‘Heretic’ debuts with $11M, but ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ tops box office again

nypost.com:

rule the box office for three straight weeks.For the third weekend in a row, “Venom: The Last Dance” was the No. 1 movie at the box office, collecting $16.2 million in ticket sales in US and Canadian theaters, 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 put any new releases into theaters.

That allowed Sony Pictures’ “Venom: The Last Dance,” the third entry in the Tom Hardy-led franchise, to hold its position.While “The Last Dance” hasn’t been a huge hit domestically — opening below expectations in late October — 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.A24’s “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) they’ll regret trying to evangelize to.Though “Heretic” has been critically acclaimed for the darkest turn yet by Grant, audiences were less impressed, giving it a “C+” CinemaScore.