The movie exhibition industry has experienced one of its slowest Octobers in over a quarter-century, concluding with a lackluster Halloween weekend. While studios opted not to release any major films due to the holiday falling on a Friday, several re-releases garnished interest; most notably, “Back to the Future,” which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Despite the subdued atmosphere where no film in the top 10 grossed over $10 million, a suspenseful race for the top position unfolded. Initially, Universal’s horror sequel “Black Phone 2” was projected to claim the No. 1 spot in its third weekend with an estimated gross of $8 million. However, Paramount swiftly contradicted that estimate by announcing “Regretting You,” a romantic drama adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel, had earned about $8.1 million, positioning it ahead in the rankings. Box office tracker Comscore ultimately credited “Regretting You” with the top position, underscoring the provisional nature of weekend estimates.
“Regretting You,” while successful, did not approach the figures of its predecessor, “It Ends With Us,” which kicked off with a monumental $50 million. The film’s running domestic total now rests at $27.5 million. Conversely, “Black Phone 2” has raked in a strong $61.5 million across three weekends domestically, bringing its global tally to $104.7 million. Universal’s re-release of the classic “Back to the Future” earned $4.7 million, claiming a fifth-place spot and lifting its domestic total to $221.7 million.
In a contrasting outcome, “KPop Demon Hunters” reported earnings of approximately $5 million in its second weekend, a significant decline from its initial August release which saw it securing between $16 and $20 million. Meanwhile, Sony Pictures and Crunchyroll’s “Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc” faced a steep drop of 67% in its second weekend, projected to bring in $6 million, summing up to a total of $30.8 million.
New entrant “Bugonia,” directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and featuring Emma Stone, netted about $4.8 million, marking a career-high for the filmmaker in wide releases. As the darker comedic thriller establishes itself as a contender for the upcoming awards season, it highlights the creative ventures studios are pursuing amid a challenging market.
Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore, captured the essence of the weekend characterized by an “imperfect storm” due to both Halloween and the World Series overlapping, underlining the industry’s awareness of these fluctuating attendance patterns. Despite the downturn, projections for blockbuster releases in November and December could reignite audience passion for movie theaters.
With several anticipated films on the horizon, there is a shared optimism within the cinema sector, suggesting that this season’s slow box office could pave the way for a revitalized interest in cinematic experiences in the coming months. The balance of nostalgia and fresh storytelling continues to resonate with audiences, potentially setting the stage for a brighter future for the film industry.
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