After winning over both critics and fans alike, Blumhouse and Universal's Halloween opened to a massive $77.5 million domestically this weekend, which makes it the franchise's biggest opening ever, the second-best October opening ever behind Sony's Venom ($80.3M), and the second-best opening for a horror film ever behind Warner Bros. and New Line's It ($123.4M).
Internationally, the critically acclaimed David Gordon Green-directed sequel opened in third place with $14.3 million from 23 foreign markets. Its worldwide cume currently stands at $91.8 million, which is absolutely fantastic considering its modest $10 million production budget and should all but guarantee that rumored sequel.
Meanwhile, the Tom Hardy-fronted Venom continued to do blockbuster business all across the globe, remaining the #1 film overseas for the third week in a row with $32 million, which, combined with the $18.1 million it brought in stateside, takes its worldwide total to an impressive $461.8 million ($171.1M domestic; $290.7M foreign). It's now the thirteenth-highest grossing film of the year and has yet-to-open in China, where it launches November 9.
As for the rest of the U.S. box office, Warner Bros.' A Star Is Born finished second domestically and internationally with $19.3 million and $22.8 million, respectively. The Bradley Cooper-directed romantic drama has now earned $201 million worldwide ($126.3M domestic; $74.7M foreign).
Sony's Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween and Universal's First Man rounded out the top five with $9.7 million ($40M worldwide total) and $8.5 million ($55.5M worldwide total), respectively. 20th Century Fox's Bad Times at the El Royale dipped to ninth in its second frame with $3.3 million ($21.4M worldwide total) and Universal's The House With A Clock In Its Walls has topped $100 million ($104.6M worldwide total).
Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
Halloween features:
Director: David Gordon Green
Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode
Judy Greer as Karen Strode
Andi Matichak as Allyson Strode
Will Patton, as Frank Hawkins
Virginia Gardner as Vicky
Nick Castle & James Jude Courtney as Michael Myers/The Shape
Toby Huss as Ray
Jefferson Hall as Aaron Korey
Rhian Rees as Dana Haines
Miles Robbins, as Dave, Vicky's boyfriend.
Dylan Arnold, as Cameron Elam
Drew Scheid as Oscar
Omar J. Dorsey as Sheriff Barker
Rob Niter as Deputy Sheriff Walker
Jibrail Nantambu as Julian
Haluk Bilginer as Dr. Ranbir Sartain
Nick McKeever as Deputy Keeve
Halloween hits theaters October 19