Finally, we have the movie that saved cinema and it’s… “Venom: Let There Be Carnage”? No single film can possibly restore the box office to pre-pandemic levels, but the Sony title opened to $90 million in North America — in short, exactly what history tells us to expect from the Marvel character sequel.
Pre-opening estimates of $40 million-$60 million didn’t hint at this result. Instead, Andy Serkis’ film, with Tom Hardy reprising his role as a reporter with superpowers gained from aliens, became the biggest first weekend since “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” in December 2019. And with $130 million, this weekend also represents the highest box-office total since mid-February 2020. Note: After We Fell Film Online Subtitrat in Română
Beyond the grosses, here’s what could be a key indication that normalcy is in sight: “Carnage” grossed 12 percent more than “Venom” did when it opened exactly three years ago (when it had a boost from the 2018 Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday weekend). On average, openings for Marvel characters’ first sequels have an 18 percent increase over the originals.
That differs from the relatively strong openings like “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Black Widow,” “F9,” and “A Quiet Place Part 2,” all of which came with the Covid caveat. “Carnage” performed as though the pandemic conditions didn’t exist. Read More: No Time to Die 2021 Film Online Subtitrat in Română
Because “Joker” opened this same weekend in 2019 to $96 million, the overall weekend fell slightly shy of that year’s overall results. Even at 86 percent, that’s a great start to the month. Our running tally of four-week averages is 61 percent. With “No Time to Die” opening next weekend, and other promising titles to follow, theaters could end up closer to parity more quickly than expected.
“Carnage” had little competition with no new films of note since “Shang-Chi.” Its unpublished Cinemascore (B+, confirmed from other distribution sources) wouldn’t suggest a clearly positive initial response (the first film had the same grade). It also survived a frantic redating (from September 24 to October 15, back to this weekend), although it will lose most of its prime presentation by the time Bond is in full flower October 8. Note: Văduva Neagră 2021 Film Online Subtitrat in Română
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Animated sequel “The Addams Family 2” grossed $18 million, down from $30 million for the original. However, it was available on Premium VOD (#2 currently at iTunes, just behind newly released “Free Guy”), and family films have seen an overall drop of 25 percent or more below previous results. It’s another strong result.
The HBO Max play for “The Many Saints of Newark” didn’t help its gross of $5 million, but the poor C+ Cinemascore suggest it didn’t have a strong future iregardless of home availability.
Five of the top 10 are new this week, but Julia Ducornau’s Cannes Palme D’Or winner “Titane” isn’t among them. The acclaimed but unconventional French film opened in 562 theaters for $515,000.
Ahead of it at #9 was “The Jesus Music,” a documentary about faith-based performers; #10 is “Chal Mera Putt 3” (Rhythm Boyz), the third in a franchise about Indian immigrants in England. Both played in half or fewer locations as “Titane.”