Venom: The Last Dance Overtakes Guardians 3 in China

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 the Venom franchise and highlights the evolving landscape of global cinema, especially in post-pandemic conditions.

While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 had a solid box office run internationally, including in China, Venom: The Last Dance has outperformed its Marvel counterpart in the world’s second-largest film market.

In this article, we’ll explore how Venom: The Last Dance managed to overtake Guardians 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, starring Tom Hardy as the antihero Eddie 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.

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With a cumulative gross of $89 million in China, Venom: The Last Dance has overtaken the $86.95 million made by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 in the region.

This marks a major milestone in the Venom franchise’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 in Mad Max: Fury Road and previous Venom films, likely played a crucial role in bringing audiences to the theaters.

Strong Fan Base and Franchise Loyalty

The success of the first two Venom movies 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 between Eddie Brock and Venom offers 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 Dance has benefited from the return of audiences to theaters and the growing demand for comic book movies.

For more details on the performance of Venom: The Last Dance in China, including updates on its box office milestones, check out this Reddit discussion where 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 by James Gunn, the film had a star-studded ensemble cast featuring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff.

The third installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy series 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 3 grossed $845.55 million worldwide, making it a financial success for Marvel Studios and Disney.

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However, despite its strong global performance, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 did 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 like Venom.

Challenges for Guardians 3 in China

The MCU Fatigue

After the monumental success of previous MCU films, 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 the box office.

By the time Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 arrived, Venom 3 was 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.

As seen in the table, Venom 3 has made significant strides in the international market, especially in China, where it has overtaken Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 by a margin of $2 million.

Despite having a much lower production budget, Venom 3 has proven to be a solid performer domestically and internationally. For further information on Venom: The Last Dance‘s international box office performance, you can check out this Quora post.

Key Takeaways from the Comparison

• Venom 3 has outperformed Guardians 3 in China by $2 million, marking a notable achievement for the film in the Chinese market.
• While Guardians 3 has grossed more globally, Venom 3 is expected to surpass it in overall worldwide earnings by the end of its run.
• The performance of Venom 3 in China is a testament to the growing popularity of antihero films and the Venom franchise, particularly in post-pandemic cinema.

Conclusion

• Venom: The Last Dance has surpassed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 in China, highlighting its appeal to Chinese audiences.
• The success of Venom 3 can be attributed to factors like Tom Hardy’s star 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 3 has become a major player in the post-COVID box office landscape, particularly in international markets like China, where superhero films continue to dominate.

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