Venom (2018)
MovieOptionalLegacy
Journalist Eddie Brock bonds with an alien symbiote in Sony's Spider-Man universe. This 2018 Marvel film was made outside Marvel Studios’ main MCU line-up, so it’s optional for the watch order and works fine on its own. At 1h 52m, it streams on Disney+ in the US.
| Directed by | Ruben Fleischer |
|---|---|
| Starring | Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed |
| Release date | October 5, 2018 |
| Runtime | 1h 52m |
| Age rating | PG-13, some material may be inappropriate for under 13 |
| IMDb rating | 6.6/10 |
| Box office | $856M worldwide |
| Series | Legacy Marvel films |
| Part of | Venom movies in order |
| Post-credit scene | No |
Why it matters now
Sony's Spider-Man Universe launcher; Tom Hardy's odd-couple chemistry with the symbiote made it a hit despite scathing reviews.
About Venom
Venom is the movie that launched Sony's Spider-Man Universe, and it tells Eddie Brock's story without Spider-Man anywhere in sight. Eddie is a San Francisco investigative reporter whose attempt to expose the Life Foundation, run by tech billionaire Carlton Drake, costs him his job and his engagement to attorney Anne Weying. Drake has brought alien symbiotes back from space and is quietly testing them on people. Months later, one of those symbiotes ends up inside Eddie, and the two have to work out how to share a body.
Ruben Fleischer directed from a script by Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg and Kelly Marcel. Tom Hardy plays Eddie and voices Venom, with Michelle Williams as Anne, Riz Ahmed as Drake and Reid Scott as Anne's new boyfriend, Dr. Dan Lewis. Ludwig Göransson wrote the score. Critics were mostly unkind (31% on Rotten Tomatoes), though many enjoyed the odd-couple banter between Hardy and his symbiote. Audiences showed up anyway: it opened October 5, 2018, and earned $856.1 million worldwide.
Good to know
- Its $80.3 million domestic debut was the biggest October opening weekend on record at the time.
- Tom Holland filmed a Spider-Man cameo that was left out of the finished film.
- The project was first developed with an R rating in mind before it settled on PG-13.
- A post-credits clip from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse plays at the very end.
Spoiler Spoilers for Venom: tap to reveal
- The mid-credits scene introduces Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady, the serial killer who becomes Carnage in the sequel.
- The mid-credits scene of Venom: Let There Be Carnage briefly pulls Eddie into the MCU, tied to the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
How to watch it
Watch this first in Sony's Spider-Man Universe, then go straight to Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) and Venom: The Last Dance (2024) to finish Hardy's trilogy. You don't need any MCU movies beforehand. Stay through the credits, because the mid-credits scene sets up the sequel directly. It's a good pick if you like monster movies and buddy comedies more than polished superhero plotting, and if you're mainly here for Hardy's bickering with his symbiote.
Where it fits in your watch
- All legacy Marvel films
Venom FAQ
Is Spider-Man in Venom (2018)?
No. A Tom Holland cameo was filmed but cut, so Eddie's origin here has nothing to do with Spider-Man, unlike in the comics.
Who plays Carnage in the Venom movies?
Woody Harrelson plays Cletus Kasady, who becomes Carnage in Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021).
How does Venom connect to the MCU?
Not in this first film. A link comes later in the trilogy, around the time of Spider-Man: No Way Home. It's a post-credits reveal, so the details are in the spoiler box above.
Can you skip Venom?
Yes, skip it if you like. It’s a Marvel title, but not part of the MCU timeline.
When was Venom released?
Venom was released on October 5, 2018.
Does Venom have a post-credit scene?
No, Venom has no post-credit scene.
Where to watch Venom in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Disney+ |
|---|---|
| Rent or buy | Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
Where to watch Venom outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Prime Video, Sky Go, NOW | Rent: Apple TV, Rakuten TV, Amazon |
| Canada | Crave | Rent: Apple TV, Amazon, CosmoGo |
| Australia | Foxtel Now, Stan | Rent: Apple TV, Amazon |
| India | Prime Video, Sony LIV, JioHotstar | Rent: Amazon, Apple TV |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
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