“Regretting You Named Worst Halloween Film in 31 Years”
Paramount and Constantin Films’ adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, titled “Regretting You,” is making waves at the box office. However, this year’s Halloween weekend brought unsettling news for the film industry.
Box Office Performance of “Regretting You”
In its second weekend, “Regretting You” reportedly secured the top spot, grossing $8.1 million across 3,245 theaters. Despite this initial appearance of dominance, Universal’s horror sequel, “Black Phone 2,” also claimed a similar estimated earnings of $8 million from 3,425 cinemas.
Final box office figures will clarify these numbers, but last weekend’s results indicated a shift, with “Regretting You” outperforming “Black Phone 2.” The suspense around the final standings adds to the tension of an already disappointing weekend.
Record Low Ticket Sales
- Total box office revenue for the weekend was reported at $49.8 million.
- This figure marks the lowest Halloween weekend earnings in 31 years.
- Historical context shows 1993 was the last year with lower ticket sales, totaling $49.2 million.
- This weekend’s numbers exclude the heavily impacted 2020 due to COVID-19 theater closures.
According to Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian, the current downturn follows one of the weakest Octobers in nearly three decades. The absence of major commercial films has left exhibitors scrambling. Notably, high-profile titles like “Venom: The Last Dance” set for 2024 could have significantly impacted attendance this year.
Challenges Facing “Regretting You”
The Halloween holiday typically poses challenges for Hollywood releases, especially when the day falls on a Friday. “Regretting You” faced substantial competition for its target audience, young females, who were preoccupied with Halloween activities on its opening day. However, a surge in ticket sales—rising by 200 percent on Saturday—was observed, indicating the film’s potential attraction post-Halloween.
Financial Overview
Domestically, “Regretting You” has amassed a total of $27.5 million over its first ten days in theaters. Adding to its earnings, the film has captured $8.2 million from international markets, bringing its global revenue to an impressive $50.8 million.
Contrast this with “Black Phone 2,” which crossed the $104 million mark, with a domestic total of $61.5 million and international earnings of $43.3 million achieved during the same weekend.
Other Notable Releases
- “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” saw a 67 percent drop, earning $6 million domestically, for a total of $30.8 million.
- Focus Features’ “Bugonia” opened at No. 4, making $4.8 million from 2,043 theaters.
This challenging Halloween box office highlights the unpredictability of film earnings and the evolving preferences of audiences. As studios navigate these trends, the future for titles like “Regretting You” remains to be seen.
