Halloween Box Office Hits 31-Year Low Amid Photo Finish

Paramount’s “Regretting You” and Universal’s “Black Phone 2” are in a dead heat for the top spot. The weekend of October 31st to November 2nd saw an incredibly close race. This contest happened during the worst Halloween weekend for movie theaters in over three decades.

According to Sunday estimates from Paramount, “Regretting You” earned $8.1 million. Universal, however, estimates its film, “Black Phone 2,” brought in $8 million. The final ranking will be confirmed on Monday after official numbers are tallied.

A Historic Box Office Slump for Halloween

Overall ticket sales reached a paltry $49.8 million. Comscore data confirms this is the lowest-grossing Halloween weekend in 31 years. The last time it was lower was in 1993, excluding the 2020 pandemic closures.

This dismal performance follows the worst October for cinemas in 27 years. The lack of a major new release was a key factor. Studios relied on holdover films and re-releases like “Back to the Future” to fill seats.

Why the Holiday Weekend Was So Tough

Halloween falling on a Friday significantly hurt box office revenue. Younger audiences, the core demographic for films like “Regretting You,” were busy with holiday activities. This caused a major dip in Friday sales, though Saturday saw a strong 200 percent rebound for the romance drama.

The films’ performances defy critical reception. “Regretting You” scored a mediocre B CinemaScore but has an 87 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This demonstrates the continued drawing power of author Colleen Hoover’s popular book adaptations.

The tight race for first place underscores a larger problem for cinemas. The Halloween box office result highlights a worrying trend of declining attendance. This historic low signals a challenging road ahead for the industry.

Thought you’d like to know

Which movie officially won the weekend?

The official winner was still undetermined at the time of reporting. Paramount claimed “Regretting You” earned $8.1 million, while Universal estimated $8 million for “Black Phone 2.” Final numbers were expected to confirm the order on Monday.

How bad was the overall Halloween weekend?

It was the worst Halloween weekend in 31 years. Total ticket sales were just $49.8 million, according to Comscore. This followed the worst October for movie theaters in 27 years.

Why was the box office so low?

A major reason was the lack of any new, wide-release blockbusters. The weekend had to rely on films already in theaters and specialty expansions. Halloween falling on a Friday also kept potential moviegoers occupied with other activities.

Did “Regretting You” get good reviews?

Critical reviews were generally poor. However, the film resonated with its target audience. It secured an 87 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, showing a disconnect from critics.

What other film performed well?

Focus Features’ awards contender “Bugonia” expanded its reach and earned a solid $4.8 million. This was a strong result for a specialty film widening its release into over 2,000 theaters.