Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Fox Channels May Go Dark on YouTube TV From Wednesday Over Payment Dispute

28 minutes ago

California Republicans Sue to Block Congressional Redistricting Plan

46 minutes ago

Leaders, Journalist Groups React to Israeli Gaza Strike That Killed Five Journalists

5 hours ago

Trump To Sign Executive Order Directing AG To Prosecute Flag Desecration

6 hours ago

Trump Signs Orders Aimed At Ending Cashless Bail Policies

6 hours ago

Fresno County DUI Crash Sends Car Into Embankment Near Highway 99

9 hours ago

Wrongly Deported Migrant Abrego Again Detained by US Immigration Officials

9 hours ago

US National Guard Troops in Washington to Begin Carrying Weapons, Officials Say

9 hours ago

Fresno County Wildfire Burns 3,338 Acres, Evacuation Orders Issued

9 hours ago
'Venom' Sets October Record With $80M; 'Star Is Born' Soars
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 7 years ago on
October 8, 2018

Share

NEW YORK — In a weekend of perfect counterprogramming for Hollywood, the comic-book movie “Venom” shrugged off bad reviews to shatter the October box-office record with an $80 million debut, while Bradley Cooper’s “A Star Is Born” soared to $41.3 million.
With $174.5 million in tickets sold at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore, it was easily the best October weekend ever thanks to two very different films that both outperformed expectations.
“Venom” came in a critically panned, much-doubted foray by Sony Pictures to kick-start a Marvel expansion away from “Spider-Man.” Warner Bros.’ “A Star Is Born” remake rode a wave of hype, Oscar buzz and acclaim for Cooper’s directorial debut and Lady Gaga’s first leading performance.
One was a very iffy proposition; the other a sure thing. Both worked big time.
“We knew we had a hit,” said Warner Bros. distribution chief Jeffrey Goldstein of “A Star Is Born.” ”We also knew that every time people saw the movie, they felt it, they cried, they loved it. People just like the movie.”

More in Question for Ruben Fleischer’s “Venom”

That was more in question for director Ruben Fleischer’s “Venom,” starring Tom Hardy as the antihero who first appeared in 2007’s “Spider-Man 3.” The film earned a dismal 32 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In “Venom,” many expected another studio misfire with “cinematic universe” ambitions.

“This is not a Marvel style; it’s not DC. Tonally, it’s its own unique direction.” — Steven O’Dell, Sony’s president of international distribution
Yet audiences flocked to “Venom” in record numbers, giving it a B-plus CinemaScore. The previous best October opening was 2013’s “Gravity” with $55.7 million (not adjusted for inflation). Adrian Smith, president of domestic distribution for Sony, said that even though the studio was confident, “I did not see $80 million coming.”
The most telling number that explained the film’s success, Smith said, was the 89 percent “fresh” audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. “Venom,” which cost about $100 million to make (relatively modest for a superhero film), grossed a total of $205.2 million globally.
Steven O’Dell, Sony’s president of international distribution, said the studio wanted to carve out a new approach for the comic-book adaptation with the PG-13-rated “Venom.”
“This is not a Marvel style; it’s not DC,” O’Dell said. “Tonally, it’s its own unique direction.”
While “Venom” attracted a younger, majority male audience, crowds for “A Star is Born” were more female, at 66 percent, and older, at 68 percent over 35.
“In our older audience, we had people who hadn’t been to a movie in years,” Goldstein said.

“A Star Is Born” Expected to Play Large Role in Awards Season

Warner Bros., which premiered “A Star Is Born” last month at the Venice Film Festival, previewed the film in special advance screenings in the days ahead of opening, adding an additional $1.3 million in ticket sales. The fifth version of the oft-remade tale, which cost about $40 million to make, had been in development at Warner Bros. for decades, with earlier versions to potentially star Whitney Houston or Beyonce.

“We just finished the second-best September ever. If we keep this up, there’s no question we’re going to get a record.” — Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore
With “A Star Is Born” expected to play a large role in awards season, Goldstein said the film is sure to run through Christmas. The movie’s soundtrack also reached No. 1 on iTunes this week.
The two films dominated the marketplace, though in limited release, Fox 2000’s “The Hate U Give” opened with $500,000 on 36 screens. That gave George Tillman Jr.’s adaptation of Angie Thomas’ best-selling young adult novel, starring Amandla Stenberg, a modest $14,000 per-screen average. The film is set to expand nationwide in the next two weeks.
Aubrey Wells, who wrote “The Hate U Give” adaptation, died Friday at age 58 after a five-year battle with cancer.
“Venom” and “A Star Is Born” helped push the year-to-date box office further above last year, now up 9.2 percent.
“The industry is absolutely on fire right now,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore. “We just finished the second-best September ever. If we keep this up, there’s no question we’re going to get a record.”

Estimated Ticket Sales

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore:
1. “Venom,” $80 million ($125.2 million international).
2. “A Star Is Born,” $41.3 million ($14 million international).
3. “Smallfoot,” $14.9 million ($11.7 million international).
4. “Night School,” $12.3 million ($3.4 million international).
5. “The House With a Clock in Its Walls,” $7.3 million.
6. “A Simple Favor,” $3.4 million ($4.1 million international).
7. “The Nun,” $2.6 million ($7.2 million international).
8. “Hell Fest,” $2.1 million.
9. “Crazy Rich Asians,” $2.1 million ($1.6 million international).
10. “MET Opera: Aida,” $1.2 million.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Crash With Semi-Truck Leaves Man Dead

DON'T MISS

Fox Channels May Go Dark on YouTube TV From Wednesday Over Payment Dispute

DON'T MISS

California Republicans Sue to Block Congressional Redistricting Plan

DON'T MISS

Two Students Arrested After Fight at Visalia’s Redwood High School

DON'T MISS

Trump Wants to Meet North Korea’s Kim This Year, He Tells South Korea

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Man After Shooting and Stabbing Leave Two Hospitalized

DON'T MISS

Entz: Bulldogs Must ‘Learn, Burn, Return’ After Kansas Loss

DON'T MISS

Caleb Quick’s Father, Other Parents Protest at Fresno Court to Repeal Prop 57

DON'T MISS

SF Has Avoided Trump’s Ire Until Now. Will He Send National Guard?

DON'T MISS

Lil Nas X Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges of Assaulting Police

UP NEXT

From Visalia to the Big Leagues: Dave Flemming’s Journey to Giants’ Broadcast Booth

UP NEXT

Hollywood’s Biggest AI Debut? Las Vegas Sphere’s ‘Wizard of Oz’

UP NEXT

Singer Lil Nas X Arrested After Charging at Officers, Police Say

UP NEXT

Find Out How You Can Watch Sold Out 72-Hour Film Race

UP NEXT

Fresno Hosts Giddy Up N’ Groove Country Festival Before Dog Daze Fest

UP NEXT

International Rapper Derrick ‘Aesop’ McElroy Who Called Fresno Home Dies at 51

UP NEXT

ESPN Won’t Air Spike Lee’s Docuseries on Colin Kaepernick, Citing ‘Creative Differences’

UP NEXT

CMAC Will Award Cash Prizes at 72-Hour Film Race Screening

UP NEXT

‘Friends’ Star Matthew Perry’s Drug Dealer to Plead Guilty in Overdose Death

UP NEXT

Actor Terence Stamp, Star of Superman Films, Dies Aged 87

Two Students Arrested After Fight at Visalia’s Redwood High School

59 minutes ago

Trump Wants to Meet North Korea’s Kim This Year, He Tells South Korea

1 hour ago

Fresno Police Arrest Man After Shooting and Stabbing Leave Two Hospitalized

2 hours ago

Entz: Bulldogs Must ‘Learn, Burn, Return’ After Kansas Loss

2 hours ago

Caleb Quick’s Father, Other Parents Protest at Fresno Court to Repeal Prop 57

3 hours ago

SF Has Avoided Trump’s Ire Until Now. Will He Send National Guard?

4 hours ago

Lil Nas X Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges of Assaulting Police

4 hours ago

Leaders, Journalist Groups React to Israeli Gaza Strike That Killed Five Journalists

5 hours ago

CA Bill To Give Interest On Insurance Payments To Homeowners

5 hours ago

Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Shining Laser at Sheriff’s Helicopter

5 hours ago

Fresno County Crash With Semi-Truck Leaves Man Dead

A 45-year-old man was killed Monday afternoon in a crash involving a passenger car and a semi-truck in southeastern Fresno County, authoriti...

10 minutes ago

fresno
10 minutes ago

Fresno County Crash With Semi-Truck Leaves Man Dead

YouTube app is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. (Reuters File)
28 minutes ago

Fox Channels May Go Dark on YouTube TV From Wednesday Over Payment Dispute

California Governor Gavin Newsom, along with local congressional representatives, state officials and supporters, speaks as he announces the redrawing of California's congressional maps, calling on voters to approve a ballot measure, in response to a similar move in Texas being supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 14, 2025. (Reuters File)
46 minutes ago

California Republicans Sue to Block Congressional Redistricting Plan

59 minutes ago

Two Students Arrested After Fight at Visalia’s Redwood High School

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Oval Office, at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 25, 2025. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
1 hour ago

Trump Wants to Meet North Korea’s Kim This Year, He Tells South Korea

2 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Man After Shooting and Stabbing Leave Two Hospitalized

Fresno State head coach Matt Entz
2 hours ago

Entz: Bulldogs Must ‘Learn, Burn, Return’ After Kansas Loss

Parents in Fresno County are calling for reforms to California’s Proposition 57, arguing it allows violent juvenile offenders to receive lighter sentences and slows prosecution, while providing support for families who have lost children to teen violence. (GV Wire)
3 hours ago

Caleb Quick’s Father, Other Parents Protest at Fresno Court to Repeal Prop 57

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend