Venom: Let There Be Carnage matches a Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings box office record. The sequel to 2018's Venom from director Andy Serkis, which sees Tom Hardy reprise his role as the journalist and symbiote-host Eddie Brock, released in US theaters on October 1. The Marvel Cinematic Universe film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, meanwhile, opened domestically on September 3.
Since movie theaters across the world were forced to close in March 2020, box office numbers have been stripped of their usual meaning, with success in the pandemic era measured with its own unique yardstick. However, after a kickstart from A Quiet Place Part II, 2021's superhero blockbusters have shown that audiences are increasingly willing to return to cinemas. Despite ultimately underperforming for a Marvel film, Black Widow enjoyed an $80.2 million opening weekend, while Shang-Chi more than tripled the previous record for Labor Day Weekend and is approaching $400 million globally.
Now, according to Deadline, the newly released Venom 2 is setting a new benchmark. After having broken Black Widow's pandemic record with a $90.1 million opening weekend, the Sony film has matched Shang-Chi by grossing $100 million domestically in just five days. Not only did Venom: Let There Be Carnage do this without the aid of a holiday, but even in these less certain times, it reached the milestone more quickly than the six days it took the original Venom.
Though it's as yet unclear whether Venom 2 will have the same legs as Shang-Chi has shown, it's important to note that COVID-19 is not the only factor at play. The recent precarity of box office grosses encouraged studios to abandon the 90-day window of theatrical exclusivity that was once industry standard, experimenting with shorter periods as well as day-and-date streaming releases. However, both of the pandemic era's current box-office kings are on a theatrical window exceeding 45 days, strengthening the argument that a substantial period of exclusivity is better for the bottom line.
While many might once have bemoaned another superhero movie making big money, the financial success of Venom: Let There Be Carnage is good news for everyone. Movie theaters took a big hit over the last year-and-a-half, and it's now possible to say with growing confidence that viewers are feeling safe enough to return, and in substantial enough numbers to discourage any more high-profile delays. Additionally, Shang-Chi's strong run was enough for Disney to guarantee their next few major releases at least 45 days before they appear on Disney+, with 20th Century Studios' The Last Duel first to benefit. Venom 2 continuing the trend for a non-MCU property could be enough for other distributors to start thinking along the same lines.
Source: Deadline
