Halloween 2025 Box Office: Get Ready for a "Weird Weekend"

This Halloween, falling on a Friday, usually means big scares and huge blockbusters at the cinema, right? Well, not so fast! Hollywood's actually decided to play it safe, leading to what industry insiders are calling a "weird weekend" at the box office.

TL;DR: The Spooky Box Office Outlook

• Halloween 2025, falling on a Friday, is expected to be one of the quietest box office weekends in years, with no major new wide releases.
• Holdovers like Black Phone 2 and Regretting You are vying for the top spot, but re-releases like Kpop Demon Hunters and even Back to the Future could pull off a surprise win.
• Studios historically avoid new big horror releases directly on Halloween weekend, preferring to launch them the week prior to capitalize on pre-holiday buzz.

Why This Halloween Weekend Will Be Unusually Quiet

When Halloween lands on a Friday, you'd think movie studios would be lining up to drop their biggest horror flicks, raking in the cash from thrill-seeking audiences. But here's the twist: it’s actually seen as a pretty bad time for new releases. Why? Because most folks are busy trick-or-treating, hitting up costume parties, or just celebrating the spooky season outside of a cinema.

This year, Halloween falls on Friday, October 31, 2025, marking the first time since 2014 that the holiday has landed on a Friday. And much like a decade ago, this weekend is looking "horrific" for the box office, but not in a fun, scary movie kind of way. Expect crowds to shrink significantly on Friday, though Saturday might see a bounce back once the festivities wind down. One distribution boss summed it up perfectly: "It’s going to be a weird weekend."

"It’s going to be a weird weekend."

— An unnamed distribution boss, reflecting on the Halloween 2025 box office

Major studios are notably shying away from launching any brand-new titles this weekend. Instead, we'll see a mix of holdover films, some expansions from limited releases, and a few nostalgic re-releases fighting for cinema-goers' attention. This is a big reason why October 2025 is shaping up to be the worst October for the box office since 1998!

The Unexpected Contenders for the Number One Spot

With no fresh blood (pun intended) entering the race, the top spot is surprisingly open. We’ve got a few interesting contenders, none of which are brand-new wide releases:

Kpop Demon Hunters: A Chart-Topping Re-Release Event

Remember Kpop Demon Hunters? The animated film that was Netflix's first-ever theatrical #1 hit back in August, raking in $19.2 million over a two-day release (even without AMC theaters)? Well, it's back! Netflix is re-releasing the movie, this time as a "Sing Along Event," and AMC is on board, playing it in 400 cinemas globally.

While industry rivals predict a more modest $6 million for its second theatrical run, others are forecasting anywhere from $7 million to $10 million, or even $8.8 million according to some weekend trackers. It’s already one of Netflix’s most-watched Movies ever, with over 541 million global viewers, so the fanaticism is real. However, the sing-along version is already available on Netflix, which might dampen its exclusive appeal for some. Still, its wide footprint (2,890 theaters) could make it a surprise leader.

Black Phone 2: Holding Strong in Its Third Weekend

Universal/Blumhouse's supernatural horror sequel, Black Phone 2, is heading into its third weekend. It's already performed well, earning $12.9 million in its second weekend and boasting a running total of $51.4 million domestically through its second Tuesday, with a global cume of $81.7 million. Given the spooky holiday, it's perfectly positioned as the horror destination for many moviegoers.

Predictions for its third weekend hover around $6 million to $8 million, or $7.3 million from some sources. While the original Black Phone saw similar second-weekend numbers, hinting at a solid, if not explosive, franchise, its continued presence makes it a strong contender for the top three, possibly even snatching #1.

Regretting You: Can This Romance Novel Adaptation Surprise?

Paramount's feature adaptation of Colleen Hoover's popular novel, Regretting You, is another holdover with a shot at the top. It had great word-of-mouth among its female target audience and surprised many by taking the #2 spot last weekend with a $13.68 million debut. Through five days, its running total is just under $17 million.

Expected to pull in around $6 million to $8 million, or $6.1 million by some trackers, this romantic drama could see a more modest drop than typical films, as female-skewing movies often build momentum beyond their opening weekend. However, low exit polling numbers and a crowded streaming landscape for similar content might temper its performance.

Other Notable Films Hitting Theaters This Weekend

Bugonia: A Dark Comedy Expansion

Focus Features is expanding Yorgos Lanthimos's sci-fi dark comedy Bugonia, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, from just 17 theaters to 1,800 nationwide. After a strong limited opening of $709K over three days with a fantastic $41.7K theater average, it’s looking to capitalize on its excellent critical reception (90% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and positive audience scores (81%).

Predictions range widely, from $1.5 million to $5 million, with some expecting a solid $4 million-plus or $5.8 million. If it hits the higher end, it would be the most a Lanthimos movie has ever collected in a wide break. It hits select theaters on October 24, 2025, before its wide expansion this weekend.

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc's Sophomore Drop

Sony/Crunchyroll's anime hit, Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc, dominated its opening weekend with an impressive $18 million. It even held the #1 spot on Monday and Tuesday this week, bringing its running total to $21.8 million. However, like many anime releases, it's expected to see a significant sophomore drop, possibly 65-70%.

Weekend 2 projections are around $5 million to $8 million, or $6.5 million. Despite the drop, its dedicated fanbase and seasonally-appropriate gore might help it stay in the top five.

A Blast from the Past: Back to the Future Returns

Universal is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Robert Zemeckis's classic, Back to the Future, with a re-release in 1,900 theaters, including IMAX. The original film grossed nearly $200 million domestically in its initial 1985 run, making it the highest-grossing movie that year. While a 2015 re-release wasn't a huge success, Universal had great luck with a Jaws re-release over Labor Day, proving nostalgia still sells.

Predictions for the sci-fi favorite range from $4 million to $6.5 million, with some trackers eyeing $6.3 million. This could be a fun option for families or adults looking for a non-spooky Halloween treat.

Sinners: Ryan Coogler's Vampire Film Gets an IMAX Encore

In a move that openly acknowledges Hollywood's lack of new horror for the holiday, Warner Bros. is giving Ryan Coogler's acclaimed vampire action film, Sinners (which originally made $364 million!), an IMAX re-release starting October 30. This re-release is poised to fill the void for horror fans desperate for something fresh (or at least, newly prominent) on the big screen.

While some trackers expect a modest $1.5 million for this limited re-release, the move shows studios realize the demand for horror during the season. It’s also timed to remind awards voters of the film’s earlier success.

Baahubali: The Epic — A Four-Hour Indian Spectacle

S.S. Rajamouli, the acclaimed filmmaker behind the Oscar-winning RRR, is bringing his earlier epics, Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), back to theaters as a remastered, re-edited four-hour cut titled Baahubali: The Epic. Variance Films is releasing it, starting Wednesday with IMAX screenings.

With Rajamouli’s growing international recognition, this re-edited saga, hitting 400 theaters, is predicted to pull in around $2.1 million and could break into the top 10. It’s a unique, non-horror option for those looking for a grand cinematic experience.

Other Limited and Niche Releases

• Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn 1 & 2: Fathom Events is bringing these fan-favorite vampire films back for a wide release.
• Stitch Head: A spooky British animated film featuring voices like Asa Butterfield. It's getting a wide release in over 2,162 theaters, with some predicting it could barely crack $1 million.
• Anniversary: Directed by Jan Komosa (Corpus Christi), this political drama with an impressive ensemble cast (Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler, Zoey Deutch, Dylan O'Brien, Phoebe Dynevor) is getting a wide release on Wednesday. However, early reviews suggest a confusing, politically vague experience, with predictions around $1 million.
• Shelby Oaks: Neon's horror film, released last weekend in a limited capacity, will still be in theaters for Halloween.
• Love + War: An Oscar-qualifying run for this National Geographic documentary from acclaimed filmmakers Chai Vaserhalyi and Jimmy Chin, focusing on Pulitzer Prize-winning conflict photographer Lynsey Addario.
• Hallow Road and Vincent Must Die: XYZ Films is offering these two recent films as a double feature in select AMC theaters.
• Nouvelle Vague: Richard Linklater's film about the making of Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless, getting a limited theatrical release by Netflix.

Why No New Major Horror Movies on Halloween Itself?

It's a common, if counter-intuitive, Hollywood strategy. Studios have a surprisingly poor track record of releasing new horror movies on the exact weekend of Halloween. The trend is to drop a big horror film the week before the holiday. This allows it to dominate the opening weekend box office before audiences get swept up in trick-or-treating or parties.

For example, Blumhouse released Five Nights at Freddy's in 2023 and Halloween in 2018 the week before the holiday, both of which topped the box office. This year, Black Phone 2 launched two weeks before Halloween. And the highly anticipated Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is scheduled for December, not for a prime Halloween slot.

This decision not to move FNAF2 up to Halloween, despite the obvious void, likely stems from studios not wanting it to compete too closely with Black Phone 2. While understandable, it leaves a significant gap in the market for a major new scary movie directly on Halloween weekend.

The re-release of Sinners in IMAX is a direct response to this oversight, attempting to give horror fans something substantial to sink their teeth into. If it performs well, it could highlight a missed opportunity for studios to have capitalized on the holiday directly.

The Bottom Line for Your Halloween Movie Plans

So, what does this "weird weekend" mean for you, the moviegoer? Don't expect a slew of fresh, terrifying blockbusters. Instead, you'll have a mix of strong holdovers, intriguing re-releases, and some expanding indie titles to choose from. It might not be the most exciting box office weekend of the year, but it offers a unique opportunity to revisit some classics or catch up on films that have already proven their worth.

Whether you're looking for a supernatural fright with Black Phone 2, a Kpop-infused adventure with Kpop Demon Hunters, a nostalgic trip with Back to the Future, or a second chance to see Sinners on the big screen, there's still plenty to fill your Halloween movie calendar. Just don't expect a lot of new surprises!

Frequently Asked Questions About Halloween 2025 Movies

Q: When is Halloween 2025 and what does it mean for movie releases?

A: Halloween 2025 falls on Friday, October 31. This is generally considered a slow weekend for new wide movie releases because many people are engaged in holiday festivities like trick-or-treating and parties, rather than going to the cinema.

Q: Are there any new horror movies coming out on Halloween 2025?

A: Surprisingly, no major new horror movies are scheduled for a wide release directly on Halloween weekend. Studios tend to release horror films the week prior to maximize their opening weekend box office. Warner Bros. is re-releasing Ryan Coogler's vampire film "Sinners" in IMAX to fill this void.

Q: Which movies are expected to top the box office this Halloween weekend?

A: The race for #1 is tight between holdovers and re-releases. Netflix's re-release of "Kpop Demon Hunters" (with AMC theaters this time), Universal/Blumhouse's "Black Phone 2" (in its third weekend), and Paramount's "Regretting You" are the top contenders. Nostalgic re-releases like "Back to the Future" could also perform well.

Q: Where can I watch "Kpop Demon Hunters" and "Sinners" this Halloween?

A: "Kpop Demon Hunters" is getting a wide theatrical re-release as a "Sing Along Event," including in AMC cinemas. The "Sinners" re-release will be in IMAX theaters. Check local listings for showtimes near you.

Sources

• Deadline Film + TV (Anthony D'Alessandro)
• Boxoffice Podium
• The Weekend Warrior (Edward Douglas)
• ScreenRant
• SlashFilm