Venom: The Last Dance has been no blockbuster in North American theatres. But, in a lethargic fall moviegoing season, even a so-so-performing superhero sequel can rule the box office for three straight weeks.

Venom: The Last Dance was the No. 1 movie at the box office for the third weekend in a row, collecting $16.2 million in ticket sales in U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to studio estimates Sunday. It fended off a pair of new challengers in the Hugh Grant horror thriller Heretic and the feel-good holiday movie, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

With the election on Tuesday, the major studios opted not to release new releases in theatres. That allowed Sony Pictures91裸聊视频� Venom: The Last Dance, the third entry in the Tom Hardy-led franchise, to hold its position.

While The Last Dance hasn91裸聊视频檛 been a huge hit domestically 91裸聊视频� opening below expectations in late October 91裸聊视频� it has thrived overseas, grossing almost triple what it has in North America. The Venom sequel has grossed $279.4 million internationally, bringing its global total to $394.2 million.

Heretic and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever were neck and neck for second place. Counting only Friday-Sunday ticket sales, the edge went to Heretic, which debuted with $11 million. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, though, factored in $2.2 million in sneak-peak screenings from last weekend to claim a reported opening gross of $11.1 million.

A2491裸聊视频檚 Heretic, directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, follows two Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who knock on the door of a man (Grant) they91裸聊视频檒l regret trying to evangelize to. Though 91裸聊视频淗eretic91裸聊视频� has been critically acclaimed for the darkest turn yet by Grant, audiences were less impressed, giving it a C+ CinemaScore. Regardless, with a budget under $10 million, Heretic will easily turn a profit.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, released by Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, which specializes in Christian entertainment, is about six siblings with a bad reputation who take over the local church pageant. The film, an adaptation of Barbara Robinson91裸聊视频檚 1972 children91裸聊视频檚 book directed by Dallas Jenkins, did well with audiences, who gave it a 91裸聊视频淎91裸聊视频� CinemaScore. It, too, was modestly budgeted at about $10 million.

In its seventh week of release, Universal and DreamWorks Animation91裸聊视频檚 The Wild Robot continues to show little rust in theatres. It landed in fourth place with $6.6 million, bringing its domestic haul to $130.2 million and its worldwide gross to $292 million.

Sean Baker91裸聊视频檚 acclaimed Anora, starring Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn sex worker, expanded into wide release. The Neon film, an expected best-picture contender, collected $2.4 million in 1,104 theatres. Its four-week total stands at $7.2 million.

The papal thriller Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, continues to perform exceptionally well for an adult-oriented drama. The Focus Features release, in its third weekend of release, added 487 theatres and dipped a modest 19% to earn $4.1 million. It has collected $21.5 million. Similarly, A2491裸聊视频檚 We Live in Time, starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, has stayed strong, grossing $2.2 million in its fifth weekend for a $21.8 million total.

Overall ticket sales, though, remain sluggish. Box office is running about 11 per cent behind last year, according to Comscore. In the last two weeks, overall ticket sales are down about 50 per cent from the pre-pandemic average, according to David A. Gross, a film consultant who publishes a newsletter for Franchise Entertainment.

The good news for theatres: The next few weeks are lined up for several big new releases, including the Amazon MGM Christmas comedy Red One (Nov. 15), Paramount Pictures91裸聊视频� Gladiator II (Nov. 22), Universal91裸聊视频檚 Wicked (also Nov. 22) and the Walt Disney Co.91裸聊视频檚 Moana 2 (Nov. 27).

91裸聊视频淏etter late than never is the rule of the day and we can expect some positive success stories coming out of the Thanksgiving corridor,91裸聊视频� said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. 91裸聊视频淲hich looks to be on par with some of the biggest such frames over the past many years.91裸聊视频�

Before opening in U.S. theatres, Red One, starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, kicked off in 75 overseas markets, collecting $26.6 million. The film carries a hefty price tag of about $250 million to make.

Final domestic figures will be released Monday. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore, are:

1. 91裸聊视频淰enom: The Last Dance,91裸聊视频� $16.2 million.

2. 91裸聊视频淗eretic,91裸聊视频� $11 million.

3. 91裸聊视频淭he Best Christmas Pageant Ever,91裸聊视频� $8.9 million.

4. 91裸聊视频淭he Wild Robot,91裸聊视频� $6.7 million.

5. 91裸聊视频淪mile 2,91裸聊视频� $5 million.

6. 91裸聊视频淐onclave,91裸聊视频� $4.1 million.

7. 91裸聊视频淎nora,91裸聊视频� $2.5 million.

8. 91裸聊视频淗ere,91裸聊视频� $2.4 million.

9. 91裸聊视频淲e Live in Time,91裸聊视频� $2.2 million.

10. 91裸聊视频淭errifier 3,91裸聊视频� $1.4 million.