This Halloween weekend marked a significant lull in the box office, as none of the major studios chose to debut a film in wide release. This decision effectively capped off an already subdued October for movie ticket sales, leaving audiences with little to choose from. With no new major releases, experts predict that this weekend's box office grosses will not even reach the eight-digit mark, a feat not accomplished since the release of "Novocaine" back in March.
In the race for box office dominance, Universal and Blumhouse's horror sequel, 'Black Phone 2', is poised to secure first place. The film raked in $2.3 million on Friday and is projected to earn approximately $7.6 million over the entire weekend. This represents a modest decline of just 41% compared to its previous weekend, which is quite significant for a film released during the Halloween season. With a total North American gross forecasted at around $61 million through Sunday, 'Black Phone 2' is trailing slightly behind its predecessor, which amassed $62.4 million in its first 17 days.
Taking second place this weekend is Paramount's 'Regretting You', which earned $1.2 million on Friday. The film is expected to conclude its second weekend with a gross of $6.6 million, reflecting a 51% drop from its initial opening weekend. This adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel is forecasted to reach a total domestic gross of around $26 million by the end of the weekend.
Meanwhile, Sony and Crunchyroll's 'Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc' experienced a strong opening last weekend but is anticipated to see a significant drop. The R-rated film earned $1.3 million on Friday and is expected to accumulate about $5.5 million over the three-day period, marking a staggering 69% decline. Such drops are typical for anime films, which often see a front-loaded box office due to dedicated fan bases.
Returning to theaters this weekend is Netflix's animated feature, 'KPop Demon Hunters', which is screening in 2,890 locations for a three-day engagement. This film, which was previously the most-watched feature on Netflix's platform, had a two-day bow that brought in approximately $19 million back in late August. However, Netflix's theatrical strategy remains ambiguous, as the company has not reported any grosses from that initial release and is unlikely to do so this time either. Expectations indicate that this new theatrical run will not attract the same level of audience as before.
Focus Features is also expanding its acclaimed conspiracy thriller, 'Bugonia', which is a remake of the 2003 Korean film 'Save the Green Planet!'. This film is expanding its reach into 2,043 locations after a limited release in just 17 theaters last weekend. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and featuring Emma Stone, 'Bugonia' garnered positive reviews and significant awards buzz following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. It grossed $1.8 million on Friday and is projected to reach $4.4 million over the weekend. Although it received a mediocre 'B' grade from Cinema Score, Focus is optimistic about its long-term performance.
In a nostalgic move, Universal is re-releasing the classic film 'Back to the Future' in celebration of its 40th anniversary. This reissue is available in 2,275 locations, including select Imax screenings. The film has already earned $1.5 million from previews and Friday showings, with projections suggesting it will gross approximately $3.9 million over the weekend.
As we approach the end of October, the box office landscape remains quiet, reflecting a month that has failed to ignite excitement among moviegoers. With no major releases on the horizon, it's unclear how the box office will rebound in the coming weeks.
