After David Gordon Green’s Halloween Ends scared up a healthy $5.4 million in Thursday previews at the domestic box office, the numbers took a disappointing turn.
The Universal, Miramax and Blumhouse slasher pic is now looking at a weekend opening of $43.3 million, which is notably behind the $49.4 million debut of last year’s Halloween Kills. Both pics launched simultaneously on Peacock, so the day-and-date issue don’t entirely explain the difference at the box office.
Halloween Ends — which will still easily win the weekend — wraps up Green’s trilogy of films that returned Jamie Lee Curtis to the franchise as Laurie Strode.
Heading into the weekend, tracking suggested that the $30 million movie would clear $50 million, considering it’s been hyped as the final installment in the series.
Halloween Ends is playing in 3,901 theaters.
Green’s 2018 Halloween reboot debuted to a record-breaking $76.2 million on its way to earning north of $250 million worldwide. The pic also saw Nick Castle reprise his signature role as the menacing monster Michael Myers.
Halloween Ends no doubt is facing competition from Paramount’s sleeper horror hit Smile, which could clear north of $12 million in its third weekend to come in No. 2.
While Halloween Ends may be the only new wide release of the weekend, there’s plenty of action at the specialty box office as awards contenders begin to open in earnest.
Director Chinonye Chukwu’s acclaimed drama Till, starring Danielle Deadwyler as the mother a young Black boy who is lynched in the Jim Crow South, is opening in 16 locations. The film, from MGM and UAR, is looking at a promising per location average of $14,337.
South Korean auteur Park-Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave, opening in three theaters this weekend, should post a likewise promising location average of $27,112
Numbers will be updated Sunday morning.
Oct. 16, 9:30 a.m. Updated with revised numbers.