The October box office is wrapping up with a significant low, marking the lowest weekend of the year at an estimated $49 million. This downturn is largely attributed to Halloween falling on a Friday, which traditionally draws audiences away from theaters. Furthermore, moviegoers today are also distracted by the final game of the World Series between the LA Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. According to Comscore, October’s total earnings are projected to reach only $440 million, making it the weakest October since 1998, which grossed $455.5 million.
Historically, the best October on record occurred in 2018, when box office revenues soared to $832.8 million. This was driven by major titles like Venom, A Star Is Born, and Halloween, collectively contributing approximately $481 million. In contrast, October 2024 achieved $478 million, indicating an 8% decline from last year. The highest-performing October post-pandemic was in 2021, with a robust total of $645 million as audiences returned to theaters following COVID-19 restrictions.
Despite earlier surprises like Conjuring: Last Rites and Demon Slayer Infinity Castle in September, October has proven to be a drag on the fall box office. The post-Labor Day period is expected to conclude with a total of $1 billion, which is down 2.2% compared to the same timeframe last year. On a brighter note, the overall 2025 box office from January 1 to October 30 is projected to hit $7 billion, reflecting a 3% increase year-over-year, although it still trails 24% behind the pre-COVID figures from 2019, which grossed $9.26 billion at the same point.
Leading the weekend box office is Black Phone 2, now in its third week, with an estimated $7.6 million, reflecting a 41% decline from the previous weekend and bringing its total to $61 million. This horror film also topped Halloween night with $2.4 million. Following closely is Focus Features’ Bugonia, which took in around $4.4 million in its debut across 2,043 theaters. It earned a B CinemaScore and received 80% positive ratings along with 53% definite recommendations from audiences according to Screen Engine/Comscore.
In the realm of new releases, KPop Demon Hunters from Netflix grossed about $600,000 yesterday, positioning it for a potential $3.4 million second weekend. However, industry analysts remain skeptical about its box office potential moving forward. Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, garnered attention for its $45 million production cost and is projected to perform well, particularly in East and West Coast markets, accounting for 51% of its ticket sales.
Audience demographics show a notable skew towards younger viewers, with 63% of ticket purchasers aged 18-34. In terms of diversity, ticket sales comprised 53% Caucasian, 24% Latino and Hispanic, 7% Black, 7% Asian American, and 6% Native American audiences. The top-performing location for Bugonia was the Alamo DC 9, which grossed approximately $8,000.
Looking ahead, Roadside Attractions is set to release the political thriller Anniversary, featuring stars like Diane Lane and Kyle Chandler. Early reviews have shown a 67% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with expectations of a modest opening. Bugonia is likely to remain in theaters through the holiday season, with hopes of reaching a $30 million domestic gross and more than $100 million globally, which would align with Lanthimos' previous successes.
As October comes to a close, the box office faces challenges with reduced audience turnout and competition from holiday festivities. While the overall performance is disappointing, the upcoming months may see a resurgence in attendance as new titles are released and the holiday movie season approaches.
