Venom: The Last Dance picks up after the events of Venom: Let There Be Carnage following Eddie Brock and his symbiote, Venom, who are now fugitives on the run. A new threat Knull, the god of the void emerges as the trilogy’s final antagonist, sending his minions, the xenophages to Earth.
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Tom Hardy, as Eddie anchors the film with his comedic timing infusing every scene with energy. The addition of Chiwetel Ejiofor as Rex Strickland, a military leader with strong convictions and Juno Temple as Dr. Payne, a scientist with empathy for the symbiotes. Rhys Ifans joins as Martin, an alien enthusiast.
Kelly Marcel, who previously contributed to the Venom films as a writer and producer steps up as the director. Marcel’s approach gives the film a unique tone that combines buddy comedy with superhero spectacle.
Venom: The Last Dance explores the relationship between Eddie and Venom, portraying them as an odd couple who have grown closer through shared experiences. The pair’s humorous interactions including scenes at a Mexican bar and a Vegas casino.
Andy Serkis appears as Knull, the ancient god of the symbiotes, who poses a threat to Eddie and Venom. Knull’s hunt for the Codex drives much of the narrative tension.
Venom: The Last Dance introduces Dr. Payne, who believes in the symbiotes’ potential for coexistence with humanity and Rex Strickland, who fears they intend to overtake Earth.
The subplot involving Martin’s family provides comedic relief but sometimes diverts attention from the main narrative.
Venom: The Last Dance has impressive CGI effects, bringing to life intense action scenes with the xenophages and the transformation sequences of Venom.
The sequence where Eddie and Venom are pursued by a SWAT team down whitewater rapids is memorable for its execution and effective use of visual effects.
Marcel and Hardy lean heavily into humor with scenes of Venom’s playful antics providing light-hearted moments that counterbalance the film’s darker themes.
Venom: The Last Dance briefly goes into Venom’s origins, referencing Knull’s creation of the symbiotes and his imprisonment.
This origin story adds depth to Venom’s character and his complex relationship with his creator, though the limited exploration may leave some fans wanting more.
Eddie and Venom’s journey takes them to Nevada, where Area 51 plays a main role in the story as a secret government facility researching alien symbiotes.
The film’s pacing is inconsistent with some scenes feeling rushed while others linger without adding value. Shifts between humor and drama are not always seamless.
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Dr. Payne’s character has limited screen time leaves her character underdeveloped, reducing the impact of her storyline.
The Vegas scenes, where Eddie and Venom engage with a slot machine and dance to ABBA’s Dancing Queen with Mrs. Chen. These scenes showcase the playful side of Venom, though they feel disconnected from the central plot.
The absence of Anne, Eddie’s former love interest removes a presence that added emotional stakes in previous films. Her absence is noticeable, though the film compensates by deepening the bond between Eddie and Venom.
The PG-13 rating limits the intensity of the action sequences, preventing the film from fully exploring the potential of Venom’s darker themes.
Venom: The Last Dance opened at $52 million domestically, falling below the projected $65 million. This performance is behind Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which made $90 million on its opening weekend.
The New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers World Series game drew male viewership. Halloween festivities, the American Film Institute Fest and the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 also diverted audiences.
Sony moved the release from November 8, hoping for a few weekends of low competition before major holiday releases such as Red One, Wicked, Moana 2 and Gladiator II.
Southern regions and select AMC theaters such as AMC Burbank, saw stronger performance but overall domestic revenue remained disappointing.
Venom films have performed well internationally securing between 60% and 75% of their revenue outside the US Early reports show a favorable international start with Sony anticipating a $180 million global weekend, which is a 5% increase over Let There Be Carnage’s $171.6 million.
Aiming for a final take of $450 million to $500 million, Sony expects international box office performance to pull Venom: The Last Dance into profitability.
Venom: The Last Dance received a B- CinemaScore, a slight drop from the B+ ratings of its previous films. The film achieved 73% positive on PostTrak with a 55% definite recommend, but responses were mixed based on demographic divides.
Sony maintained a controlled budget of $120 million for the film, aligning with the original Venom and lower than other superhero releases like Joker: Folie à Deux ($190 million).
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