Movie Theaters Just Experienced Their Lowest Box Office Month in Almost 30 Years

[Coventina]

October 2025 is going to be one for the box office record books, but not in a good way. Week after week, there have been headlines about the underperformance of October's highest-profile releases, like Tron: Ares, The Smashing Machine, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, and After the Hunt. With Mortal Kombat 2 being delayed from October 24 to May 2026, it left a fatality-sized hole in the release schedule.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the analytics company Comscore reports that the October 2025 box office generated $425 million in revenue, the worst for that month in 27 years. This does not include October 2020, when Tenet was released and generated $55 million for theaters during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many theaters were unable to open. THR notes that the last time October was this low was 1997, though that year notably featured the breakout hit I Know What You Did Last Summer, which dominated a rather slow month, as well as the release of the critically acclaimed Boogie Nights. October 1997 generated $385.2 million in combined ticket sales, not adjusted for inflation.

October used to be considered a slower season, except for that one breakout horror film that followed the summer movie season but preceded the holiday rush. Studios tended to take advantage by slowly releasing some of their potential Oscar contenders, such as The Social Network and Gone Girl. However, it then became a month that delivered huge box-office numbers with the right title. Venom, Joker, A Star is Born, Gravity, and Halloween all generated summer blockbuster-level numbers over the past decade in the month of October. This year's big tentpole film, Tron: Ares, was hugely disappointing, grossing only $63 million since its October 10 release. It's even worse when one considers that it is the highest-grossing film of October. Meanwhile, audiences didn't turn out for The Smashing Machine or Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere the same way they had in the past for other films aiming for awards buzz.

Theaters certainly are thankful for Taylor Swift's last-minute The Official Release Party of a Showgirl to the October slate, as the three-day event brought in $34 million domestically during the first month of the year. Even though Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc didn't break out the same way that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie - Infinity Castle did, the fact that it managed to top the weekend box office with just $18 million shows how lackluster the October offerings have been for audiences. The one bona fide hit for October was, of course, a horror film. The Black Phone 2 was released on October 17 and grossed $51 million domestically, a bounce-back from the disappointing run of flops Blumhouse has had in 2025.

https://movieweb.com/movie-theaters-lowest-box-office-month-30-years-tron-ares/

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Ummmm...

Have any of these brainiacs considered that NO ONE HAS ANY MONEY?!?!?!?!?!?

[AZJonnie]

1. The purpose of the article seems to be simply to report the numbers, not assess causality

Just saying

If your theory is accurate (and I suspect you're correct) the trend will largely continue.

On the other hand, it could just be that people didn't care about these movies all that much

I think the last time I went to the cinema was to see Avatar in Imax. The first time lol. I do have a considerable sum invested in my home theater though, it's pretty freaking dialed in, makes it real tempting to wait for movies to come out on streaming or blu-ray.

[erronis]

2. And maybe the same old, same old formulaic crap just doesn't get any excitement.

I'm not a good judge. Old man who likes movies that portray real world interactions between sentient humans. No CGI but good dialog and carefully crafted shots. Just like in the real world, do not need to end with a bang or anything at all. Just a sense that I've watched some good art and acting.

[SocialDemocrat61]

8. These days those movies

are on streaming

[tavernier]

14. Can I get an

Amen.

[Haggard Celine]

3. No one has any money and besides that,

anyone can stream movies all day long at home. Why go to the movies and buy the overpriced snacks and pay $10 or whatever for a ticket when you can stream a movie and eat your own food at home. I went to Rocky Horror in New Orleans the other night and it was the first time I'd been to a theater in years. I had a good time, but Rocky Horror is a special case. You have to have other people there to have the full experience. Most movies can be enjoyed by one person or a couple of people at home with their humongous tv.

[NoRethugFriends]

7. Because it's great seeing movies on the big screen

I'm a dark theater. Not the same as at home. That's why people go to movies.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Discretionary spending is down, esp by people who can't afford World Series tickets. . . . . nt

[Aristus]

5. Last movie in the theaters: "1917".

Two fuckwits in the front row talked out loud the entire time. Wouldn't shut up. Or talk about anything interesting, if they had to be gobbing in the first place. Ruined the movie for me. And the whole moviegoing experience. It used to actually be an experience; a shared emotional ride with a bunch of strangers. Not anymore. Everybody thinks there in their own living room, and are oblivious to the effect of their inane babble.

I'm done. No more fucking movie theaters for me.

Streaming is just fine.

If the studios go under (which they won't), fuck 'em for not hiring a bunch of 500-pound bouncers named Tiny to throw out the loudmouths like in the old days.

[myohmy2]

6. ain't that a shame...

&list=RDWSy3HmQ5CxY&start_radio=1

...

[mwmisses4289]

9. Last movie I saw was the recent downton abbey release.

Last edited Fri Oct 31, 2025, 01:23 AM - Edit history (1)

A few friends and I went on a Monday for a matinee and got senior discount.
But for most people? Taking a family of four to the movies is what...about a 100 dollars by the time you figure tickets and concessions. Most families don't have that kind of money.
I wonder if many of these venues realize they are pricing themselves right out of the market?

[Celerity]

21. Downton Abbey, not Downtown

[mwmisses4289]

24. Oy. Sigh. Thanks.

Even if i proofread something, my phone "corrects" it in transit. It's annoying as hell. Hubby explained it to me tonight, we were laughing over a "correction" it made to something i had sent him.
I will correct the error.

[BannonsLiver]

10. I've started going back to movies this year.

About a dozen. It’s been nice. Still a bargain relative to other forms of entertainment like concerts. We have seen Stevie Nicks and Paul McCartney this year and those experiences cost about $1,000 combined for 2 tickets to each show.

[Bookreadingliberal53]

11. Wicked for Good comes out next month

It’s in Fandango’s Top 10 for all time pre sales. It’s going to do very very well.

[Wounded Bear]

12. "Have any of these brainiacs considered that NO ONE HAS ANY MONEY?!?!?!?!?!?"

Funny thing, but movies were raking in the bucks in the 30's, the heart of the Great Depression.

Thing is, you could go to the movies for less than a buck in a lot of theaters. Inflation doesn't quite cover the $20-30 cost of modern theaters. Sure, the seating and the amenities are far better, but its still a big dent in the weekly budget.

[flvegan]

13. Maybe the threat of "ICE" kicking in theatre doors is keeping people at home. Shame that. n/t

[tavernier]

15. People like feel good movies when the world around them

Is crumbling.

Real people with real laughs and real tears and warm feelings to go with their buttered popcorn and milk duds. Too much CGI and explosions gets real old real quick.

[lonely bird]

16. Truth and Treason

We just saw it last weekend.

Hit too close to home.

Beyond that?

The horror movies are an utter waste of time, money and resources. Not a whole lot worth seeing. But when there is I will go and watch.

[jmowreader]

17. It just may be there weren't any movies anyone wanted to see in the theaters

I've gone to three movies in 2025, which is three more than I went to in 2024. They were:

THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: I am a massive fan of classic animation. Earth Blew Up is computer-generated and looks very much like hand-drawn animation. It's also silly and funny, and amazing that of all the characters in the Warner collection they had the bravery to make The First Full-Length Feature Looney Tunes Movie That's All Original and didn't put Bugs Bunny in it - which made the film better, so far as I could see.

SUPERMAN: I enjoyed watching Superman get his ass beat repeatedly, and enjoyed it even more when he learned to fight and took control of the situation.

THE LONG WALK: My Dinner with Andre with lots of gunfire. Mark Hamill makes a fun villain.

[Xavier Breath]

18. I see on average about two movies per month

As one of their customers, I'd tell them that when your October offerings are a Tron sequel (pass) and something called The Smashing Machine (hard, hard pass) I'm keeping my dough in my pocket.

[GreatGazoo]

20. The Mastermind is good if you liked "Fargo"

It's a thinker with a great jazz soundtrack.

I want to see "Good Boy" even though I am not generally interested in horror movies.

https://deadline.com/2025/10/indie-film-box-office-good-boy-haunted-house-dog-star-ifc-1236570602/

[Xavier Breath]

23. I saw that movie and loved it, and I'm no horror fan either.

The dog was amazing.

[lame54]

26. The Smashing Machine looks great...

Saw the preview

[Tree Lady]

19. I go to the movies

But this time of year is all horror and Halloween stuff not my thing. Love the holiday not the movies.

[KS Toronado]

22. Our 4-plex that opened here in the 1980's closed it's doors last month.

[lame54]

25. Go see One Battle After Another

[chia]

28. Really enjoyed that movie. And yes, nice to see it on a big screen.

[markodochartaigh]

27. I used to see a half dozen movies a month.

I lived in an apartment complex with a half dozen theaters and 25 screens without leaving the connected parking lots. A friend from work and I would have dinner and a movie. We split the cost, maybe about $25 each, maximum.

I have gone to one movie this year, Avatar II, in IMAX. With popcorn and a drink it was around $50.

But the main problem for me is potential covid exposure. With long covid already, one more round could kill me. Back in Dallas working nights it was easy to have a private screening. Wait until a movie had been out two weeks and go on a Tuesday afternoon. Now in an area of retirees and very few theaters it's a lot more crowded. At least with reserved seating you can check right before showtime.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

29. We haven't gone in a few years. Maybe getting too old.

It seems the theater staff needs to turn the sound up to eleven. It was so loud, my ears hurt.

And we are veterans of Who concerts. Way back when concerts were affordable.

[DFW]

31. The Who live? I'm jealous!!

A few years ago, my Germany-based younger daughter invited my wife and me to see the Rolling Stones live in Stuttgart. She got us seats right near the stage—close enough to see every one of Mick Jagger’s facial wrinkles. It WAS a great show, but our seats set her back something like €500 each. She is super-successful and really makes that kind of money. That is pocket change to her, and so we didn’t feel bad about it. But dayyum! For THAT kind of money, we could have flown up to London for the weekend, stayed in a decent hotel, watched some documentary on the Stones on the BBC, and had some fabulous Indian food to boot.

[DFW]

30. Even if I had fifty million in spare cash and would retire tomorrow

I haven’t heard of any films recently that I’d bother to go see.

The last time I was in a movie theater, it was in August in Dallas, when my TX roomies said, “let’s go!” So, I went along. I think it was some Marvel movie, or some spinoff of same. Avengers XCIV or some such. I don’t even remember, and I might have dozed off for part of it.

When they start making movies like The Witness, or The Shawshank Redemption or Das Leben der Anderen again, I’ll be first in line on the way back to the movie theater.

[Celerity]

33. There are plenty of wonderful movies being made now.

[BlueTsunami2018]

32. Why go to a theater when you can just watch at home?

Streaming is why theater revenue is down. This is their own doing.

[QueerDuck]

34. Streaming lets me use closed-captions... skip back when I missed a line of dialog or when...

there was a particularly exciting stunt or amusing scene I can watch it again. I can pause it to go pee, or to get more snacks from the kitchen (for much less than at the concession stand) and I do NOT need to put up with ANNOYING and LOUD and RUDE patrons (talking to each other, shouting across rows, using their mobiles and texting.)

And, when the movie is over I'm already home. No need to try and remember where i parked and drive home.

Times change.