News
‘Venom’ is Having a Riot at the Box Office
There are a lot of genre films in theaters and somehow Columbia Picture’s Venom (read my review) is just devouring all the money. Dropping only 56% in its second, the Spider-Man spinoff pulled in yet another estimated $35.7M here in the States with $69.7M more internationally. The global take as of this writing is sitting at an eye-popping $378M. As we previously explained, these numbers are so astronomical (it’s already in profit zone off the $100M reported budget) that there will be a sequel, presumably featuring Woody Harrelson‘s Cletus Kasady (Carnage) as the antagonist.
Sony’s Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (read John’s review) opened to a disappointing $16.2M off a $35M budget. The film’s success is solely going to based on the film’s international numbers, which need to land in similar territory as the first with $150M. This is highly unlikely.
In other numbers:
CBS Films’ Hell Fest (my review) is shutting down way before Halloween with an excruciating $11M worldwide take; Fox’s Shane Black-directed The Predator (review) is sitting at $123M (although there is a Chinese release forthcoming); and Eli Roth‘s children’s horror film The House With a Clock In Its Walls (review) has made its way up to $101M on its $42M budget (this is getting interesting).
As for New Line Cinema’s The Nun (review), the Conjuring spinoff is now enjoying a $359M global take, which is just stupid ridiculous on the $22M reported budget.
Next week: HALLOWEEN.
All of us here at Bloody Disgusting are deeply sad to learn that The Blob director Chuck Russell has passed away at 74 years old.
Russell’s career began with his directorial debut, 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.
The multihyphenate film director, screenwriter, and producer is best known for helming 1994 comedy The Mask starring Jim Carrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger actioner Eraser, and adventure spinoff The Scorpion King. The latter served as the first leading role for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The filmmaker left an indelible mark on horror with his ANOES sequel, 1988’s The Blob, and 2000’s Bless the Child.
Russell’s final film credit is 2024’s Witchboard remake starring Madison Iseman (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Aaron Dominguez (Only Murders in the Building), and Jamie Campbell Bower (“Stranger Things”).
It marked Russell’s return to horror after a lengthy hiatus, and he shared sequel hopes to Bloody Disgusting in an interview ahead of the remake’s release: “I got to design the board with real mystical symbols and things that I know represent good and evil, and where that board takes us if the audiences respond to the film, and I hope they will; I know it’s out there for you guys, but the sequel is a world we’ll get to go a little further. That’s sure the intention.”
He also recently expressed interest in returning to the franchise that began his career.
TMZ notes that Russell passed away at his San Diego-area home.
We send our deepest condolences to Chuck Russell’s family, friends, and fans.
Director, Co-Writer & Producer Chuck Russell behind the scenes of the horror film, WITCHBOARD. Photo courtesy of The Avenue and Atlas Distribution
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