NEW YORK (AP) — “Venom: The Last Dance” has been no blockbuster in North American theaters. However in a torpid fall moviegoing season, even a so-so performing superhero sequel can rule the field workplace for 3 straight weeks.

For the third weekend in a row, “Venom: The Final Dance” was the No. 1 film on the field workplace, amassing $16.2 million in ticket gross sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters, in keeping with studio estimates Sunday. It fended off a pair of recent challengers in the Hugh Grant horror thriller “Heretic” and the feel-good vacation film “The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever.”

With the election on Tuesday, the foremost studios opted to not put any new releases into theaters. That allowed Sony Photos’ “Venom: The Final Dance,” the third entry within the Tom Hardy-led franchise, to carry its place.

Whereas “The Final Dance” hasn’t been an enormous hit domestically — opening below expectations in late October — it has thrived abroad, grossing virtually triple what it has in North America. The “Venom” sequel has grossed $279.4 million internationally, bringing its international complete to $394.2 million.

“Heretic” and “The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever” have been neck and neck for second place. Counting solely Friday-Sunday ticket gross sales, the sting went to “Heretic,” which debuted with $11 million. “The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever,” although, factored in $2.2 million in sneak-peak screenings from final weekend to say 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 person (Grant) they’ll remorse attempting to evangelize to. Although “Heretic” has been critically acclaimed for the darkest flip but by Grant, audiences have been much less impressed, giving it a “C+” CinemaScore. Regardless, with a finances beneath $10 million, “Heretic” will simply flip a revenue.

“The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever,” launched by Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Firm, which focuses on Christian leisure, is about six siblings with a nasty repute who take over the native church pageant. The movie, an adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s 1972 kids’s ebook directed by Dallas Jenkins, did properly with audiences, who gave it a “A” CinemaScore. It, too, was modestly budgeted at about $10 million.

In its seventh week of launch, Common and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” continues to point out little rust in theaters. It landed in fourth place with $6.6 million, bringing its home haul to $130.2 million and its worldwide gross to $292 million.

Sean Baker’s acclaimed “Anora,” starring Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn intercourse employee, expanded into extensive launch. The Neon movie, an anticipated best-picture contender, collected $2.4 million in 1,104 theaters. Its four-week complete stands at $7.2 million.

The papal thriller “Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes, continues to carry out exceptionally properly for an adult-oriented drama. The Focus Options launch, in its third weekend of launch, added 487 theaters and dipped a modest 19% to earn $4.1 million. It has collected $21.5 million. Equally, A24’s “We Live in Time,” starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, has stayed sturdy, grossing $2.2 million in its fifth weekend for a $21.8 million complete.

Total ticket gross sales, although, stay sluggish. Field workplace is working about 11% behind final yr, in keeping with Comscore. Within the final two weeks, general ticket gross sales are down about 50% from the pre-pandemic common, in keeping with David A. Gross, a movie marketing consultant who publishes a e-newsletter for Franchise Leisure.

The excellent news for theaters: The following few weeks are lined up for a number of massive new releases, together with the Amazon MGM Christmas comedy “Crimson One” (Nov. 15), Paramount Photos’ “Gladiator II” (Nov. 22), Common’s “Wicked” (additionally Nov. 22) and the Walt Disney Co.’s “Moana 2” (Nov. 27).

Closing home figures will probably be launched Monday. Estimated ticket gross sales for Friday via Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, in keeping with Comscore, are:

1. “Venom: The Final Dance,” $16.2 million.

2. “Heretic,” $11 million.

3. “The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever,” $8.9 million.

5. “Smile 2,” $5 million.

6. “Conclave,” $4.1 million.

7. “Anora,” $2.5 million.

8. “Right here,” $2.4 million.

9. “We Dwell in Time,” $2.2 million.

10. “Terrifier 3,” $1.4 million.

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