Hollywood’s Halloween weekend turned into an unexpected box office showdown between love and horror — and not the kind fans were hoping for.
According to early estimates, Paramount and Constantin Films’ romance-drama Regretting You, the latest Colleen Hoover adaptation following It Ends With Us, narrowly edged out Universal and Blumhouse’s horror sequel Black Phone 2 to claim the top spot.
But there’s a twist — Universal has released competing numbers suggesting their film might actually be No. 1.
A Weekend of Conflicting Victories
Paramount’s Sunday numbers put Regretting You in first place with $8.1 million from 3,245 theaters in its second weekend. Universal, meanwhile, estimated Black Phone 2 slightly ahead with $8 million from 3,425 theaters.
Most rival studios reportedly back Universal’s claim, meaning Monday’s final figures will officially determine who won the Oct. 31–Nov. 2 frame.
Last weekend, a similar situation occurred when Regretting You and Black Phone 2 swapped positions after final numbers came in, with the romance ultimately pulling ahead.
Hollywood’s Worst Halloween in 31 Years
The friendly competition couldn’t hide a grim reality — this was the lowest-grossing Halloween weekend in over three decades.
According to Comscore, total box office revenue across North America reached just $49.8 million, the worst since 1993 (excluding the pandemic year 2020). Back then, the total was $49.2 million — and that’s not adjusted for inflation.
Comscore’s chief analyst Paul Dergarabedian called it a “truly scary weekend” for the industry, explaining that Halloween festivities, the World Series, and a lack of major new releases all pulled audiences away from theaters.
“It was an imperfect marketplace storm,” he said. “Studios and cinemas did what they could to fill the holes.”
What Went Wrong
Unlike last year’s Halloween, which saw Venom: The Last Dance dominate the box office, this year lacked a comparable tentpole release.
Instead, exhibitors relied on a mix of holdovers, re-releases, and awards hopefuls, including Back to the Future, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Focus Features’ Bugonia — all contributing, but not enough to lift overall sales.
How Each Film Fared
- Regretting You
The romantic drama, starring Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi, earned $8.1 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to $27.5 million after 10 days. Overseas, it added $8.2 million from 56 markets for a global tally of $50.8 million. Despite dropping sharply on Halloween night — when its target audience, younger female viewers, were out celebrating — ticket sales spiked 200% on Saturday, signaling strong word of mouth. - Black Phone 2
The horror sequel continued its solid run, reaching $104.8 million worldwide. Its domestic total now stands at $61.5 million, with $43.3 million earned internationally. The Blumhouse release remains one of the fall’s biggest genre successes. - Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
After a strong debut, the Japanese manga adaptation took a steep 67% drop in its second weekend, grossing $6 million domestically for a 10-day total of $30.8 million. Globally, the film stands at a massive $139 million, with Sony’s Crunchyroll overseeing distribution in several key territories. - Bugonia
Expanding to 2,043 theaters, Yorgos Lanthimos’ dark comedy starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons earned $4.8 million, its widest release yet. With $5.3 million overseas, the specialty title now stands at $11.1 million globally. - Back to the Future (1985 Re-Release)
The iconic film’s 40th anniversary reissue brought in $4.7 million from 2,290 theaters, placing an impressive No. 5 domestically and pushing its lifetime total to $221.7 million (unadjusted). - Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
The Bruce Springsteen biopic dropped 57% in its second weekend, grossing $3.8 million for a domestic total of $16.3 million and $30.6 million worldwide.
Other Highlights
- One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson’s acclaimed drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio, held steady in its sixth weekend with $1.2 million, pushing its domestic total to $67.8 million and nearing the $200 million mark globally.
- The special concert film Depeche Mode: M, directed by Fernando Frías, earned $1.1 million domestically and $4.7 million overseas, reflecting the band’s enduring global fanbase.
Final Words
Whether Regretting You or Black Phone 2 officially claims the top spot, there’s no denying that Hollywood’s Halloween 2025 turned into a chilling reminder of the industry’s ongoing challenges.
With overall revenues hitting a 31-year low, studios will be hoping for a rebound in November — as major titles like Moana 2 and Gladiator II prepare to breathe new life into the box office.
For now, love and horror are neck and neck — and movie theaters are praying for a miracle.
