Strictly Business Daily Variety – Box Office: What Went Wrong on 2025’s Worst Weekend; Mark Walter is the New King of L.A. Sports; Red Carpet Rundown With Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber
Nov 3, 2025
Rebecca Rubin, Senior film and media reporter at Variety, dives into the dismal box office turnout of Halloween weekend 2025. She explains how the combination of no major releases and competing events like the World Series led to staggering declines in theater attendance. October is highlighted as the worst month since 1997 for grosses, with several big-budget films missing the mark. The conversation also touches on Mark Walter's rise as a major force in L.A. sports, owning the Lakers and Dodgers, and a glamorous LACMA Gala featuring Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber.
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Timing And Demand Collided
- October's worst box office weekend was driven by timing, lack of compelling new releases, and competing events like Halloween and the World Series.
- Rebecca Rubin concludes audience absence reflected simple demand failure rather than a single technical cause.
Big Films Failed To Connect
- October 2025 was the lowest-grossing month since 1997 due to many big-budget and awards contenders failing to connect with audiences.
- Small wins like Chainsaw Man and the Taylor Swift release party couldn't offset those larger misses.
Netflix's Re-Release Underperformed
- Netflix re-released K-pop Demon Hunters in AMC with sing-along screenings but it earned far less on the re-release than its initial run.
- Rebecca Rubin notes many fans likely already saw it on streaming or in August, reducing demand for a repeat theatrical visit.
