The movie theater, much like the internal organs of a petty thief, has so many snacks and so little time to consume them, but audiences around the globe are still sampling Sony’sVenom. DirectorRuben Fleischer’s tale of disgraced journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and his gooey alien pal added another $21.3 million at the overseas box office this weekend, pushing it to $822 million worldwide and pastWonder Woman’s monster 2017 haul. This also nudgesVenompastMission: Impossible - Falloutto become the fifth highest worldwide earner of 2018 so far.
It’s been an interesting journey forVenom, and that’s not even countingthe insane processit took to get it into production in the first place. The film was ravaged pretty hard by critics when it premiered back in October, and notnotfor good reason.Venom’s a bit of a mess, with a story that feels chopped-and-screwed from a darker version and a third act conclusion that thuddingly arrives with all the subtly and set-up of a car crash.
But technical aspects aside,Venomis also just kind of damn entertaining on a pure popcorn level, with Hardy especially putting in the most cranked up Tom Hardy performance we’ve ever seen. WhileRiz AhmedandMichelle Williamssleepwalk through roles so shallow it’s shocking they didn’t break their necks diving into them, Hardy does…whatever the exact opposite of sleepwalking is. The dude is three Monster Energy Drinks deep by the 20-minute mark and eyeing every lobster tank in sight. It helps that Hardy’s take on the beloved character—who has been around in comic book form since the 80’s—is the only live-action version fans have other than the tacked on appearance inSam Raimi’sSpider-Man 3played by the significantly less coked upTopher Grace.
WithVenom’s success, it’s all but guaranteed that one of thosetwo 2020 release datesset aside by Sony belongs to a sequel. With that, you have to assumeWoody Harrelsonand his wonderfully terrible Ronald McDonald wig will return as Carnage. Strap in, the VenomVerse is rolling right along like a turd in the wind.
