After two years of delays, Sony’s “Living Vampire” has been unleashed, with Morbius now playing in theaters as of last night. And the numbers for Thursday night previews are in.

Morbius opened to $5.7 million last night during early Thursday night previews, which puts it right on track to hit the $40 million opening weekend estimates we had heard.

The closest point of comparison to Morbius would be Sony’s Venom movies, which similarly center on a Spider-Man foe. Back in 2018, Venom had an $80 million domestic opening, while last year’s sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage opened to an even bigger $90 million. Nobody is expecting Morbius to post Venom numbers, but it sure would like to come close.

Let There Be Carnage, on that note, took in $11 million during Thursday night previews, which again puts Morbius on track to come in somewhere near $40 million this weekend.

Meagan writes in her review of Morbius, “At best, it’s a serviceable placeholder until the next installment of this expanding universe.” She adds, “Morbius is primarily a fangless affair.”

Sony’s latest Spider-Man spinoff centers on Michael Morbius, a scientist who, in trying to find a cure for a rare blood disease, accidentally transforms himself into a living vampire. Though disgusted by his own bloodlust, he chooses to prey upon criminals he deems unworthy of life.

Here’s the full official synopsis from Sony…

“One of Marvel’s most compelling and conflicted characters comes to the big screen as Oscar® winner Jared Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius.

“Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil – or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?”

Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless wrote the script.