### "Venom: The Last Dance" Aims for Impressive Box Office Debut

The latest Marvel comic book adaptation, "Venom: The Last Dance," is poised to devour at least $65 million in its opening weekend. This third and concluding chapter of the Tom Hardy-fronted antihero series will be premiered in 4,125 theaters across North America starting this Friday.

Although ambitious, the current projection falls short of the impressive openings set by its predecessors. The first film, “Venom,” raked in a sizable $80 million during its initial weekend back in 2018, while its successor, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” smashed records in 2021 by collecting $90 million, a record during the pandemic era. The new release is also banking on strong international returns, aiming for an overseas total of $85 million, contributing to an anticipated global debut of $150 million.

The "Venom" franchise, centered around Spider-Man's formidable comic book foe, has historically defied critical expectations, proving to be review-proof. Despite critics giving the original film a meager 30% on Rotten Tomatoes and the sequel a slightly better 57%, audiences still flocked to theaters. The first film achieved a remarkable $856 million worldwide, while the second installment brought in $506 million globally. Critiques of the latest movie are currently under embargo.

"Venom: The Last Dance" is expected to dominate the domestic box office, easily surpassing last weekend’s leading film, Paramount’s horror sequel "Smile 2," which garnered $23 million. In addition to "Venom," another new entrant is Ralph Fiennes’ thriller "Conclave," aiming for a modest $4 million to $6 million from 1,742 theaters. Directed by Edward Berger, known for his work on "All Quiet on the Western Front," "Conclave" is a gripping Vatican-set drama about the selection of a new pope, complete with secrets that threaten the church’s very foundation. The film stars Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini.

Acquired by Focus Features, "Conclave" has received positive reviews. Variety’s chief film critic, Peter Debruge, praises it as a “thinking man’s thriller that unfolds like a murder mystery,” noting its unexpected twists, with one particularly satisfying turn that both surprises and restores faith.