Spooky Season Continues with “The Exorcist: Believer” and “Saw X”
Top 10 Box Office for the First Weekend of October 2023
| Title | Weekend Gross | Domestic Gross | Previous Week Theaters |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Exorcist: Believer* | $27,200,000 | $27,200,000 | 3,663 |
| PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie | $11,750,000 | $38,867,000 | 14,027 |
| Saw X | $8,150,000 | $32,554,793 | 23,262 |
| The Creator | $6,099,000 | $24,929,046 | 33,680 |
| The Blind | $3,126,536 | $10,486,997 | 51,314 |
| A Haunting In Venice | $2,732,000 | $35,653,726 | 62,425 |
| The Nun II | $2,575,000 | $81,060,000 | 42,492 |
| Dumb Money | $2,150,000 | $10,635,000 | 72,837 |
| The Equalizer 3 | $1,835,000 | $88,837,000 | 81,526 |
| Hocus Pocus | $1,542,000 | $45,643,060 | N/A |
“The Exorcist: Believer” Faces Challenges Despite Franchise-Best Opening Weekend
“The Exorcist: Believer” became an expensive film before production even began. Universal Pictures paid over $400 million for the rights to the franchise, on top of the film’s $30 million production budget. Despite technically having the best opening weekend of any title in the franchise, earning $27.2 million, concerns remain. The film’s ticket sales are nowhere near the success of 2018’s “Halloween,” which made $76.2 million in its first three days. Additionally, the film received negative reviews from critics and a “C” grade from CinemaScore surveys. The film’s international box office sales have also been modest, with just $17.9 million earned outside the United States and Canada.
“PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” Thrives Despite Lack of Competition
While “The Exorcist: Believer” targeted a different audience, “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” continues to perform well at the box office. The animated sequel made $11.8 million in its second weekend, experiencing only a 48 percent drop from its strong opening. Its domestic total now stands at $38.9 million, outpacing its predecessor’s earnings at the same point in its theatrical run. Worldwide, the film has made $87.1 million and is on track to surpass the previous film’s total of $151.4 million.
“Saw X” and “The Creator” Hold Steady in Second Week
Despite competition from “The Exorcist: Believer,” both “Saw X” and “The Creator” managed to maintain their box office numbers. “Saw X” had a 55 percent drop in ticket sales, while “The Creator” dropped 57 percent compared to its opening weekend. “Saw X” has earned $43.9 million globally, while “The Creator” has made $61.8 million so far in its theatrical run.
Next week will see the release of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” the only new title playing in wide release. It will be interesting to see if Swift’s fans can propel the concert film to the top spot of the box office. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest updates on box office performance and upcoming film releases.