The final weekend of October arrived with very little fanfare at the domestic box office, as no major studio elected to debut a wide release during the Halloween frame. The decision capped off what has already been a subdued month for theaters nationwide, leaving exhibitors to rely heavily on holdovers, specialty titles, and nostalgic re-releases to fill seats. Industry observers note that no film is expected to clear the $10 million mark through Sunday, a rarity not seen in years.
Universal and Blumhouse’s horror sequel “Black Phone 2” is once again expected to claim the top spot. The title earned an estimated $2.3 million on Friday and is projected to close the weekend with roughly $7.6 million, marking only a 41% drop despite the crowded holiday festivities. Through Sunday, the film should reach a domestic total of around $61 million, pacing just behind the original’s $62.4 million after the same number of days back in 2022. The seasonal timing certainly benefits the property, allowing Halloween moviegoers to gravitate toward horror familiarity.
Paramount’s adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller “Regretting You” is holding its own in second place. The drama picked up $1.2 million on Friday and is tracking toward a $6.6 million second weekend, representing a 51% dip—typical for a mid-tier romantic drama. By Sunday night, the film’s domestic tally is expected to climb to $26 million, showing decent staying power considering modest previews and a targeted audience.
Meanwhile, the anime crowd continues to show up in force for Sony and Crunchyroll’s “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.” Although it claimed the No. 2 spot on Friday with $1.3 million, analysts anticipate a sharper decline as the weekend unfolds. Anime releases tend to be front-loaded, with die-hard fans turning out early. The film is on track for a $5.5 million three-day total, down 69% from its opening frame—standard for the genre. Its domestic haul will surpass $30 million through Sunday, a solid figure that reinforces the growth of anime as a mainstream theatrical driver.
Surprisingly, Netflix has returned to theaters for a second go-around with its animated action outing “KPop Demon Hunters.” Screening across 2,890 locations, the film originally debuted over a two-day special engagement in late August, where box office trackers estimated an impressive $19 million weekend. At that time, Netflix declined to release official grosses, and a similar approach is expected again. This weekend, the title is projected to land near $5 million, though industry insiders suggest upside potential driven by strong family attendance.
On the prestige side, Focus Features expanded “Bugonia,” director Yorgos Lanthimos’s English-language remake of the 2003 Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet!. After opening in just 17 theaters last week, the film ballooned to 2,043 locations this weekend. The Emma Stone–led dark-comedic thriller earned $1.8 million on Friday and should conclude the frame at $4.4 million. Reviews have been strong, though the CinemaScore “B” indicates the film might appeal more to arthouse crowds than general audiences. Still, Focus is positioning it as a slow-burn awards season contender.
Rounding out the top performers, Universal re-released “Back to the Future” to commemorate the blockbuster’s 40th anniversary. Debuting across 2,275 theaters, including select IMAX showtimes, the beloved classic pulled in $1.5 million between previews and Friday for a $3.9 million projected weekend. Nostalgia continues to prove itself a powerful theatrical tool, particularly during slower release cycles.
With no major tentpoles on the schedule, Halloween weekend serves as a reminder of the lingering unpredictability within the theatrical marketplace. Studios are now looking ahead to November’s holiday corridor—where several big-budget titles hope to revive momentum—and theaters are eager for the spark.