October is generally a quiet month for theatrical releases. After a slew of expensive releases over the summer months, October tends to be slower. Consumers have less time to go to the theaters compared to the summer and the winter holiday season, so studios choose not to concentrate their efforts during this month.
However, recent releases have proved that this time may be becoming more popular for moviegoers, especially those who are seeking darker or less mainstream content. In terms of wide releases for October, here are the movies that dominated the US box office this past weekend.
1. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Debuting at number one in the charts, Disney’s Maleficent sequel made a stable $36 million domestically. Despite having a star cast (including leading woman Angelina Jolie, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Elle Fanning), the film did not achieve the numbers that Disney is accustomed to. This is likely due to the seasonal slump, issues with production, and the large amount of time that passed between the two films within the franchise.
2. Joker
Last year, Venom broke October records by opening on Oct. 5th with a surprising $80 million. In addition, A Star is Born did well, surprising analysts and Hollywood experts. This year, however, Joker upset this month’s record, debuting with $96 million.
In its third week in theaters, Joker continues to pull its weight. Surrounded by controversy and Oscar’s buzz, Joaquin Phoenix’s rendition of the Gotham villain brought in $29 million. As of now, the film is expected to become the highest grossing rated R movie of all time once it surpasses Deadpool (2016). This marks an interesting occasion for both film and comic book fans alike.
3. Zombieland 2: Double Tap
Also making its debut this weekend, Zombieland climbed its way into the top three. As another Hard R rated movie, the sequel earned just over $26 million opening weekend, ten years after its predecessor. This movie also marks the tail-end of most major horror and Halloween themed releases for this season.
Shortly behind Zombieland were The Addams Family and Gemini Man.
October is seemingly turning into an opportunity for smaller studios to release their films to viewers without being overshadowed by larger studios. As we move further into the fall, the upcoming November releases will determine whether or not this strategy is working and if the steps studios are taking to make you leave your house and see their films are really working.