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In a surprising turn of events, Venom: The Last Dance has surpassed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 at the China box office. This marks a significant achievement for theVenomfranchise and highlights the evolving landscape of global cinema, especially in post-pandemic conditions.
WhileGuardians of the Galaxy Vol 3had a solid box office run internationally, including in China,Venom: The Last Dancehas outperformed its Marvel counterpart in the world’s second-largest film market.
In this article, we’ll explore howVenom: The Last Dancemanaged to overtakeGuardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, the factors contributing to its success, and the broader implications for Marvel and Sony’s film universes.
The Rise of Venom: The Last Dance in China
Since its release in October 2024, Venom: The Last Dance has been a massive success, particularly in China. Although it was released later than Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, which hit theaters earlier in 2023, the movie has steadily gained traction in the Chinese market.
Venom 3, starringTom Hardyas the antiheroEddie Brock(Venom), has seen impressive ticket sales and strong fan engagement. On its fourth weekend, the film earned $4.8 million in China, marking a 34.2% drop from the previous weekend but still maintaining a steady performance despite the slight dip.
With a cumulative gross of $89 million in China,Venom: The Last Dancehas overtaken the $86.95 million made byGuardians of the Galaxy Vol 3in the region.
This marks a major milestone in theVenomfranchise’s post-COVID performance, as it is now the highest-grossing comic book movie in China since the pandemic. It also highlights the growing appeal of the film to Chinese audiences, with its mix of action, humor, and relatable antihero characteristics.
Key Factors Behind Venom’s Success in China
Star Power of Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy, who returns as the iconic antihero Eddie Brock, has a strong following in China. His global popularity, especially from roles inMad Max: Fury Roadand previousVenomfilms, likely played a crucial role in bringing audiences to the theaters.
Strong Fan Base and Franchise Loyalty
The success of the first twoVenommovies helped build a loyal fan base, and word of mouth has contributed to the solid box office run of Venom 3.
Fans of the character and the franchise have shown strong support for the new film, helping it edge out competitors like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.
Appeal of the Antihero Genre
In a market like China, where superhero films are popular, but audiences often gravitate toward complex characters, Venom offers a refreshing antihero persona.
The dynamic betweenEddie BrockandVenomoffers action and depth, which resonates well with Chinese moviegoers.
Post-COVID Box Office Trends
The global box office is still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic, and superhero films have become a major source of revenue in international markets.
Venom: The Last Dancehas benefited from the return of audiences to theaters and the growing demand for comic book movies.
For more details on the performance ofVenom: The Last Dancein China, including updates on its box office milestones, check out this Redditdiscussionwhere fans and analysts discuss the film’s success in the region.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3: A Strong Performance
When Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 was released in 2023, it was expected to be a major hit in all international markets, including China.
Directed byJames Gunn, the film had a star-studded ensemble cast featuringChris Pratt,Zoe Saldana,Dave Bautista,Karen Gillan, andPom Klementieff.
The third installment in theGuardians of the Galaxyseries was a culmination of the storyline that fans had been following since 2014. With a production budget of $250 million,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3grossed $845.55 million worldwide, making it a financial success for Marvel Studios and Disney.
However, despite its strong global performance,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3did not perform as well as expected in China. The film grossed $86.95 million in the region, which, while impressive, was not enough to secure the top spot.
Part of the reason for this could be the changing preferences of the Chinese audience, who have increasingly been drawn to films with darker themes or those involving more complex characters likeVenom.
Challenges for Guardians 3 in China
The MCU Fatigue
After the monumental success of previousMCUfilms, audiences may have felt less inclined to watch another superhero film, especially one that didn’t offer something new or groundbreaking compared to earlier entries.
Cultural and Narrative Disconnect
While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 is beloved worldwide, some Chinese viewers may not have connected as deeply with the characters or the storyline, especially when compared to the relatable, down-to-earth nature of Venom.
Release Timing and Competition
The competition for attention in the Chinese market is fierce, with local films and international blockbusters all vying for a share of thebox office.
By the timeGuardians of the Galaxy Vol 3arrived,Venom 3was already in theaters, making it harder for the MCU movie to capture the audience.
Comparing the Box Office Performances: Venom 3 vs Guardians 3
To understand the dynamics of Venom: The Last Dance’s success, let’s look at a detailed comparison of the box office performances of films in China and globally.
Film
Release Date
Production Budget
China Box Office
US Box Office
Overseas Box Office
Global Box Office
Venom: The Last Dance
Oct 25, 2024
$125 million
$89 million
$127.60 million
$308.50 million
$436.10 million
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
May 2023
$250 million
$86.95 million
$358.99 million
$486.55 million
$845.55 million
Box Office Comparison ofVenom 3vsGuardians 3.
As seen in the table,Venom 3has made significant strides in the international market, especially in China, where it has overtakenGuardians of the Galaxy Vol 3by a margin of $2 million.
Watch the Official Trailer ofVenom: The Last Dance.
Despite having a much lower production budget,Venom 3has proven to be a solid performer domestically and internationally. For further information onVenom: The Last Dance‘s international box office performance, you can check out this Quorapost.
Key Takeaways from the Comparison
Venom 3has outperformedGuardians 3in China by $2 million, marking a notable achievement for the film in the Chinese market.
WhileGuardians 3has grossed more globally,Venom 3is expected to surpass it in overall worldwide earnings by the end of its run.
The performance ofVenom 3in China is a testament to the growing popularity of antihero films and theVenomfranchise, particularly in post-pandemic cinema.
Conclusion
Venom: The Last Dancehas surpassedGuardians of the Galaxy Vol 3in China, highlighting its appeal to Chinese audiences.
The success ofVenom 3can be attributed to factors likeTom Hardy’sstar power, the franchise’s loyal fan base, and the film’s unique antihero theme.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, while a financial success globally, faced challenges in China due to MCU fatigue and competition from other films.
Venom 3has become a major player in the post-COVID box office landscape, particularly in international markets like China, where superhero films continue to dominate.
Last Updated: November 19, 2024
