Venom smashes October box office record with $80M opening as A Star Is Born debuts with $42.6M

Venom starring Tom Hardy crushed the competition at the North American box office this weekend.

The comic book film overcame poor critic reviews to set a new record for an October opening, bringing in $80 million.

It also had a record opening for October overseas grossing $125.2 million in international ticket sales, the Daily Mail reports.

The previous best October opening was $55.7 million for "Gravity" in 2013. 

Made for $100 million, Venom is the first in Sony's Marvel Universe and the studio is planning several features revolving around the supporting characters from the Spider-Man comic.

Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper's directorial debut and the fourth remake of A Star Is Born hit box office gold, earning $42.6 million in its debut.

The love story starring Cooper and Lady Gaga has been lauded by critics and tipped for Oscars glory.

Cooper plays a musician who discovers and falls in love with a young singer played by the real life pop star. 

The animated feature Smallfoot took third place on its second weekend with $14.9 million. 

Night School starring Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish slipped from number one last weekend to number four with $12.3 million.

And rounding out the top five was The House With A Clock with $7.2 million.