The new Columbia/Marvel superhero film “Venom: The Last Dance” failed to match the openings of the series’ two previous episodes but still easily topped the North American box office with ticket sales estimated at $51 million, industry watchers said.”Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” the follow-up to the original “Venom,” had enjoyed a $96 million opening weekend in 2021, but “Last Dance” faced stiff competition for viewers from a baseball World Series featuring the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. Tom Hardy again plays a disgruntled journalist who morphs into a terrifying alien with huge jagged teeth — and what has been described as a Gene Simmons tongue — in a cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple and Rhys Ifans.With Halloween only days away, meanwhile, Paramount’s horror film “Smile 2” slipped just one spot from last weekend’s opening, taking in $40.7 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday. Naomi Scott plays a troubled pop star afflicted by a grim curse.Third place went to the new religious thriller “Conclave” from FilmNation, with $6.5 million. Ralph Fiennes, playing a cardinal called on to “manage” the election of a new pope, finds himself caught in shadowy, back-stabbing intrigue while wrestling with questions of his own faith — and ambition.Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow play fellow cardinals, each with his own agenda, and Isabella Rossellini is a nun of steely countenance. Analyst David A. Gross said the film, with “sensational critics’ reviews,” is well-positioned in the Oscars Best Picture race. Edward Berger (“All Quiet on the Western Front”) directed the film, which is based on a Robert Harris thriller.In fourth, down two spots, was Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot,” about a robot having to get along witih fuzzy woodland creatures after being stranded on a remote island. It took in $6.5 million.And hanging steady in fifth was “We Live in Time,” a romantic drama from StudioCanal, at $4.8 million. Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star.Rounding out the top 10 were:”Terrifier 3″ ($4.8 million)”Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” ($3.2 million)”Anora” ($867,000)”Piece by Piece” ($720,000)”Transformers One” ($720,000)
Sun, 27 Oct 2024 19:11:13 GMT
