Summary

Venom's success at the box office proves that Sony's Spider-Man Universe can still work despite some disappointing movies. Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) adapts classic Spider-Man characters from Marvel's pantheon, beginning with 2018's Venom. While many subsequent movies have not fared as well at the box office, Venom is one of the best-performing Marvel movies to date, even beating some of the most revered movies from the might Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Sony's Spider-Man Universe has adapted several classic Spider-Man characters in solo movies. These have included Morbius, Madame Web, and the upcoming Kraven the Hunter. However, Spider-Man himself is notably absent from Sony's franchise, which is often attributed to the franchise's relative failure. This perception may not be entirely accurate though, as Venom's box office performance clearly indicates. With Venom: The Last Dance confirmed, the franchise is making the most of its best venture, which has the power to completely revitalize the entire franchise.

Venom's MCU Movie Comparisons Show Just How Solid Its Box Office Was

Tom Hardy's First Venom Movie Made Over $850m

Venom's remarkable success at the worldwide box office surpasses many notable MCU movies. Venom outperformed beloved and celebrated MCU movies like Thor: Ragnarok, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Venom also earned more than recent releases, such as Thor: Love and Thunder, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and The Marvels, many of which were highly anticipated and considered cinematic events. However, Sony’s Venom performed better, beating an impressive 20 MCU movies at the box office.

While some of those same MCU films were not considered top earners within the franchise, both Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther were cultural phenomena, breaking barriers and setting new standards in superhero storytelling. The fact that Venom outperformed these blockbuster hits underscores its significant impact on global audiences. Ultimately, Venom's triumph at the box office showcases the enduring power of compelling storytelling and memorable characters, proving that even in a crowded market dominated by the MCU, there's still room for other comic book adaptations to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression.

Why The Original Sony Venom Movie Was So Successful

Venom's success can be attributed to a convergence of factors. Firstly, Venom hit theaters during a period when superhero movies were enjoying unprecedented popularity and critical acclaim. With audiences hungry for fresh takes on beloved comic book characters, Venom arrived as a refreshing addition to the genre, offering a compelling anti-hero narrative that stood out among a sea of traditional superhero tales.

Secondly, Venom benefited from being based on a well-known and beloved character from Marvel Comics. Venom's rich history and complex persona provided filmmakers with a wealth of material to draw upon, appealing to longtime fans while also captivating newcomers to the character's lore. The character was played compellingly by Tom Hardy, an actor known for charming his audiences, crafting a unique anti-hero to engage viewers.

Venom's success was also bolstered by its decent reception from both critics and audiences. While not without its flaws, the film managed to strike a balance between thrilling action sequences, dark humor, and character development. Hardy’s performance was also highly praised, as were the movie’s action sequences. As such, Venom resonated with both hardcore fans and casual moviegoers, contributing to its widespread appeal.

How Venom 3 Can Put Sony's Live-Action Spider-Man Universe Back On The Right Track

Sony's Venom: The Last Dance is primed to revitalize Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, which has seen a string of subpar movies. Madame Web and Morbius were both panned by critics - even prompting a debate over which could produce the most memes. Though Venom: Let There Be Carnage also received an underwhelming reception, the enormous triumph of Venom proves that there is an audience for the Marvel anti-hero. As can be observed in the MCU’s Box Office performance, even the most popular franchises have low points of only moderate success.

It’s successful movies that maintain a franchise, both financially and in terms of retaining an audience. Regarding the MCU as an example, Thor: Dark World is considered one of the worst MCU movies, but it was followed by the immensely popular Thor: Ragnarok. Therefore, despite the relative failure of Let There Be Carnage and the other Spider-Man Universe movies, Venom: The Last Dance could be a franchise high point and reinvigorate interest from the public. The Last Dance will likely retain its viewership, and if it performs as well as Venom, the entirety of Sony's Spider-Man Universe could be rejuvenated.

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Venom

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Venom is an action sci-fi movie that stars Tom Hardy as the titular Marvel anti-hero. When the Life Foundation begins experimenting on alien lifeforms they find on a comet that landed nearby, Investigative Journalist Eddie Brock begins to investigate them. When an infiltration goes wrong, Eddie finds that one of the aliens has bonded to him, forcing him to learn to live with his new uninvited host. Giving him superhuman powers, the two begin to work together to stop the rest of the symbiote's invasive species.

Director

Ruben Fleischer

Release Date

October 5, 2018

Runtime

112 Minutes

Upcoming Sony Spider-Verse Movies	Release Date
Kraven the Hunter	August 30, 2024