NEW YORK, Oct 4 (US): The quest for pandemic films is finally starting to look like it went into pre-pandemic films. Sony Pictures’ Marvel series “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” blew up expectations by debuting with $90.1 million in ticket sales, easily making it the best opening for the pandemic, according to studio estimates on Sunday.
“Venom: Let There Be Carage” was expected to open with nearly half of that total. But the movie, which is showing exclusively in theaters, even skipped over until the original 2018 version came out. “Venom,” the “Spider-Man” spin-off that introduced Tom Hardy’s bizarre parasitic equivalent, was released for $80.3 million. Only 2019’s Joker ($96.2 million) opened bigger than ever in October, AP reports.
The result – along with the strong international sales of James Bond’s No Time to Die – was the best news for movie theaters in more than 18 months.
“With apologies to Mr. Twain: The death of films has been exaggerated,” Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures’ Motion Pictures Group, said in a statement.
Both “Let There Be Carnage” and “No Time to Die” were originally scheduled to open last year. Believing that the best return at the box office will happen with an exclusive release in theaters, both studios (neither of which has a major streaming platform) are holding out for better movie-watching conditions. Over the weekend, their wait was rewarded.
“No Time to Die,” which opened in North America Friday, grossed $119.1 million in 54 overseas markets. According to MGM and Universal Pictures (which holds several international rights), the pace was roughly in line with the opening of “Skyfall.” After its London premiere last week, No Time to Die – the 25th Bond film and Daniel Craig’s last journey as a supernatural spy – grossed $25.6 million in the UK and Ireland. It was $11.4 million on Saturday, and it was the best box office day of any Bond movie on its territory.
Before “Let There Be Carnage,” the major openings of the pandemic were Walt Disney’s “Black Widow” ($80 million), “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” ($75 million), and Universal Pictures” Fast and Furious ‘F9’ sequel ($70 million). ‘Black Widow’ was simultaneously released in homes, leading to a lawsuit from star Scarlett Johansson that was settled last week. Movies ‘Shang-Chi’ appeared ‘ and ‘F9’ and ‘Let There Be Carnage’ debut only in theaters.
“Films can only become cultural when people see them together on the biggest and best screens and have that experience as a group,” said Josh Greenstein, group president of Sony Motion Pictures. “You can’t do it yourself at home.”
After many delays, Sony finally moved the release of the sequel to “Venom,” directed by Andy Serkis and co-starring Woody Harrelson as Carnegie’s enemy Venom, for two weeks. Abroad, she also added $13.8 million in Russia.
“We’ve seen the authenticity of ‘Shang-Chi’ and it has given us confidence that when the product is around, the box office will be back,” said Adrian Smith, Sony’s head of distribution. “It is very certain to see the demand for the play.”
Not everything is returning to theaters as quickly as the Marvel movies and the biggest brand names. Going to the family cinema is still slow, as are ticket sales in movie theaters. Older audiences and families with unvaccinated children were more cautious.
The Addams Family 2, an animated sequel from MGM and United Artists Releasing, opened with $18 million despite terrible reviews (27% new on Rotten Tomatoes) from critics. The film, a sequel to the 2019 animated reboot, was released simultaneously on video-on-demand.
The failure of “Many Saints in Newark,” the long-awaited prequel to The Sopranos. The film, co-written by Sopranos co-creator David Chase, which premiered decades before the HBO series, opened with $5 million. The film was, like all Warner Bros. In 2021, it’s also streaming to HBO Max to subscribers – a practice that some filmmakers, including Chase, have denounced. The studio has pledged to return to exclusive theater windows in 2022.
Julia Ducornau “Titane”, winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this summer, has struggled to make an impact in theaters. The film, a wild ride about a serial killer woman with a unique connection to cars, grossed about $516 000 in 562 neon theaters.
But spectator films, particularly those that particularly appeal to young people, have been driving a greater percentage of moviegoers this year. Marvel’s Shang-Chi, the studio’s first film led by an Asian superhero, dominated the past month in cinemas. It was previously the first movie for four consecutive weeks. This weekend’s “Shang-Chi” became the first film to cross $200 million domestically, with cumulative revenue of $206.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $386.9 million worldwide.
Large screens also help drive the recovery process. With $30 million in global sales, IMAX had its best October weekend ever. Megan Colligan, president of IMAX Entertainment, called it proof of “what today’s box office can do.”
“The perception may be that these films are over-performing, but the truth is that many people underestimate how excited global consumers are to go back to the cinema,” said Colligan.
Estimated ticket sales Friday through Sunday in US and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.
Final local numbers will be published on Monday.
RAE