The Monday Morning Hangover Report Experienced… A Hangover

Okay, yes, sorry we dropped the ball last week. We’re a little overwhelmed by our “31 Days of Halloween Cocktails and Movies” one-a-day posting, coming up with scary movies and delicious cocktails to share every day. Sorry not sorry for leaving you without your usual detailed rundown of the weekend’s box office mayhem.

So here it is: our full Monday Morning Hangover Report for the weekend of October 17–19, 2025, serving up the numbers, the noise, and what’s next in the theater world.

Top 5 Domestic Films — Weekend of Oct 17–19, 2025

  1. The Black Phone 2 — $26.5 million debut.

  2. Tron: Ares — $11.1 million in its second weekend.

  3. Good Fortune — $6.2 million opening.

  4. One Battle After Another — held in the top five (estimated ~$1.1 million this frame).

  5. The Conjuring: Last Rites — continues its run with additional earnings this weekend, with a little over $1 million.

Highlights & Insights

  • Horror reigns again: The Black Phone 2 rang in the top spot with $26.5M — a much-needed win for the genre.

  • Big sequels aren’t safe: Tron: Ares slipped to #2, underscoring that even high-profile franchises can fade fast.

  • Mid-tier drop-in: Good Fortune opened modestly at $6.2M despite a stacked cast, showing that star power isn’t enough by itself.

  • Quiet churn: One Battle After Another and The Conjuring are churning along in the background, offering steady floors though not headline-making.

  • October still open: No massive spectacle dominated yet, which means there’s room for surprise hits—especially in horror, event releases, or genre crossover space.

What’s Next

  • Will Black Phone 2 hold the crown in a weekend where no major blockbusters drop?

  • Look out for upcoming titles like Five Nights at Freddy’s Sequel or other genre fare that may sneak in and surprise.

  • Pay attention to the slowly-burning films (think mid-budget, smart genre) that could creep up while the big lights focus elsewhere.

  • As we get closer to the holiday push, expect more “event” releases (sing-along, concert film, or limited-run stunts) to shake things up.

Thanks for your patience, and for sticking with Cocktails and Movies. Let’s keep the weekend recaps flowing, week after week.

Monday Morning Hangover Report