Box Office: Kpop Demon Hunters Heads for No. 1 in One of the Year’s Slowest Weekends

It is looking bleak out there. This weekend might be one of the slowest box office frames in recent memory. For the first time in ages, there are basically no new major releases.

The lone quasi-newcomer is Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Bugonia', expanding from its limited start last weekend to a wide run. It is arty, niche, and not built for the multiplex crowd. Measured against Lanthimos' past, it should be fine, but it is unlikely to climb past about $4 million. On a per-screen basis, that would still beat plenty of adult-leaning awards hopefuls that have face-planted this fall. I went deep on that trend recently, and it has not improved.

So what actually wins? Oddly enough, a re-release. 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is back for another limited theatrical run. When it did this in August, with only two showings a day, it still pulled in nearly $20 million. With almost no competition this time, it is poised to take the top spot again, though it will not match the summer surge. Figure around $8 million.

Tomorrow is Halloween, so horror should get a seasonal bump. 'The Black Phone 2' looks like an easy second-place finisher with about $7 million, just ahead of 'Chainsaw Man: The Movie'. Anime openings tend to be front-loaded (see: 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' dropping more than 70% in week two), so expect around $6 million for 'Chainsaw Man' this time.

Down the chart, Colleen Hoover's 'Regretting You' should land roughly $5 million. 'Bugonia' slots into fifth with about $4 million. Also worth noting: 'Back to the Future' is getting an IMAX re-release and should ride nostalgia comfortably into the top ten.

Weekend predictions

• K-Pop Demon Hunters: $8 million
• The Black Phone 2: $7 million
• Chainsaw Man: The Movie: $6 million
• Regretting You: $5 million
• Bugonia: $4 million

What are you seeing this weekend?