‘Venom 3’ Dominates Box Office Again as Tom Hanks’ Film Fades

WASHINGTON — A subdued weekend in North American theaters saw the continued dominance of “Venom: The Last Dance,” which topped the box office once again with ticket sales reaching $26.1 million, according to studio estimates on Sunday. This marks a steady performance for the Sony film, starring Tom Hardy, as it continues to capture audience interest ahead of the presidential election.

The box office landscape was primarily characterized by established titles like “Venom 3,” “The Wild Robot,” and “Smile 2.” The release “Here,” featuring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, failed to resonate with audiences, earning only $5 million from 2,647 locations, which was particularly disappointing given the film’s high-profile cast.

“Venom 3” exhibited a relatively modest decline of 49% in its second weekend, a notable figure for a superhero film. Over its two weeks in theaters, the film has accumulated over $90 million domestically, significantly surpassing its predecessors, which each opened to over $80 million. Its global earnings have crossed $300 million, indicating substantial international appeal.

In second place, Universal and Illumination’s animated feature “The Wild Robot” attracted $7.6 million, marking an 11% increase from the previous weekend. With over $121 million earned in North America and $269 million worldwide, the film has emerged as a fall season success. Senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian stated, “For that film to see an increase after six weeks is astounding.”

Third place went to “Smile 2,” which earned $6.8 million, bringing its worldwide total to $109.7 million. Meanwhile, the adaptation of the graphic novel “Here” has not fared well critically, holding a mere 36% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics indicated that the film struggled to connect with audiences, despite its star power.

Focus Features’ “Conclave,” a papal thriller, secured fourth place with $5.3 million, down only 20% from its debut. Its total stands at $15.2 million, showing resilience amidst the weekend’s lackluster performance. Notably, two Indian films, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” and “Singham Again,” also marked their entries into the top ten.

Overall, the box office continues to lag behind 2023 figures by nearly 12%. Analysts anticipate that the forthcoming holiday season, highlighted by major releases like “Gladiator II” and “Wicked,” may rejuvenate ticket sales. Dergarabedian noted, “In a couple of weeks, it’ll get a lot more competitive.”

Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain,” which follows cousins on a Holocaust tour, opened in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles. It garnered an estimated $240,000—$60,000 per screen—one of the year’s highest per-theater averages, prompting plans for a nationwide release on November 15.

Some films, including Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” and Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” did not report full grosses, contributing to a blurred picture of the current cinematic landscape. “Juror No. 2” earned $5 million internationally, though domestic figures were withheld.

As industry reporting practices vary, Dergarabedian commented, “It’s really up to the distributors,” highlighting how box office numbers can sometimes reflect more on a film’s quality. The final domestic figures will be available Monday.

The estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters are as follows:

1. “Venom: The Last Dance” — $26.1 million

2. “The Wild Robot” — $7.6 million

3. “Smile 2” — $6.8 million

4. “Conclave” — $5.3 million

5. “Here” — $5 million

6. “We Live In Time” — $3.5 million

7. “Terrifier 3” — $3.4 million

8. “Singham Again” — $2.1 million

9. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” — $2.1 million

10. “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” — $2.1 million.

Note: This story has been corrected to clarify that “Terrifier 3” ranks seventh in the top ten, not “Terrifier 2.”