Hollywood’s Halloween Nightmare: Box Office Plunges to 27-Year Low in October
This year’s Halloween weekend was less trick-or-treat and more trick-or-tragedy for movie theaters. With estimated earnings between $49 million and $53 million, it’s officially one of the worst weekends of the year—and the cherry on top of the worst-performing October since the 1990s. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this a sign of shifting audience preferences, or just a perfect storm of bad luck? Let’s dive in.
Topline
According to early reports from Variety and Deadline, the domestic box office barely scraped together $53 million during Halloween weekend. To put that in perspective, the last time October numbers were this bleak was 1998—excluding, of course, the pandemic-stricken 2020. Even the weekend’s top performer, Regretting You, a romance adaptation from Colleen Hoover’s novel, only managed an estimated $8.1 million. While it met projections, it’s hardly a triumph.
Key Facts
Regretting You took the top spot, but its modest earnings highlight a broader trend of underperformance. Black Phone 2, the Blumhouse horror sequel starring Ethan Hawke, secured second place with $8 million in its third weekend. Meanwhile, Netflix’s Kpop Demon Hunters, a theatrical re-release of a streaming hit, flopped with just $6 million—despite its previous success in limited runs. And Chainsaw Man, the anime sensation that surprised everyone last weekend, saw a staggering 66% drop, also landing at $6 million.
And this is the part most people miss: Even a wider release of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia couldn’t save the weekend, pulling in only $4.8 million. So, what’s going on?
Key Background
October has never been a blockbuster month, but this year’s $425 million cumulative gross is the lowest in 27 years, according to Box Office Mojo. For context, 1998’s October total was $422 million. But why now? Some point to external factors: Halloween fell on a Friday, the World Series went to Game 7 on Saturday (with the Los Angeles Dodgers drawing local crowds), and no major new releases debuted. Still, the lack of big hits throughout the month is hard to ignore. Tron: Ares, a highly anticipated film with a $180 million budget, bombed with just $33.2 million in its opening weekend. Even Black Phone 2, October’s second-biggest earner, only grossed $55.8 million.
Why Did the Box Office Perform So Poorly?
While external events like Halloween and the World Series likely played a role, the real issue might be the absence of must-see films. Audiences today are spoiled for choice, with streaming platforms offering endless options. Is the traditional theatrical experience losing its appeal? Or is this just a temporary slump? One thing’s for sure: Hollywood needs to rethink its strategy if it wants to avoid more months like this.
Controversy & Comment Hooks
Here’s a bold question: Are movie theaters becoming obsolete? With streaming giants dominating and audiences staying home, is the theatrical experience still relevant? Or is this just a blip caused by poor timing and weak releases? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear whether you’re team theater or team streaming. And if you think Hollywood can turn this around, how? The floor is yours!