Summary
The release ofVenom: The Last Dancemarks the end of Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, otherwise known as Spider-Man villain Venom. While not expected to be a trilogy, thecommercial success and popularity of the franchisehave led to Hardy portraying the iconic comic book villain over the span of the last 6 years.
In Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, theVenomtrilogy has thrived following an antihero and his origin story, exploring a character that struggles to deal with two personalities within himself. In Hollywood, there are many movies that share qualities of the trilogy, whether superhero movies or films that explore themes linked toVenom.
Cast
James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson
One of the few prominent commercial movies to cover an individual with multiple personalities isSplit. In a career-best and versatile performance, James McAvoy portrays the character of Kevin, who kidnaps the innocent and young Casey alongside two girls, with Casey suddenly finding out her abductor has several differing personalities.
In a tense setting that sees Kevin set to reveal a new personality that may bring doom to the girls,Splitis a thrilling moviethat explores the fight for control, reminiscent of Brock’s initial battle with Venom.
Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman
For fans of Hardy’s multifaceted performance as Eddie Brock in theVenomtrilogy, the actor’s other superhero endeavor involved another iconic villain, this time in a DC property, portraying Bane. Facing off against Batman in Gotham, Hardy’s intimidating presence is a constant throughout Bane’s destruction of the city, with the character making Bruce Wayne suffer in the process.
Hardy’s iconic voice and buff appearanceput the actor on the map, with the actor’s portrayal succeeding Heath Ledger’s legendary Joker performance, a testament to Hardy’s prowess and versatility.
Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson
Before the famed MCU, Marvel had succeeded in cinema with theBladetrilogy, one of the first live-action Marvel movies on the big screen.Often viewed as a cult classic,Bladefollowed the adventures of a vampire hunter, Blade, who sought to destroy vampires terrorizing society using his unique powers due to being half human, half vampire.
Along with its dark aesthetic and portrayal of a badass comic book character,BladeandVenomshare two protagonists who endure an identity crisis while combating supernatural enemies, with chaos and destruction at the forefront of their actions.
Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano, Ed Skrein
In the firstDeadpoolmovie, Ryan Reynolds brought an air of freshness to the superhero genre, using comedy at the forefront of a character’s identity while still engaging in high-octane action the genre has become famed for.As Wade Wilson, the eccentric charactersearches for the enemies that ruin his appearance and give him mutant powers, with Wilson seeking revenge.
Despite its serious story, Reynolds' breaking of the fourth wall and undeniable charisma act as the movie’s comedic heartbeat, with Venom’s comedic outbursts with Brock being reminiscent ofDeadpool. Alongside their comedic moments, Wilson and Brock portray antiheroes, going against the conventional hero standards that many superhero protagonists abide by.
Logan Marshall-Green, Betty Gabriel, Harrison Gilbertson
The 2010sbrought several sci-fi classics, althoughUpgraderanked as one of its best despite its lack of budget and star names. LikeVenom,Upgradefollows a man in a futuristic society who, after a life-changing event that makes him unable to walk, takes in a STEM implant that helps regain his ability to walk while enhancing his strength and reflexes.
What ensues is a riveting action that sees its protagonist dealing with an AI taking control of his body while he seeks answers for his wife’s demise. Grey’s fight for control parallels Brock’s relationship with the symbiote Venom, withUpgradeoffering a slick and entertaining alternative to theVenomfranchise.
Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Rochelle Davis
WhileThe Crowbecame famed for the death of its lead, Brandon Lee,the movie went on to become a cult classic, offering a vision unparalleled for a superhero movie to this day. After the death of Eric and his fiancé, Eric returns from the dead to seek revenge and enact vengeance on his killers, with the protagonist being guided by a mysterious crow.
Famed for its gothic and dark themes that carry much of the movie,Venom’sdark aesthetic is comparable to the 90s superhero flick, with both still centering on fun and inducing action while following a menacing individual.
Tom Holland, Zendaya, Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch
In the MCU, no movie generated more buzz and anticipation sinceAvengers EndgamethanSpider-Man: No Way Home. In the thirdSpider-Manmovie of Tom Holland’s tenure as the web-slinger,Peter Parker teams up withAndrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man in a fight against a collection of Spider-Man’s greatest villains from across a variety of movies.
The superhero epic filled with multiverse madness brings forth the iconicSpider-Manantagonist Venom in the movie’s post-credit scene, teasing a potential coming together of the two popular comic book characters.
