Current:Home > Invest‘Heretic’ and Hugh Grant debut with $11 million, but ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ tops box office again -AssetTrainer
‘Heretic’ and Hugh Grant debut with $11 million, but ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ tops box office again
View
Date:2025-04-16 10:08:51
NEW YORK (AP) — “Venom: The Last Dance” has been no blockbuster in North American theaters. But in a lethargic fall moviegoing season, even a so-so performing superhero sequel can rule the box office for three straight weeks.
For the third weekend in a row, “Venom: The Last Dance” was the No. 1 movie at the box office, collecting $16.2 million in ticket sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. It fended off a pair of new challengers in the Hugh Grant horror thriller “Heretic” and the feel-good holiday movie “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
With the election on Tuesday, the major studios opted not to put any new releases into theaters. That allowed Sony Pictures’ “Venom: The Last Dance,” the third entry in the Tom Hardy-led franchise, to hold its position.
While “The Last Dance” hasn’t been a huge hit domestically — opening below expectations in late October — it has thrived overseas, grossing almost triple what it has in North America. The “Venom” sequel has grossed $279.4 million internationally, bringing its global total to $394.2 million.
“Heretic” and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” were neck and neck for second place. Counting only Friday-Sunday ticket sales, the edge went to “Heretic,” which debuted with $11 million. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” though, factored in $2.2 million in sneak-peak screenings from last weekend to claim a reported opening gross of $11.1 million.
A24’s “Heretic,” directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, follows two Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who knock on the door of a man (Grant) they’ll regret trying to evangelize to. Though “Heretic” has been critically acclaimed for the darkest turn yet by Grant, audiences were less impressed, giving it a “C+” CinemaScore. Regardless, with a budget under $10 million, “Heretic” will easily turn a profit.
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” released by Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, which specializes in Christian entertainment, is about six siblings with a bad reputation who take over the local church pageant. The film, an adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s 1972 children’s book directed by Dallas Jenkins, did well with audiences, who gave it a “A” CinemaScore. It, too, was modestly budgeted at about $10 million.
In its seventh week of release, Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” continues to show little rust in theaters. It landed in fourth place with $6.6 million, bringing its domestic haul to $130.2 million and its worldwide gross to $292 million.
Sean Baker’s acclaimed “Anora,” starring Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn sex worker, expanded into wide release. The Neon film, an expected best-picture contender, collected $2.4 million in 1,104 theaters. Its four-week total stands at $7.2 million.
The papal thriller “Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes, continues to perform exceptionally well for an adult-oriented drama. The Focus Features release, in its third weekend of release, added 487 theaters and dipped a modest 19% to earn $4.1 million. It has collected $21.5 million. Similarly, A24’s “We Live in Time,” starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, has stayed strong, grossing $2.2 million in its fifth weekend for a $21.8 million total.
Overall ticket sales, though, remain sluggish. Box office is running about 11% behind last year, according to Comscore. In the last two weeks, overall ticket sales are down about 50% from the pre-pandemic average, according to David A. Gross, a film consultant who publishes a newsletter for Franchise Entertainment.
The good news for theaters: The next few weeks are lined up for several big new releases, including the Amazon MGM Christmas comedy “Red One” (Nov. 15), Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II” (Nov. 22), Universal’s “Wicked” (also Nov. 22) and the Walt Disney Co.’s “Moana 2” (Nov. 27).
“Better late than never is the rule of the day and we can expect some positive success stories coming out of the Thanksgiving corridor, which looks the be on par with some of the biggest such frames over the past many years,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.
Before opening in U.S. theaters, “Red One,” starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, kicked off in 75 overseas markets, collecting $26.6 million. The film carries a hefty price tag of about $250 million to make.
Final domestic figures will be released Monday. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore, are:
1. “Venom: The Last Dance,” $16.2 million.
2. “Heretic,” $11 million.
3. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” $8.9 million.
4. “The Wild Robot,” $6.7 million.
5. “Smile 2,” $5 million.
6. “Conclave,” $4.1 million.
7. “Anora,” $2.5 million.
8. “Here,” $2.4 million.
9. “We Live in Time,” $2.2 million.
10. “Terrifier 3,” $1.4 million.
veryGood! (792)
Related
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar are popular. Which has the most caffeine?
- West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, known for quirky speeches, will give final one before US Senate run
- Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds focuses on education, health care in annual address
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- New Jersey’s State of the State: Teen voting, more AI, lower medical debt among governor’s pitches
- Olympic skater under investigation for alleged sexual assault missing Canadian nationals
- Blinken seeks Palestinian governance reform as he tries to rally region behind postwar vision
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- This Avengers Alum Is Joining The White Lotus Season 3
Ranking
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- 'Baywatch' star Nicole Eggert reveals breast cancer diagnosis: 'Something I have to beat'
- Armed man fatally shot by police in Baltimore suburb, officials say
- Coach Erik Spoelstra reaches record-setting extension with Miami Heat, per report
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- When and where stargazers can see the full moon, meteor showers and eclipses in 2024
- Olympic skater under investigation for alleged sexual assault missing Canadian nationals
- Michigan Wolverines return home to screaming fans after victory over Washington Huskies
Recommendation
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
Jimmy Kimmel vs. Aaron Rodgers: A timeline of the infamous feud
Sports gambling creeps forward again in Georgia, but prospects for success remain cloudy
Record-breaking cold threatens to complicate Iowa’s leadoff caucuses as snowy weather cancels events
This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
Product recall: Over 80,000 Homedics personal massagers recalled over burn and fire risk
All the movies you'll want to see in 2024, from 'Mean Girls' to a new 'Beverly Hills Cop'
NRA lawyer says gun rights group is defendant and victim at civil trial over leader’s big spending