‘Venom’ sets Oct. record

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — In a weekend of perfect counterprogramming for Hollywood, the comic-book movie “Venom” shrugged off bad reviews to shatter the October box-office record with an $80 million debut, while Bradley Cooper’s “A Star Is Born” soared to $41.3 million.

With $174.5 million in tickets sold at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore, it was easily the best October weekend ever thanks to two very different films that both outperformed expectations.

“Venom” came in a critically panned, muchdoubted foray by Sony Pictures to kick-start a Marvel expansion away from “Spider-Man.” Warner Bros.’ “A Star Is Born” remake rode a wave of hype, Oscar buzz and acclaim for Cooper’s directorial debut and Lady Gaga’s first leading performance.

One was a very iffy proposition; the other a sure thing. Both worked.

“We knew we had a hit,” said Warner Bros. distribution chief Jeffrey Goldstein of “A Star Is Born.” ‘’We also knew that every time people saw the movie, they felt it, they cried, they loved it.”

Estimated ticket sales (in millions) for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. 1. “Venom” — $80.0 2. “A Star Is Born” — $41.3 3. “Smallfoot” — $14.9 4. “Night School” — $12.3

5. “The House With a Clock in Its Walls” — $7.3

6. “A Simple Favor” — $3.4 7. “The Nun” — $2.6 8. “Hell Fest” — $2.1 9. “Crazy Rich Asians” — $2.1

10. “MET Opera: Aida” — $1.2