TEMPO.CO, New York - Sony Pictures `Spider-Man` spinoff `Venom` and Bradley Cooper’s acclaimed remake “A Star Is Born” fueled the best-ever October weekend at North American theaters.
Both films debuted above expectations. “Venom,” starring Tom Hardy as the comic-book antihero, opened with $80.3 million, according to final studio figures Monday.
Sony’s opening effort to create a larger universe for its available Marvel characters shrugged off terrible reviews to set a new box office record for an October debut.
Read also: Tom Hardy says On-screen Venom Stays True to Marvel Comics
Warner Bros.’s anticipated “A Star Is Born,” starring Cooper and Lady Gaga, also opened resoundingly with $42.9 million.
`Venom` attracted a largely male, younger audience, while `A Star Is Born` found predominantly female and older crowds.
The two films together pushed the weekend to more than $175 million in ticket sales, according to comScore, in the traditionally quieter month of October.
AP