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411 Box Office Report: Venom Scores Big #1 Weekend, A Star Is Born Strong at #2

October 7, 2018 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas
Venom Marvel Image Credit: Sony Pictures

Two new releases invigorated the box office this weekend, with Venom soaring to lead the way. Sony’s take on the Spider-Man antihero dominated the box office for the #1 spot, bringing in $80 million. That’s well above the $65 million that most expected it to bring in heading into the weekend. It represents a huge win for Sony, giving them a very solid base from which to build their planned Spider-Man related films despite some very bad buzz going into the weekend for the movie.

Venom’s start is particularly strong for Sony when you consider that they’ve struggled in their efforts to bring Spider-Man and his related heroes to the big screen over the past several years, at least until Marvel came in to bring Spidey into the MCU with Spider-Man: Homecoming. The studio has been developing a series of films based around other Spidey-centric characters like Kraven, Black Cat and Silver Sable. Venom’s success was the key to those films getting off the ground. Things looked a bit uncertain heading into the weekend, with critics dunking on the movie. Rotten Tomatoes has a lousy 32% average consensus from critics, which is on par with the likes of Batman V Superman (27%) and Suicide Squad (28%).

Fortunately for Sony, fans enjoyed the film far more than critics. The film has a B+ CinemaScore, which is lower than the likes of Spider-Man: Homecoming but on par with Amazing Spider-Man 2. Chalk that up to Venom’s popularity, which is something that several analysts underestimated. The antihero doesn’t have the mainstream name value of Spidey or the X-Men, to be sure. But the character has an enduring appeal, and fans have been waiting to see him properly brought to the big screen after Sam Raimi’s bungling of the character in Spider-Man 3.

The good news keeps coming when you look at international numbers, too. Venom brought in $125.2 million from fifty-eight markets, beating projections there as well, for a $205.2 million worldwide gross. The film has the highest openings of all-time for October on both domestic and international fronts. The movie’s final success level will be determined by subsequent weeks, but there isn’t a lot of genre competition until Halloween in two weeks. That should allow the film to close in on $200 million domestically. The film will ultimately be a hit for the studio against its $100 million budget plus marketing costs.

While Venom ruled the roost, it wasn’t the only new success. A Star Is Born opened big in its own fashion, getting off to a $41.3 million start. That’s right around where most expected it to open, and represents a big start for a film that should have some serious box office legs. The Bradley Cooper-Lady Gaga film is the fourth iteration of this tale, which has been told for virtually every generation since Hollywood began. And this one is an example of why remakes are so popular: when they work, they really work. Critics love the film, with a 91% consensus on RT, as do fans who gave it an A CinemaScore.

All of this adds up to big money for the film, which could very likely be contending for awards at the end of the year. A Star Is Born is appealing to several cross-sections of the filmgoing public, which is always an indicator of longevity. Even with an opening at about half of Venom, A Star Is Born is also targeting a final domestic gross that could approach the $200 million range, with very little competition for its genre. Internationally the film is just getting started with $14 million in thirty-one markets. On a $36 million budget, this will be a major money-maker for Warner Bros. Pictures.

While Venom and A Star Is Born competed for adult audiences, Smallfoot benefited from being the sole film catering to the family crowd. The animated film was down just 35% in its second weekend with $14.9 million. This was an important hold for a film that cost $80 million, as it will need legs to make it to a profit margin. The film currently sits at $42.8 million domestically and $75.3 million worldwide. It should be able to make it to around $80 million domestically, and will need to rely on international numbers for any chance to hit a profit.

Night School took a hit from its solid start, down 55% in its second weekend to $12.3 million. The Kevin Hart and Tiffany Hadish-toplined comedy will make its way to profit without breaking a sweat despite the hefty fall, and is currently sitting at $46.8 million domestically and $58.8 million worldwide. It should reach about $75 million domestically by the end of its run.

The House With A Clock In Its Walls dropped 42% in its third weekend to score $7.3 million. The fantasy film has a total thus far of $55.1 million domestically and $79.3 million worldwide, and should be able to make some money for Universal thanks to the moderate budget of $42 million. This one is still on course for around $75 million domestically.

Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor finally saw a bit of a fall, as it slid 48% in its fourth weekend to $3.4 million. The Anna Kendrick/Blake Lively-starring film has a total of $49 million domestically and $76.4 million worldwide against a $20 million budget. The final domestic tally should be about $65 million or so.

The Nun was down 52% in its fifth weekend, scoring $2.6 million. The Conjuring universe film now stands at $113.4 million domestically and a great $346.7 million worldwide. It should end its domestic run at around $125 million and is a big hit against its $22 million budget.

Hell Fest crashed in its second weekend. The slasher film nailed down $2.1 million, down 60% from its moderate opening weekend. That’s not a great hold, even among the horror genre. Hell Fest currently sits at $8.9 million domesticcally and $9.5 million worldwide against a buget of $5.5 million. It should be able to hit around $12 million to $15 million in the US and will be a minor profit for CBS and Lionsgate thanks to inexpensive marketing.

Crazy Rich Asians dropped 50% in its eighth weekend as it felt the bite from Star Is Born. The hit rom-com brought in $2.1 million to push its tally to $169.1 million domestically and $225.9 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. The movie is still on course to end its run at around $175 million domestically in the US.

The Predator closed out the top ten with $900,000, down a brutal 77% in its fourth weekend. The Shane Black-directed action film now sits at $50 million domestically and $123.4 million worldwide. Its domestic total is ending around $52 million and it will be a money loser against the $88 million budget plus marketing.

Venom and A Stgar Is Born are likely to take the top two spots again next weekend, where the new releases will be astronaut drama First Man, horror comedy sequel Goosebumps: Haunted Halloween and noiresque thriller Bad Times at the El Royale. First Man is targeting an opening of around $20 million, with Goosebumps looking at a mid-teens start and El Royale just under $10 million.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Venom – $80 million ($80 million total)
2. A Star Is Born – $41.3 million ($41.3 million total)
3. Smallfoot – $14.9 million ($42.8 million total)
4. Night School – $12.3 million ($46.8 million total)
5. The House With a Clock in Its Walls – $7.3 million ($55.1 million total)
6. A Simple Favor – $3.4 million ($49 million total)
7. The Nun – $2.6 million ($113.4 million total)
8. Hell Fest – $2.1 million ($8.9 million total)
9. Crazy Rich Asians – $2.1 million ($169.1 million total)
10. The Predator – $900,000 ($50 million total)