‘Regretting You’ and ‘Black Phone 2’ Top 2025’s Worst Weekend Box Office
This past weekend at the box office was notably disappointing, primarily due to the absence of new releases. Inclement holiday timing contributed to a dwindling turnout as families opted for Halloween festivities over cinema visits. According to Comscore, total revenues reached a mere $43 million, marking the worst weekend of 2025.
Poor October Box Office Performance Highlights
This gloomy weekend concludes the weakest October box office in 27 years. Domestic ticket sales have totaled $425 million, the lowest since 1997’s $385 million, not adjusted for inflation. This year’s figures do not include 2020, a year heavily impacted by the pandemic.
Key Box Office Performers
- Regretting You: The film surged to the top spot, earning $8.1 million from 3,424 theaters during its second weekend. Its total earnings in North America are now $27.5 million, with global earnings reaching $50 million against a $30 million budget.
- Black Phone 2: Following closely, this sequel garnered $8 million from 3,305 venues. It has amassed $61 million domestically and $104 million globally.
- KPop Demon Hunters: This Netflix re-release is estimated to have tied for third place, potentially earning around $6 million, though actual figures have yet to be confirmed.
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc: This film also tied with an approximate $6 million and has grossed $30 million in North America to date.
- Bugonia: Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest, featuring Emma Stone, has expanded to nationwide theaters and earned $4.8 million from 2,043 theaters.
- Back to the Future: Celebrating its 40th anniversary, this classic film made $4.7 million over the weekend.
- Twilight Franchise: In honor of the 20th anniversary of Stephanie Meyer’s novels, selected films screened across theaters, collectively earning around $3 million.
Context for the Dismal Weekend
Traditionally, October is a month where studios unveil their awards contenders. However, this year, films like “The Smashing Machine,” “After the Hunt,” “Tron: Ares,” and “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” failed to energize the box office crowd. Oscar contenders struggled to gain traction, marking a noticeable deviation from industry expectations.
Audience Demographics and Trends
For “Bugonia,” the audience leaned heavily toward younger males, with men making up 61% of viewers. Those aged 24 to 34 constituted 39% of the audience, reflecting the film’s polarizing nature.
The current landscape indicates that the box office is experiencing significant challenges as industry stakeholders look forward to the upcoming holiday season, hoping for a revival in ticket sales.
