Sony and Marvel’s Venom: The Last Dance has continued to lead the box office for a third consecutive weekend, pulling in $16.2 million. Despite this achievement, its performance falls short compared to the first two Venom movies, reflecting an industry-wide slump in box office results over recent weekends.
The sluggish performance isn’t due to a lack of new options; six new releases opened this weekend in over 1,000 theaters each: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Lionsgate), Heretic (A24), Overlord: The Second Kingdom (Sony), Elevation (Vertical Entertainment), Weekend in Taipei (Ketchup Entertainment), and Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration (Fathom Events).
Total weekend revenue across all films reached $72 million, which is notably down from last year’s comparable weekend, which totaled $87.5 million and was led by The Marvels with a $46.1 million opening.
Despite pretty bad reviews, in 17 days, Venom: The Last Dance has grossed $114.8 million domestically and $394.2 million globally, benefiting from strong international interest (71% of total earnings). Below are the box office details for all three Venom movies after 17 days:
Venom Series Box Office Comparison after 17 Days
| Release Date | Opening Weekend | 2nd Weekend | 3rd Weekend | Total Domestic (17 Days) | Production Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venom (2018) | $80.3M | $35.0M (-56%) | $18.0M (-49%) | $213.5M | $100M |
| Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) | $90.0M | $31.8M (-65%) | $16.5M (-48%) | $171.1M | $110M |
| Venom: The Last Dance (2024) | $51.0M | $26.1M (-49%) | $16.2M (-37%) | $114.8M | $120M |
Top Newcomers
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever debuted at $11.1 million, securing second place. Directed by The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins, this adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s classic children’s book brings a nostalgic touch, earning rave reviews (89% from critics and 98% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes). Produced for $10 million, it has already surpassed its budget and is expected to stay in theaters until Thanksgiving, with minimal competition for holiday audiences.
Heretic (A24) landed in third place with $11 million. Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place), the film follows two missionaries and their disturbing encounter with a man inspired by cult leader Keith Raniere.
Starring Hugh Grant as the chilling Mr. Reed, the film’s psychological intensity has resonated with critics, earning a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Heretic is set to continue its run through Thanksgiving, capitalizing on A24’s reputation for quality horror.
A24’s Top 5 Grossing Horror Films
| Title | Domestic Total | Worldwide Total | Production Budget | Critics | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talk to Me | $48.3M | $92.2M | $4.5M | 94% | 82% |
| Hereditary | $44.1M | $87.8M | $10M | 90% | 71% |
| Midsommar | $27.4M | $48.1M | $9M | 83% | 63% |
| The Witch | $25.1M | $40.4M | $4M | 91% | 60% |
| Maxxxine | $15.1M | $22.5M | $9M | 72% | 77% |
| Heretic | TBD | TBD | $15M | 93% | 78% |
Other Top Films
DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot took fourth place with $6.7 million, bringing its domestic total to $130.9 million and global total to $284.6 million after 45 days. This animated feature, produced for $78 million, is expected to perform four times over its budget worldwide, indicating potential for sequels.
Smile 2 placed fifth with $5 million, reaching $60.5 million domestically and $122.5 million worldwide over 24 days. Despite trailing the original’s $105.9 million domestic earnings, the sequel remains profitable with a $28 million budget and is on track to generate five times its production costs globally.
With Venom: The Last Dance continuing its lead and new releases making a strong showing, the box office remains dynamic despite overall year-over-year declines.
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