Here Are the Weekend Box Office Hits for This Weekend, with ‘Black Phone 2’ Leading the Pack

Here’s a brief report on how movies performed at the box office this weekend in the US. We’ve added details about the films – including the directors, actors, and storylines – to give you a complete picture.

‘The Long Walk’ (2025)

Directed by Francis Lawrence, ‘The Long Walk’ is a new movie based on a novel by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman). It stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Charlie Plummer, and Mark Hamill. The film takes place in a bleak future America and follows a group of boys forced to compete in a relentless walking contest where the penalty for slowing down is death, and only one can survive. Lionsgate is releasing this tense survival thriller, and details about the story, filmmakers, and release date have been announced.

‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’ (2025)

As a big horror fan, I was definitely curious about ‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’, directed by Renny Harlin. It brings back the terror with Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso, and Ema Horvath, and follows Maya as she deals with a fresh wave of attacks from those creepy masked figures, still reeling from what happened before. It’s the second film in Lionsgate’s planned reboot trilogy, and from what I’ve gathered from the digital announcements, it’s setting up some interesting connections to the wider franchise.

‘Good Boy’ (2025)

‘Good Boy,’ directed by Ben Leonberg, is a spooky story about a man and his dog who move into a haunted house in the countryside. The film stars Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, and Larry Fessenden, along with Leonberg’s own dog, Indy. What makes this movie unique is that the story is told entirely from the dog’s perspective. IFC Films and Shudder are releasing the film, and reviewers are highlighting its unusual point of view and short length.

‘Pets on A Train’ (2025)

I recently checked out this animated movie, and it’s known as ‘Pets on a Train’ here in the States, but internationally it’s called ‘Falcon Express.’ It’s directed by Benoît Daffis and Jean-Christian Tassy, and the story is a really fun ride. It centers around Falcon, a raccoon thief, and Rex, a police dog, who team up to stop a badger’s elaborate train heist and save all the animal passengers! Viva Pictures is handling the U.S. distribution, and the credits give you a good idea of the family-friendly adventure and the main character dynamics.

‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie – Infinity Castle’ (2025)

This new ‘Demon Slayer’ movie is directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable, featuring voice actors Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitō, and Hiro Shimono. It’s based on the ‘Infinity Castle’ story arc, where the Demon Slayer Corps battles powerful demons within a complex fortress on their way to confront Muzan Kibutsuji. Crunchyroll is distributing the film internationally with Sony Pictures, and it’s broken records in North America for both international and anime movies.

‘Soul on Fire’ (2025)

‘Soul on Fire,’ directed by Sean McNamara, tells the true story of John O’Leary, a burn survivor and motivational speaker, played by Joel Courtney. The film also features John Corbett, Stéphanie Szostak, DeVon Franklin, and William H. Macy. Based on O’Leary’s memoir, it’s a moving drama about his recovery, determination, and the people who helped him along the way. Sony/Affirm is distributing the film, which highlights an inspiring story based on real events.

‘After the Hunt’ (2025)

I’m really excited about Luca Guadagnino’s new film, ‘After the Hunt’! It stars Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, and Michael Stuhlbarg, which is an amazing cast. From what I understand, the movie is a thriller about a professor trying to get tenure, but her life gets complicated when she’s accused of something serious. It sounds like it explores a tense relationship between her, a student, and a coworker, all set on a college campus. Amazon MGM Studios is releasing it here, and everyone’s talking about how gripping the characters are and the way the film deals with power imbalances.

‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ (2025)

I’m really excited about the new ‘Conjuring’ movie, ‘Last Rites’! Michael Chaves is directing, and Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are back as Ed and Lorraine Warren, which is awesome. From what I’ve heard, this case is a really tough one, pushing them and their relationship to the limit. Warner Bros. is releasing it, and the cast also includes Ben Hardy and Mia Tomlinson. I can’t wait to see what happens!

‘Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie’ (2025)

‘Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie,’ directed by Ryan Crego, is a live-action and animated adventure starring Laila Lockhart Kraner alongside Gloria Estefan, Jason Mantzoukas, and Kristen Wiig. The story follows Gabby and her Grandma Gigi as they embark on a road trip to save Gabby’s dollhouse from a quirky collector named Vera, with the help of the Gabby Cats. Distributed by Universal Pictures, the DreamWorks film builds on the show’s themes of creativity and imagination. Early reviews suggest it’s a fun and accessible adventure for kids, featuring both new and beloved characters.

‘Truth & Treason’ (2025)

‘Truth & Treason,’ directed by Matt Whitaker, stars Ewan Horrocks and Rupert Evans. The film unfolds amidst growing political tension and explores how loyalty can turn into involvement in wrongdoing when the official story hides a darker reality. Angel is distributing the film, which features cinematography by Bianca Cline and a musical score by Aaron Zigman. Matt Whitaker and Ethan Vincent co-wrote the screenplay.

‘Roofman’ (2025)

‘Roofman,’ directed by Derek Cianfrance and starring Channing Tatum, is a crime film based on the true story of Jeffrey Manchester. It centers on a charming fugitive who hides out in a toy store as he plots daring heists. The film also features a cast of supporting actors, and Lionsgate describes it as a thrilling crime story rooted in real events.

‘One Battle After Another’ (2025)

Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, ‘One Battle After Another,’ stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor. The action-thriller follows a man who used to be a revolutionary and is pulled back into fighting when an old enemy reappears and threatens his daughter. Warner Bros. is releasing the film, with showings in select IMAX and large-format theaters. The story is inspired by the political movements of the 1970s and explores the complex relationship between a father and his daughter.

‘Good Fortune’ (2025)

Aziz Ansari wrote and directed ‘Good Fortune,’ a comedy starring Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh, and Keanu Reeves. The movie centers on an angel named Gabriel whose attempt to teach a lesson by switching the bodies of a struggling worker and his rich boss leads to unexpected chaos. Lionsgate is releasing the film, which combines humorous workplace situations with a story exploring themes of wealth and getting another chance.

‘Tron: Ares’ (2025)

‘Tron: Ares,’ directed by Joachim Rønning, stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges. The movie follows Ares, an advanced program who ventures from the digital world into reality on a risky mission that blurs the line between humans and artificial intelligence. This is the third ‘Tron’ film, distributed by Walt Disney Studios, and continues the series’ exploration of the conflict between the digital and human realms.

‘Black Phone 2’ (2025)

Scott Derrickson returns to direct ‘Black Phone 2’, bringing back stars Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Jeremy Davies, and adding Demián Bichir to the cast. The story picks up with Finney, who is still dealing with the aftermath of his previous experience, when he starts receiving unsettling phone calls that hint the danger isn’t over. Universal Pictures is distributing the film, and Scott Derrickson again collaborated with C. Robert Cargill on the screenplay. The sequel builds on the supernatural suspense of the first movie, further exploring the terrifying legend of the black telephone.

What else are you interested in keeping track of next weekend? Let us know in the comments which titles you’d like to see!

2025-10-21 03:48