The latest Venom film, titled Venom: Let There Be Carnage, had a very successful debut in Chinese theaters. From Friday to Wednesday, the superhero movie earned $45.9 million at the box office in mainland China.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage showed dominance throughout its first release period, staying at the top of the box office charts. On its opening weekend from Friday to Sunday, the film earned the Chinese currency equivalent of $31.1 million. Saturday was the peak day, with around $14 million generated from over 150,000 movie screenings. IMAX screenings contributed significantly, bringing in about $6 million or 14% of total revenue during the five-day period.
This strong launch makes Venom: Let There Be Carnage the second highest grossing Hollywood movie released in China so far in 2022. Only Godzilla vs. Kong, which came out in March, had a bigger opening at $44.6 million. The new Venom film’s performance was greater than other recent successful movies from the U.S., such as Alien: Covenant which opened at $26.2 million on its way to earning over $100 million total.
Reviews from Chinese audiences and media have emphasized the movie’s emotional depth compared to earlier Venom installments. This anti-hero narrative seems to have resonated strongly with moviegoers on social media, indicating potential changes in how China receives American films following challenges in recent years.
The series has found remarkable success in China previously. The original 2018 Venom made an unusually high $262 million there, surpassing its box office revenues in North America. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, from being shown in Chinese theaters until now.
