Sony’s comic book movie Venom is doing big business at the Friday box office for a possible domestic opening approaching $70 million, easily an October best and among the top 10 openings of 2018 so far, according to early returns.
Also singing loudly is Warner Bros.’ A Star Is Born. In addition to directing, Bradley Cooper stars opposite Lady Gaga in the critically acclaimed film, which is tipped to come in at around $40 million, an impressive start for an adult-skewing fall movie.
Thanks to the very different pair of films, the first weekend of October could set records, both in terms of biggest opening and overall revenue. To date, the top October domestic debut of all time belongs to Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity, which blasted off with $55.7 million in 2013, not adjusted for inflation.
Venom, starring Tom Hardy as the Marvel antihero, could earn $30 million from 4,250 theaters on Friday alone, including $10 million in Thursday previews. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the $100 million pic co-stars Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze and Reid Scott.
More bullish box-office observers believe Venom could even strike $75 million for the weekend, on par with this summer’s Ant-Man and the Wasp. It remains to be seen how front-loaded Venom is, and whether it can withstand withering reviews. (Sony insiders continue to project an opening in the $55 million range.)
A Star Is Born is on course to gross $15 million or more on Friday from 3,688 locations, including $4.6 million in Thursday previews and special showings on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The music-infused romantic drama marks Cooper’s directorial debut, as well as Lady Gaga’s acting debut in a lead role.
Costing a relatively modest $40 million to produce, A Star Is Born is the fourth adaptation of the classic tale of a tortured, hard-drinking celebrity, in this case, a country-western star, who falls in love with a woman on the brink of fame.
Warners remains more cautious in its weekend projections, suggesting $35 million-$40 million.
The month of October has never been viewed as a corridor for mega-openings; rather, films — and especially adult-skewing titles and awards contenders such as A Star Is Born — can enjoy a long run.
In 2014, the adult-fueled thriller Gone Girl, starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, opened to $37.5 million over the Oct. 3-5 weekend on its way to grossing $167.8 million domestically. A wild card in the case of A Star Is Born are younger Lady Gaga fans, dubbed “Little Monsters.”
A Star Is Born presently boasts a Rotten Tomatoes score of 93 percent, compared to 30 percent for Venom.
(Excerpt) Read more in: The Hollywood Reporter