Sony’s Kraven the Hunter is expected to perform at the lower end of the studio’s Spider-Man Universe films at the box office. Warner Bros.’ The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is set to open lower, with both films facing competition from holdovers like Wicked Part 1 and Moana 2.
Kraven the Hunter’s box office projected to start with $20-25 million domestically
Box Office Pro projects Kraven the Hunter to earn $20–$25 million domestically during its opening weekend after its December 13, 2024, release.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars in the film, which J.C. Chandor directed. Sony delayed its release multiple times, initially scheduling it for January 2023, then October 2023, August 2024, and finally December 2024. The movie marks the latest entry in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, focusing on the origins of Spider-Man villains without featuring Spider-Man.
The film’s R rating was a key marketing point when announced at CinemaCon 2022. However, it will now be the third R-rated comic book movie of 2024. Earlier releases include Deadpool & Wolverine (grossing $636.7M domestically and $1.33B globally) and Joker: Folie à Deux (opening at $58.3M domestically). Kraven the Hunter could face challenges from audience fatigue in its target demographic.
Sony positions Kraven the Hunter near the lower end of its Spider-Man Universe franchise for opening weekend performance. Projections place it above February 2024’s Madame Web ($15.3M domestic opening, $43.8M domestic total).
However, it will likely fall below April 2022’s Morbius ($39M domestic opening, $73.8M domestic total) and the Venom trilogy. The most recent Venom film, Venom: The Last Dance, earned $51M domestically during its debut and reached $128.8M after four weeks.
Kraven the Hunter opens alongside The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, which analysts expect to earn $8M–$15M. Meanwhile, it contends with blockbuster holdovers like Wicked Part 1 and Moana 2. Both films have driven strong pre-sales and are forecasted to dominate the holiday box office.