The weekend box office saw familiar titles leading, with “Venom: The Last Dance” topping the charts once again. The film, starring Tom Hardy, grossed $26.1 million. It has performed consistently well since its release, showing a modest drop in its second weekend.
Industry sources reported that “Venom 3” continued to draw audiences, making over $90 million domestically in two weeks. Globally, the film surpassed $300 million. This performance reinforces its status as a box office favorite.
Universal’s “The Wild Robot” also performed well, securing the second spot with $7.6 million. The animated feature has grossed over $121 million in North America. It experienced an 11% increase from the previous weekend, a rarity for a film in its sixth week.
“Smile 2” captured third place, adding $6.8 million to its total earnings. Meanwhile, the Tom Hanks-led “Here” struggled. It opened to only $5 million, despite high expectations. The film reunited the “Forrest Gump” team but failed to resonate with audiences.
Sony’s “Conclave” outperformed “Here,” grossing $5.3 million. In its second weekend, “Conclave” showed a smaller drop in earnings. Indian films “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” and “Singham Again” also debuted in the top 10, signaling diverse audience interests.
Overall, the box office lags nearly 12% behind last year’s figures. Industry experts remain hopeful as the holiday season approaches. Films like “Gladiator II” and “Wicked” are expected to draw larger crowds.
Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain” launched in select theaters, earning $240,000. Its per-theater average ranks among the highest this year. Searchlight Pictures plans to expand the release to over 800 theaters by mid-November.
In contrast, several films withheld their box office numbers this weekend. Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” and Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” did not report full grosses. Netflix, handling “Emilia Pérez,” also withheld numbers, a common practice for the streaming giant.
Warner Bros.’ “Juror No. 2,” directed by Eastwood, stars Nicholas Hoult. The film did not release domestic numbers, though international earnings reached $5 million. Studios sometimes choose not to report figures to avoid negative perceptions.
The industry continues to navigate challenges, including shifting viewing habits and increased competition. Filmmakers and studios must adapt to engage audiences both in theaters and at home. The coming weeks will test the industry’s resilience and adaptability.
