Halloween Box Office: ‘Regretting You,’ ‘Black Phone 2’ Lead Worst Weekend of 2025

Halloween 2025 proved disappointing for the box office, with ‘Regretting You’ and ‘Black Phone 2’ leading the struggle. According to industry reports, ticket sales fell to a mere $34 million across the top ten films. This marks a significant drop of 45% compared to the same weekend in 2024.

The decline in box office revenue coincided with Halloween falling on a Friday, traditionally affecting audience attendance. Families opted for trick-or-treating rather than heading to theaters. Historical data from Box Office Mojo indicates that when Halloween coincides with this day of the week, box office sales typically drop by 30%.

Previously, similar occurrences happened during the 2020 box office collapse when Halloween weekend revenue dipped to $31 million. Factors then included pandemic restrictions. By comparison, Halloween weekend 2019 saw a robust $84 million, with heavy competition from films like ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ and ‘Zombieland: Double Tap.’

Data from this weekend shows ‘Regretting You’ grossing approximately $14 million in its second week. This is a decline of 28% from its opening weekend. Conversely, ‘Black Phone 2’ brought in $9 million in its first weekend, continuing the trend of horror sequels performing poorly when not supported by strong marketing or fan interest.

This year's box office struggles are seen as a continuation of industry challenges seen since the pandemic. Experts suggest a lack of new releases and strategic scheduling continues to hamper earnings. Sources indicate major studios are reconsidering their release calendars to avoid clashes with significant events, like major sports finals, which dominated viewer attention.

Future projections remain uncertain as both films face stiff competition from upcoming releases. Notably, Disney’s ‘Hocus Pocus 3’ is set to debut this Friday, expected to ignite Halloween-related interest among audiences. In addition, ‘Saw 10’ is also making a return on November 10, promising to capture horror fans' attention.

Moving into November, industry analysts anticipate a shift in box office dynamics. Patterns indicate that films released during the first week of November tend to gain more traction, benefiting from holiday viewing habits. Specifically, the influx of family-oriented titles like ‘The Polar Express' could help change fortunes swiftly.

In conclusion, the dismal box office performance over Halloween underscores the importance of timing and release strategy in a fluctuating market. If upcoming releases do not capitalize on audience interest and seasonal themes, the trend of low ticket sales may persist into the holiday season.