Weekend Actuals: ‘Halloween’ Pulls in Powerful $76.2M; ‘A Star Is Born’ ($19.0M) Tops ‘Venom’ ($18.0M) for 2nd Place

Monday Update: Only two weekends after Venom broke the record for best October opening ever, Halloween captured the second-best October opening ever with $76.2M.

Those are the top two openings for the month whether in pure dollars or adjusted for ticket price inflation.

Halloween debuted about in line with its already high expectations — riding a combination of nostalgia for the original 1978 Halloween, a timely tie-in to the upcoming October 31 holiday, a lack of much competition as the only new wide release, and the strongest two years in memory for horror at the box office between ItGet OutA Quiet Place, and more.

In other box office news:

  • A Star Is Born — after debuting the same weekend as Venom with about half the opening, then cutting the gap significantly last weekend — actually slightly overtakes its competitor this weekend, with $19.0M to Venom‘s $18.0M. That indicates strong word of mouth on Star‘s part, including the soundtrack debuting at #1 on the Billboard albums chart.
  • The Hate U Give, which had been out for two weeks in limited release, expanded wide during its third overall weekend and took sixth place with $7.6M.
  • A24’s Mid90s, the directorial debut of Jonah Hill, captured the best per-theater average of the weekend with a $258,157 start in four theaters, for $64,539 each.

Comparisons

Total box office this weekend was $165.0M.

That’s +20.9% above last weekend and 72.0% ahead of this same weekend last year, when Boo 2! A Madea Halloween led with $21.2M.

Year-to-date box office stands at $9.53B. That’s +11.0% ahead of this same date last year, up from +10.2% after last weekend.

Demographics

Halloween‘s audience was 51.2% female, 28.2% under age 25, and 30.0% over age 50.

The most male audience in this weekend’s top 10 was Venom at 66.3%, while the most female audience was A Star Is Born at 55.1%.

The most under-25 audience in this weekend’s top 10 was Smallfoot at 60.7%, while the most over-25 audience was Bad Times at the El Royale at 87.5%.

A full demographic breakdown of the top 30 movies this weekend, courtesy of BoxofficeProfile by Vertigo, is included below:

Our full table of weekend actuals is below, followed by our Sunday update featuring fuller analysis.


Monday’s Weekend Actuals (Domestic)

FRI, OCT. 19 – SUN, OCT. 21

WIDE (1000+)

# TITLE WEEKEND LOCATIONS AVG. TOTAL WKS. DIST.
1 Halloween (2018) $76,221,545 3,928 $19,405 $76,221,545 1 Universal Pictures
2 A Star is Born $19,051,082 -33% 3,884 176 $4,905 $126,127,328 3 Warner Bros.
3 Venom $18,043,887 -48% 3,887 -363 $4,642 $171,063,982 3 Sony / Columbia
4 Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween $9,721,173 -38% 3,521 0 $2,761 $28,810,985 2 Sony
5 First Man $8,327,135 -48% 3,640 0 $2,288 $29,762,185 2 Universal
6 The Hate U Give $7,602,108 338% 2,303 2055 $3,301 $10,743,981 3 20th Century Fox
7 Smallfoot $6,576,876 -27% 3,032 -574 $2,169 $66,327,911 4 Warner Bros.
8 Night School $4,892,515 -37% 2,296 -484 $2,131 $66,799,340 4 Universal
9 Bad Times At The El Royale $3,420,067 -52% 2,808 0 $1,218 $13,461,868 2 20th Century Fox
10 The House With A Clock In Its Walls $1,813,390 -53% 1,588 -1203 $1,142 $65,000,980 5 Universal Pictures
11 The Sisters Brothers $757,975 187% 1,141 1012 $664 $1,986,693 5 Annapurna Pictures

LIMITED (100 — 999)

# TITLE WEEKEND LOCATIONS AVG. TOTAL WKS. DIST.
1 The Old Man & The Gun $2,134,481 133% 802 574 $2,661 $4,285,337 4 Fox Searchlight
2 Free Solo $1,022,204 15% 251 122 $4,073 $3,605,848 4 National Geographic Entertainment
3 Gosnell: The Trial Of America’s Biggest Serial Killer $640,283 -45% 511 -157 $1,253 $2,453,903 2 GVN Releasing
4 Colette $619,810 -38% 520 -23 $1,192 $3,728,013 5 Bleecker Street
5 Crazy Rich Asians $539,848 -48% 402 -336 $1,343 $172,250,049 10 Warner Bros.
6 The Nun $416,651 -69% 623 -551 $669 $116,747,614 7 Warner Bros.
7 A Simple Favor $359,889 -73% 492 -960 $731 $52,901,579 6 Lionsgate
8 The Oath $227,400 682% 300 290 $758 $265,296 2 Roadside Attractions
9 Incredibles 2 $173,845 -18% 176 -18 $988 $607,713,414 19 Disney
10 The Meg $138,454 83% 203 1 $682 $142,839,245 11 Warner Bros.
11 Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation $138,204 -26% 160 -25 $864 $167,210,248 17 Sony / Columbia
12 The Wife $130,333 -37% 130 -71 $1,003 $7,474,075 10 Sony Pictures Classics
13 Hell Fest $78,406 -88% 263 -605 $298 $10,759,007 4 Lionsgate / CBS Films
14 Peppermint $77,262 -59% 152 -149 $508 $35,320,814 7 STX Entertainment
15 The Predator $64,934 -70% 141 -235 $461 $50,852,093 6 Fox
16 Disney’s Christopher Robin $60,912 -58% 108 -357 $564 $98,719,355 12 Disney
17 Ant-Man and the Wasp $50,528 -44% 105 -27 $481 $216,600,757 16 Disney

PLATFORM (1 — 99)

# TITLE WEEKEND LOCATIONS AVG. TOTAL WKS. DIST.
1 Beautiful Boy $415,735 90% 48 44 $8,661 $698,687 2 Amazon
2 Mid90s $258,157 4 $64,539 $258,157 1 A24
3 Can You Ever Forgive Me? $161,510 5 $32,302 $161,510 1 Fox Searchlight
4 Andhadhun $147,779 -48% 62 0 $2,384 $959,504 3 Eros Entertainment
5 Wildlife $104,587 4 $26,147 $104,587 1 IFC Films
6 Tea With the Dames $79,946 -12% 68 1 $1,176 $434,830 5 IFC Films
7 Namaste England $67,612 71 $952 $67,612 1 Eros Entertainment
8 The Guilty $60,050 29 $2,071 $60,050 1 Magnolia Pictures
9 The Happy Prince $59,198 52% 25 17 $2,368 $117,731 2 Sony Pictures Classics
10 Alpha $53,822 99% 86 22 $626 $35,706,919 10 Sony / Columbia
11 Jane and Emma $41,222 -51% 29 8 $1,421 $184,795 2 Excel Entertainment / Purdie Distribution
12 Fahrenheit 11/9 $26,793 -58% 37 -58 $724 $6,264,731 5 Briarcliff Entertainment
13 Slender Man $24,616 -40% 57 -10 $432 $30,542,963 11 Sony / Screen Gems
14 White Boy Rick $24,388 -84% 57 -133 $428 $23,937,154 6 Sony / Studio 8
15 Studio 54 $22,178 -12% 7 1 $3,168 $93,242 3 Zeitgeist Films
16 Mandy $20,360 15 $1,357 $1,170,185 6 RLJE Films
17 What They Had $17,683 4 $4,421 $17,683 1 Bleecker Street
18 The Price of Everything $16,817 1 $16,817 $16,817 1 HBO Films
19 Unbroken: Path to Redemption $14,035 -70% 52 -72 $270 $6,184,569 6 Pure Flix
20 Monsters and Men $14,012 -55% 25 -40 $560 $482,017 4 Neon
21 1945 $13,244 71% 13 3 $1,019 $962,443 51 Menemsha Films
22 Little Women (2018) $12,997 -43% 19 -28 $684 $1,343,748 4 Pinnacle Peak
23 Wings of Desire (2018 re-release) $12,885 1 $12,885 $12,885 1 Janus Films
24 Searching $11,110 -90% 34 -93 $327 $25,944,103 9 Sony Pictures
25 Love, Gilda $10,581 -33% 19 -15 $557 $599,410 5 Magnolia Pictures
26 Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. $10,504 -48% 6 -3 $1,751 $170,769 4 Abramorama
27 Juliet, Naked $9,451 48% 13 3 $727 $3,440,284 10 Roadside Attractions / Lionsgate
28 The Great Battle $7,218 -56% 4 -4 $1,805 $464,334 5 Well Go USA Entertainment
29 Pick of the Litter $6,091 -70% 16 -18 $381 $513,386 8 IFC Films
30 Operation Finale $5,270 -62% 14 -32 $376 $17,605,174 8 MGM
31 Moynihan $4,714 -44% 2 0 $2,357 $28,108 3 First Run Features
32 Un Traductor $4,412 1 $4,412 $4,412 1 Film Movement
33 On Her Shoulders $4,374 1 $4,374 $4,374 1 Oscilloscope Laboratories
34 The Advocates $4,355 1 $4,355 $4,355 1 Cinema Libre Studio
35 Kusama – Infinity $3,814 -72% 9 -8 $424 $322,724 7 Magnolia Pictures
36 Golden Job $3,706 -75% 2 -3 $1,853 $279,365 4 Well Go USA Entertainment
37 Lizzie $3,363 -47% 8 -4 $420 $639,222 6 Saban Films / Roadside Attractions
38 Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story $3,086 1 $3,086 $4,895 1 Abramorama
39 All About Nina $2,841 -82% 8 -46 $355 $93,626 4 The Orchard
40 Puzzle $2,596 -53% 4 -12 $649 $2,021,163 13 Sony Pictures Classics
41 God Bless the Broken Road $2,422 -57% 6 -13 $404 $2,838,205 7 Freestyle Releasing
42 Beautifully Broken $2,402 758% 1 0 $2,402 $1,206,478 9 ArtAffects Entertainment
43 The Cakemaker $2,375 -26% 2 -1 $1,188 $867,776 17 Strand Releasing
44 Assassination Nation $2,342 -36% 5 0 $468 $1,959,205 5 Neon
45 Blaze $1,772 -79% 12 -19 $148 $682,347 10 IFC Films / Sundance Selects
46 Black ’47 $1,670 -88% 5 -95 $334 $46,013 4 IFC Films
47 Liyana $1,350 -74% 1 0 $1,350 $8,200 2 Abramorama
48 Sorry To Bother You $1,328 -74% 3 -6 $443 $17,490,603 16 Annapurna Pictures
49 In Echo Park $1,255 -70% 1 -1 $1,255 $6,042 2 Indican Pictures
50 The Atomic Cafe $1,092 1 $1,092 $22,293 12 Kino Lorber
51 Helicopter Eela $881 -98% 70 0 $13 $71,466 2 Eros International
52 The Lost Village $840 1 $840 $840 1 First Run Features
53 Bigger $714 -98% 5 -56 $143 $45,757 2 Freestyle Releasing
54 Andrei Rublev $631 -30% 1 0 $631 $94,213 9 Janus
55 TVTV: Video Revolutionaries $556 1 $556 $556 1 First Run Features
56 No Date, No Signature $334 -59% 1 0 $334 $32,458 12 Distrib Films US
57 I Am Not a Witch $325 -79% 4 -3 $81 $43,971 7 Film Movement
58 Let the Corpses Tan $306 -63% 1 -1 $306 $88,382 8 Kino Lorber
59 Stella’s Last Weekend $292 -88% 4 2 $73 $3,386 2 Paladin
60 Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex Fashion & Disco $250 -35% 1 -1 $250 $33,716 6 Film Movement
61 When You Read This Letter $169 1 $169 $15,171 6 Rialto

Sunday Update:

This year, Halloween came early.

Debuting to an estimated $77.5 million, Universal’s slasher reboot affirmed the enduring power of the immortal franchise in a powerful way and made yet another case for horror as arguably the most reliable genre going. Elsewhere, The Hate U Give enjoyed an impressive wide expansion while a slew of independent titles debuted to mixed results in limited release.

After nearly ten years away from the screen, the Halloween franchise proved as unstoppable as Michael Myers himself with the latest installment, thanks to a combination of strong reviews (80% at Rotten Tomatoes), a nostalgic pull for older audiences who grew up with the original movies, the much-heralded return of original star Jamie Lee Curtis, and an aggressive marketing campaign that made the film into a “must-see” event. Though few expected it to reach quite this high going into the weekend, signs were certainly pointing to a better-than-expected debut in the days leading up to release. Not only did Fandango report that Halloween was outselling The Nun ($53.8 million opening) at the same point in the sales cycle, but our own Trailer Impact research showed that 49 percent of audiences surveyed were “Definitely interested” in seeing the film, vs. 40 percent for The Nun at the same point.

Though it wasn’t quite able to topple Venom’s $80.2 million October opening record from earlier this month, Halloween did break a number of other records on its way to No. 1 this weekend. In addition to surpassing Venom‘s record for the highest Friday opening in October ($33.34 million vs. $32.5 million), it also scored the highest opening weekend in Halloween franchise history (a feat accomplished by the end of its first full day of release), and the highest opening weekend ever in the slasher sub-genre (far surpassing the Friday the 13th reboot’s $40.5 million debut back in 2009). Additionally, it’s the second-highest opening weekend ever for an R-rated horror film after the phenomenally-successful It, which brought in an eye-popping $123.4 million last September, and it marks Blumhouse’s highest opening weekend of all time, far surpassing Paranormal Activity 3‘s $52.5 million from 2011. In just its first weekend, it also far outgrossed the lifetime cume of every other film in the Halloween franchise, though adjusting for inflation, it still has a ways to go before topping the original Halloween‘s $176 million gross in 2018 dollars.

Remaining in second place for the third weekend in a row – and outgrossing Venom for the first time on the weekend chart – was Warner Bros.’ A Star Is Born, which took in an estimated $19.3 million in its third frame. That’s a drop of just 32 percent for the acclaimed title, which now has $126.3 million in the bank after 17 days. Though it was something of a tight race for the No. 2 slot, the Lady Gaga-Bradley Cooper drama surpassed Venom in daily grosses every day last week thanks to excellent word of mouth and growing awards buzz, and it seems destined to continue demonstrating strong legs as we head deeper into the fall season.

In third place, Venom dropped took in an estimated $18.1 million, down 48 percent from last weekend. That gives the Sony release an excellent $171.1 million after 17 days. With this weekend’s gross, the Tom Hardy superhero title is now the studio’s top-grossing release of 2018, surpassing Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation‘s $167 million cume on Sunday.

After opening to a disappointing $16 million last weekend, Universal’s First Man dipped 46 percent to an estimated $8.5 million in its sophomore frame, giving it a so-so $30 million after ten days of release. Though it’s received largely positive reviews (it boasts a sturdy 89% at Rotten Tomatoes), the Neil Armstrong film hasn’t sparked with moviegoers as strongly as some had anticipated. At least some of its underperformance likely has to do with the recent controversy surrounding director Damien Chazelle’s decision not to focus on Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s planting of the American flag on the moon, as many prominent figures on the conservative end of the political spectrum, including President Donald Trump, have publicly blasted the creative choice. Looking at comparative titles, First Man‘s second-weekend drop is much higher than that of either Argo or Bridge of Spies, which eased just 15.5 percent and 26 percent, respectively, in their sophomore frames.

Last weekend’s other new wide opener, the family-friendly sequel Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, dipped 38 percent to an estimated $9.7 million, giving the Sony horror-comedy $28.8 million after ten days of release. That’s a fairly steep 35 percent off from the first Goosebumps‘ total at the same point, though the sequel has a comparatively thrifty reported budget of $35 million (vs. the first Goosebumps‘ $58 million). Luckily, Goosebumps 2 has no real competition for the family audience until the release of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms on November 2.

After an impressive two-weekend run in limited release, Fox Searchlight’s The Hate U Give expanded to 2,303 theaters and brought in a very good $7.5 million in sixth place. The YA drama has benefitted from almost universally-positive reviews (its Rotten Tomatoes rating is 96%), while the film’s “A+” Cinemascore suggests excellent word-of-mouth will buoy the youth-driven title in the weeks ahead.

Seventh and eighth place went to the four-week-old Smallfoot and Night School, respectively. The Warner Bros. animated comedy brought in an estimated $6.6 million, giving it $66.3 million to date. Night School, meanwhile, grossed an estimated $5 million, bringing its cume to $66.9 million.

In ninth place, Bad Times at the El Royale dropped 53 percent to an estimated $3.3 million, giving the star-studded thriller a total of $13.3 million after ten days of release. That’s a disappointing cume for the Fox title, which has had difficulty competing in a marketplace overcrowded with buzzier films.

Finally in tenth, The Old Man & The Gun expanded to 802 locations and brought in an estimated $2.05 million, which ranks as a reasonably successful expansion for the Robert Redford crime comedy. This follows three weekends of limited release for the Fox Searchlight title, which has been heralded as Redford’s final film (though the actor himself has walked back those comments in subsequent interviews). The critically-acclaimed caper has banked a total of $4.2 million to date.

Outside the Top 10, Annapurna’s The Sisters Brothers expanded to 1,141 locations and brought in an estimated $742, giving the Joaquin Phoenix-John C. Reilly release a weak per-screen average of just $605. Its total is $1.97 million to date.

Limited Release:

Mid90s enjoyed the most impressive start of any limited release opener this weekend, bringing in an estimated $249K on just four screens. That’s a per-screen average of $62,375, which makes it one of the best limited openings of 2018. Directed by Jonah Hill, the A24 comedy-drama about teenage skateboarders living in LA has received largely positive reviews (its Rotten Tomatoes score is 80%). The film is set to expand nationwide next weekend.

Opening in five locations, Fox Searchlight’s Can You Ever Forgive Me? brought in an estimated $150K, giving it a healthy per-screen average of $30,000. The fact-based comedic drama benefitted from excellent reviews and a rare, buzzed-about dramatic turn from star Melissa McCarthy.

IFC’s Wildlife opened in four theaters and brought in an estimated $105K on just four screens, giving it a per-screen average of $26,403. Starring Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal and directed by Paul Dano, the period drama has received almost universally positive reviews, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 96%. Look for it to expand wider next weekend.

After opening to a terrific $282K last weekend on just four screens, Amazon Studios’ Beautiful Boy expanded to 48 locations and brought in an estimated $439K, giving it a per-screen average of $9,147. The Timothee Chalamet-Steve Carell drama now has $722K to date.

Overseas Update:

On top of its massive Stateside debut, Halloween took in an additional $14.3 million in 23 international markets this weekend, bringing its worldwide opening weekend haul to $91.8 million. 

Venom brought in an additional $32.3 million in 65 markets this weekend, bringing its international total to $290.7 million and its global cume of $461.2 million. Overseas tallies include $28.4 million in South Korea, $28.1 million in Russia, $21.8 million in the U.K., and $21.3 million in Mexico. It opens in China on November 9.

A Star Is Born brought in an estimated $22.8 million in 75 markets, bringing its overseas cume to $74.7 million and its worldwide total to $201.1 million.


Sunday’s Studio Weekend Estimates (Domestic)

FRI, OCT. 19 – SUN, OCT. 21

WIDE (1000+)

# TITLE WEEKEND LOCATIONS AVG. TOTAL WKS. DIST.
1 Halloween (2018) $77,500,000 3,928 $19,730 $77,500,000 1 Universal Pictures
2 A Star is Born $19,300,000 -32% 3,884 176 $4,969 $126,376,246 3 Warner Bros.
3 Venom $18,105,000 -48% 3,887 -363 $4,658 $171,125,095 3 Sony / Columbia
4 Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween $9,715,000 -39% 3,521 0 $2,759 $28,804,812 2 Sony
5 First Man $8,570,000 -46% 3,640 0 $2,354 $30,005,050 2 Universal
6 The Hate U Give $7,500,000 332% 2,303 2055 $3,257 $10,641,873 3 20th Century Fox
7 Smallfoot $6,615,000 -27% 3,032 -574 $2,182 $66,366,035 4 Warner Bros.
8 Night School $5,000,000 -35% 2,296 -484 $2,178 $66,906,825 4 Universal
9 Bad Times At The El Royale $3,300,000 -54% 2,808 0 $1,175 $13,341,801 2 20th Century Fox
10 The House With A Clock In Its Walls $1,740,000 -55% 1,588 -1203 $1,096 $64,927,590 5 Universal Pictures
11 The Sisters Brothers $742,014 181% 1,141 1012 $650 $1,970,732 5 Annapurna Pictures

LIMITED (100 — 999)

# TITLE WEEKEND LOCATIONS AVG. TOTAL WKS. DIST.
1 The Old Man & The Gun $2,050,000 123% 802 574 $2,556 $4,200,856 4 Fox Searchlight
2 Free Solo $965,000 8% 253 124 $3,814 $3,573,718 4 National Geographic Entertainment
3 Colette $585,020 -41% 520 -23 $1,125 $3,693,223 5 Bleecker Street
4 The Nun $415,000 -69% 623 -551 $666 $116,745,963 7 Warner Bros.
5 A Simple Favor $360,000 -73% 492 -960 $732 $52,901,690 6 Lionsgate
6 The Oath $223,510 669% 300 290 $745 $261,406 2 Roadside Attractions
7 Hell Fest $71,000 -89% 263 -605 $270 $10,751,601 4 Lionsgate / CBS Films
8 Peppermint $70,000 -63% 152 -149 $461 $35,313,552 7 STX Entertainment

PLATFORM (1 — 99)

# TITLE WEEKEND LOCATIONS AVG. TOTAL WKS. DIST.
1 Beautiful Boy $439,056 101% 48 44 $9,147 $722,008 2 Amazon
2 Mid90s $249,500 4 $62,375 $249,500 1 A24
3 Can You Ever Forgive Me? $150,000 5 $30,000 $150,000 1 Fox Searchlight
4 Wildlife $105,614 4 $26,404 $105,614 1 IFC Films
5 What They Had $18,845 4 $4,711 $18,845 1 Bleecker Street
6 The Price of Everything $17,280 1 $17,280 $17,280 1 HBO Films
7 Monsters and Men $13,433 -57% 25 -40 $537 $481,438 4 Neon
8 Wings of Desire (2018 re-release) $11,635 1 $11,635 $11,635 1 Janus Films
9 Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. $9,763 -52% 6 -3 $1,627 $170,028 4 Abramorama
10 The Advocates $4,000 1 $4,000 $4,000 1 Cinema Libre Studio
11 Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story $2,357 1 $2,357 $4,166 1 Abramorama
12 Assassination Nation $2,241 -38% 5 0 $448 $1,959,104 5 Neon
13 God Bless the Broken Road $2,039 -64% 6 -13 $340 $2,837,822 7 Freestyle Releasing
14 Liyana $1,307 -75% 1 0 $1,307 $7,977 2 Abramorama
15 Bigger $516 -98% 5 -56 $103 $45,559 2 Freestyle Releasing

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