October has wrapped up with movie theaters facing one of their quietest weekends in nearly three decades, earning about $49 million. Halloween falling on Friday likely contributed to this dip, paired with the final World Series game overshadowing Saturday’s potential box office boost.
Comscore reported that total earnings for the month hit $440 million, marking the lowest October since 1998, which previously earned $455.5 million. In contrast, 2018 saw a record-breaking October of $832.8 million, bolstered by hits like Venom and A Star Is Born. While 2021 was a stronger month post-pandemic, this October’s performance was down by 8% compared to last year.
Leading the weekend was Black Phone 2, pulling in about $7.6 million, down 41% from last week, and bringing its total to around $61 million. Other films such as Bugonia and Stitch Head had modest openings, with Bugonia making $4.4 million and Stitch Head at $2.2 million.
Interestingly, KPop Demon Hunters, while part of the Netflix lineup, attracted attention in theaters. Experts suggest interest in the film might be waning, predicting it could struggle to pull in significant earnings in its second weekend.
In contrast, Bugonia, which cost $45 million to produce, had a solid debut for a film from director Yorgos Lanthimos. It opened in 2,043 theaters, marking a broad release for the filmmaker known for offbeat storytelling. The film received a “B” CinemaScore, indicating a decent reception from audiences.
Box office trends reveal that diversity in movie genres is crucial. Films like Bugonia, appealing to younger audiences, drew a crowd that was 63% aged 18-34, highlighting a demand for more diverse themes and narratives in cinema.
The overall box office performance for 2025 stands at $7 billion as of October 30, showing a slight 3% increase from the previous year, although still 24% lower than pre-COVID levels in 2019.
As the industry adapts to shifting viewer preferences and competition from streaming, the impact of cultural events—like Halloween and sports finals—on box office success is increasingly evident.
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Back to the Future,Black Phone 2,Bugonia,Kpop Demon Hunters,Twilight: New Moon
