VENOM Projected To Debut In North America With A Solid $7+ Million Thursday Night Opening
Venom debuted in North America yesterday evening and while we don't have the final figures just yet, the projections are in and it seems like negative reviews may not be enough to hold the symbiote back...
Venom is already taking a bite out of the box office as Deadline reports that it's looking at a Thursday night debut of around $7 million. Showtimes for the Marvel Comics adaptation started around 5pm and, in comparison, A Star Is Born is pulling in around $2 million - $3 million. However, that movie started playing at 7pm and the number doesn't include Tuesday and Wednesday's early previews.
If these estimates are accurate, it means Venom is performing above Ant-Man ($6.4 million) and roughly on part with Thor: The Dark World ($7.1 million). However, it's currently behind The Amazing Spider-Man 2's $8.7 million. Analysts are currently torn as some believe that the movie will exceed expectations while others aren't sure if that 30% Rotten Tomatoes score will end up hurting it.
Should Venom exceed $8 million, it could end up scoring the best preview night ever in October beating Paranormal Activity 3 from 2011. As of right now, predictions for its opening weekend are all over the place but it is likely to do well. Whether or not it will have legs moving forward is hard to say, though, especially if moviegoers respond to it the same way as critics have. Stay tuned for updates.