earning $26.1 million. It experienced a 49% drop from its opening weekend, which is not bad for a superhero film. It’s also performing well overseas, with a total of $317 million worldwide and is on pace to passVenom: Let There Be Carnage’s worldwide total.
24 Venom: The Last Dance Easter Eggs & Marvel References Explained
Venom: The Last Dance features all kinds of Easter eggs and Marvel references amid all the crazy symbiote mayhem and Knull the Symbiote God.
Venom: The Last Dance’s box officeproves that Sony’s Spider-Man Universe isn’t dead yet. WhileVenom 3isn’t a critical darling with a 40% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, its second weekend underlines that there is still an audience for these films. People want to see theVenomfilms, and they even have a strong audience worldwide. It also meansMadame Web’s andMorbius' negative effect on Sony didn’t do enough to tarnish theVenomfilms. However, it’s unclear if the reputation of those releases could prevent audiences from seeingKraven the Hunter.
Kraven The Hunter Could Ride Venom 3’s Success, But It Has Competition
Kraven the Hunter has a tough holiday season to contend with.
While the Venom films have an established audience,Venom 3is also benefitting from a relative lack of competition. Its main competitors areThe Wild Robot, which took second place in its sixth weekend, andSmile 2.Kraven the Hunterdoesn’t have the same luck. It releases in the middle of the holiday season on December 13 and is competing with several heavy hitters.The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrimdebuts on the same day, andMufasa: The Lion KingandSonic the Hedgehog 3premiere the following week.
The other issue is thatKraven the Hunteris rated R, which could affect its box office, since families are looking for family-friendly entertainment around the holiday season.Venom 3is doing well at the box office, but it’s hard to know ifKravencan ride that hot streak. Kraven is a well-known name for comic book readers, but Sony’s poor reputation could impact viewer’s decisions. Established franchises likeThe Lion King,Sonic, andLord of the Ringsalso could steal audiences away from this film.
Kraven’s Success Will Depend On Word-Of-Mouth, But There’s Hope
Kraven has a talented cast and crew in its creative department.
Another huge factor forKraven’s success is word-of-mouth. While critics don’t loveVenom 3, audiences are enjoying it, leading to a decent second weekend. The film currently holds an 81% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This is especially notable compared to that of prior superhero movie releaseJoker: Folie à Deux, which received a 32% audience scoreand suffered a catastrophic 81% drop in its second weekend.Kraven the Huntercould perform well in its opening weekend, but if it wants to have any legs at the box office, it needs positive word-of-mouth from the audience.
Fortunately,Kraven the Hunterhas a few factors that should give audiences some optimism. The film has a great cast, including Johnson, Ariana Debose, and Russell Crowe. It’s also directed by J.C. Chandor, whose filmography includes esteemed films such asMargin CallandA Most Violent Year. Kraven’s R rating doesn’t guarantee success, but does show that Sony is switching things up, which could also benefit the franchise. Sony may have a poor reputation, but the people involved with this film don’t, and that could lead to a holiday surprise.
