'Venom' still kills, topping North American Box Office

Industry watchers said the new Columbia/Marvel superhero film Venom: The Last Dance failed to match the openings of the series' two previous episodes but still easily topped the North American box office, with ticket sales estimated at $51 million.

"Venom: Let There Be Carnage," the follow-up to the original "Venom," had enjoyed a $96 million opening weekend in 2021, but "Last Dance" faced stiff competition for viewers from a baseball World Series featuring the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tom Hardy again plays a disgruntled journalist who morphs into a terrifying alien with huge jagged teeth -- and what has been described as a Gene Simmons tongue -- in a cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, and Rhys Ifans.

With Halloween only days away, Paramount's horror film "Smile 2" slipped just one spot from last weekend's opening, taking in $40.7 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday. Naomi Scott plays a troubled pop star afflicted by a grim curse.

Third place went to the new religious thriller "Conclave" from FilmNation, with $6.5 million. Ralph Fiennes, playing a cardinal called on to "manage" the election of a new pope, finds himself caught in shadowy, back-stabbing intrigue while wrestling with questions of his faith -- and ambition.

Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow play fellow cardinals, each with his agenda, and Isabella Rossellini is a nun of steely countenance.

Analyst David A. Gross said the film, with "sensational critics' reviews," is well-positioned in the Oscars Best Picture race. Edward Berger ("All Quiet on the Western Front") directed the film, which is based on a Robert Harris thriller.

Fourth, down two spots, was Universal and DreamWorks Animation's "The Wild Robot," about a robot having to get along with fuzzy woodland creatures after being stranded on a remote island. It took in $6.5 million.

And hanging steady in fifth was "We Live in Time," a romantic drama from StudioCanal, which made $4.8 million. Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star in it.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

"Terrifier 3" ($4.8 million)

The sequel spends more time in the crazy world of the afterlife than being based in the real world. IMDB

"Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" ($3.2 million)

"Anora" ($867,000)

"Piece by Piece" ($720,000)

"Transformers One" ($720,000)