How to watch the ‘Venom’ movies in order

Here’s how to watch all three Venom movies in order.

The symbiote is back, and this time it’s perhaps saying goodbye! Venom 3, aka Venom: The Last Dance, hits the theatres on 25 October 2024, as the final chapter in the Eddie Brock-Venom saga. This is the perfect occasion to get you up to speed on all the Venom movies in chronological order.

However, revisiting the Venom film series with only the Tom Hardy-led franchise will be a disservice to the alien symbiote’s first screen outing in Spider-Man 3 (2007). Yes, the Venom symbiote that injects journalist, Eddie Brock with superhuman powers was once an antagonist to Spider-Man — played by Topher Grace — in the Sam Raimi directorial.

Later, Venom was projected as a leading man in Ruben Fleischer’s beloved 2018 franchise. That’s how the symbiote evolved from scrappy underdog to legendary anti-hero. The 2021 sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage further cemented its status as a pop culture phenomenon with The Last Dance capping off the trilogy.

On that note, here’s a guide on the correct viewing order of all Venom movies and where exactly Spider-Man 3 falls in the order of chronology.

Venom movies in order of release date 

From the character’s humble beginnings as Spider-Man’s nemesis to his transformation into an anti-hero, here’s the correct chronological order in which the razor-toothed anti-hero evolved through the movies. 

• Spider-Man 3 (2007): First appearance of Venom
• Venom (2018): First instalment in the Venom trilogy 
• Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021): Second Venom trilogy movie
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021): Venom makes a cameo
• Venom 3: The Last Dance (2024): The third movie in the Venom franchise 

Venom movies in order of chronology

Piecing together this epic saga of symbiotes and superheroes isn’t difficult since all Venom movies in the trilogy unfold chronologically. We’ll also get to where the other two titles fit in the timeline in a bit. 

1. Venom (2018)

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze, Jenny Slate

Release date: 5 October 2018

IMDb rating: 6.6/10

Synopsis: Journalist Eddie Brock (Hardy) bonds with an alien symbiote who transforms him into the anti-hero Venom. He faces the challenge of thwarting Carlton Drake (Ahmed) and the Life Foundation, who seek to exploit the symbiote technology. As the unscrupulous Drake and his mercenaries close in, Brock realises he can harness his newfound abilities to assist the symbiotes and potentially save his cherished San Francisco and the world.

About the movie: Initially, Sony Pictures planned for the Venom title to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), but ultimately chose to separate the film series from Spider-Man. The narrative draws inspiration from the comic book miniseries Venom: Lethal Protector (1993) and the Planet of the Symbiotes (1995) story arc.

Although the film received mostly negative reviews from critics, Hardy’s performance garnered praise, leading it to become the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2018, with earnings exceeding USD 856 million globally. Interestingly, Hardy accepted the role partly to delight his son, Louis Thomas Hardy, who is a fan of Venom.

Watch Venom on Netflix

2. Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)

Director: Andy Serkis

Cast: Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, Reid Scott

Release date: 1 October 2021

IMDb rating: 5.9/10

Synopsis: Eddie Brock (Hardy) and Venom confront a formidable new adversary, serial killer Cletus Kasady (Harrelson), who becomes the host for the Carnage symbiote. While Brock continues to struggle for dominance over his own body with Venom, he begins to recognise the full extent of his alien abilities. In order to defeat the deranged Kasady, Brock and Venom must set aside their differences and unite to protect the world. Brock also seizes the opportunity to vex the new fiancé, Dr. Dan Lewis, (Scott) of his ex-girlfriend, Anne Weying (Williams), using his parasitic alter-ego to gain an advantage in their rivalry.

About the movie: Venom: Let There Be Carnage was one of the first significant releases following the pandemic. As such, it achieved several financial milestones, including one of the largest openings in October’s history. The film amassed a total of USD 506.9 million globally, securing its position as the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2021.

Watch Venom: Let There Be Carnage on Netflix

3. Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

Director: Kelly Marcel

Cast: Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Alanna Ubach, Stephen Graham, Rhys Ifans, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Release date: 25 October 2024 

IMDb rating: –

Synopsis: Eddie Brock (Hardy) and Venom are pursued by the relentless military commander Rex Strickland (Ejiofor), with the assistance of a scientist (Temple) aiding their escape. At the same time, additional members of the symbiote species arrive on Earth to summon their siblings. As they evade capture, the duo confronts a heart-wrenching choice that will ultimately conclude Venom and Eddie’s final journey together.

About the movie: Kelly Marcel, who has previously written and produced the earlier Venom films, makes her directorial debut with this third instalment. Venom: The Last Dance also introduces the symbiote god Knull.

So how do Spider-Man 3 and Spider-Man: No Way Home fit into the Venomverse?

Spider-Man 3 (2007) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) do not technically count as movies in the Venom franchise movies, but they do make the symbiotic experience complete. 

Watching the 2007 Tobey Maguire-led movie before starting Hardy’s Venom (2018) will give you an idea of how the original Spider-Man series treated the villainous symbiote. 

In the 2021 Tom Holland film, Venom makes a playful appearance during the mid-credits sequence. Recall the scene in Let There Be Carnage where Brock was transported into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We find him in a rundown bar, engaging in conversation with the bartender about “super individuals” and expressing scepticism regarding the existence of Thanos. Just as Eddie resolves to travel to New York City, he is abruptly returned to his original universe, teasing behind the possibility of a Spidey-Venom face-off in the MCU.

(Hero and featured image courtesy: IMDb/Venom: The Last Dance/Venom: Let There Be Carnage)