OPENINGS: HALLOWEEN (Blumhouse/Miramax/Universal) was front-loaded, with a Saturday drop that hit 18%, but that only prevented it from setting records, not from being a giant hit at $77.5M for the weekend. That instantly makes it the highest-grossing entry in the 40-year old Halloween franchise (not adjusting for inflation). With one more weekend before the holiday itself and no wide-release horror competition on the way, it could reach $175M in the US and mountains of profit. The film opened in 23 international markets this weekend and earned $14.3M.
Several films expanded from limited to nationwide release this weekend. THE HATE U GIVE (20th) brought in a lackluster $7.5M at 2303 theatres, and will need a strong hold to keep its theatres into November.
THE OLD MAN & THE GUN (Fox Searchlight) widened more modestly to 802, and its $2.1M gave it a mild $2600 weekend per-theatre average, with prospects for additional expansion unclear.
THE SISTERS BROTHERS (Annapurna) had a disastrous move into 1141 theatres with $740K, an ugly $650 per-theatre average.
HOLDOVERS: A STAR IS BORN (MGM/Warners) had its first weekend victory over Venom, down just 32% to $19.3M, and on its way to $165M+ in the US. However, it’s much quieter overseas, where it’s at $74.7M after a $22.8M weekend in 75 markets, with only Japan still to come.
No one needs to feel bad for VENOM (Tencent/Columbia/Sony), which dropped 48% to $18.1M, and should reach $210M in the US. Overseas, it’s at $290.7M after a $32.3M weekend in 65 territories, and still has a China opening ahead (along with Japan).
GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN (Sony Animation/Columbia/Sony) lost 39% to $3.8M in its 3rd weekend, and may get to $50M in the US. Its gradual international release added $6.2M for the weekend in 24 markets, for $11.1M to date.
FIRST MAN (Perfect World/Universal) didn’t have the Weekend 2 hold it needed, down 47% to $8.6M, and likely to need a stretch to hit $50M in the US. It’s at $25.5M overseas after a $13.4M weekend.
SMALLFOOT (Warners Animation) is holding very well at a lukewarm level, down 27% in its 4th weekend to $6.6M as it heads toward $80M in the US. Overseas, it’s at $70.8M after a $14M weekend in 71 territories that include China.
NIGHT SCHOOL (Perfect World/Universal) dropped 36% in its 4th weekend to $5M, on its way to $75M in the US. It has $17.5M overseas after a $1.5M weekend in 22 markets.
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE (20th) slumped by 54% in its 2nd weekend to $3.3M, and may get to $20M in the US. It has $8.1M overseas after a $2.5M weekend in 49 territories.
LIMITED RELEASE: With awards season underway, it was a busy weekend for openings and expansions. mid90s (A24) had the splashiest start with a $63K per-theatre weekend average in 4 NY/LA houses, but its weekend was heavily tilted toward Friday because of in-theatre Q&As. CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? (Fox Searchlight) had a more moderate opening with a $30K average at 5. WILDFIRE (IFC) averaged $26K at 4. WHAT THEY HAD (Bleecker Street) brought up the rear, averaging just $4700 at 4. FREE SOLO (NatGeo) had an OK expansion to 251 with a $4K average. BEAUTIFUL BOY (Amazon) widened to 48 with a mild $9100 average (that number may come down in finals, since it assumes an extremely strong Sunday). THE OATH (Roadside) jumped to 300 theatres, and only averaged $700. THE HAPPY PRINCE (Sony Classics) averaged $2400 at 25.
NEXT WEEKEND: Many people have non-movie plans on Halloween weekend, so the studios keep their A-list openings away. The fare includes HUNTER KILLER (Lionsgate), the Christian-based INDIVISIBLE (Pure), and British comedy JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN (Universal), which has already earned $96M in release throughout most of the rest of the world. Limited releases include the arthouse horror remake SUSPIRIA (Amazon), VIPER CLUB (Roadside) and BORDER (Neon).
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