Following multiple delays, Sony and Marvel’s comic book adaptation “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” finally arrives in theaters on Friday and is estimated to be headed for a $50 million opening weekend.
The film marks the first real blockbuster release since Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” four weeks ago, and so those estimates may not hold with some suggesting sales could go as high as $65 million, while Sony is playing it conservative with a projection closer to $40 million.
Several things are in its favor. The film is playing only in theaters and so won’t hit issues of sustainability that seems to impact day-and-date releases. Its PG-13 rating means it will avoid some of the problems the R-rated “The Suicide Squad” encountered, while still pulling in the young male demographic which is the one returning to cinemas the most.
Better still the movie is clocking in at a 75% (5.9/10) rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a VAST improvement on the 30% (4.5/10) of its predecessor. Its competition this weekend also goes for different demographics with “The Addams Family 2” tracking for a $15-17 million opening while “The Sopranos” prequel film “The Many Saints of Newark” is expected to arrive with a little under $10 million.
Source: Deadline
