Here Are the Weekend Box Office Hits for This Weekend, with ‘One Battle After Another’ Leading the Pack

The late-September movie landscape was bustling, featuring both new releases and continuing hits from the horror genre, plus a popular re-release. Premium formats like IMAX and special screenings helped boost ticket sales. Mainstream movies relied on well-known franchises, family-friendly content, and films by acclaimed directors. Meanwhile, independent and art-house films found audiences through strategic distribution and positive buzz from film festivals.

Here’s a quick and factual overview of each of the Top 15 titles-covering who created them, what they’re about, how they’re being released, and how well they’re doing-so you can understand how the weekend’s results came together.

15. ‘Freakier Friday’ (2025)

Disney is following up the original ‘Freaky Friday’ with a sequel, bringing back Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. The film is directed by Nisha Ganatra, with a script from Jordan Weiss, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures along with other companies. Disney has announced a U.S. release date of August 8th, and the movie is expected to be around 111 minutes long. Joining the cast are Julia Butters and Manny Jacinto.

The movie kept playing in theaters well into the fall, following a standard release plan for Disney films in 2025. Box office analysts predict that ticket sales both in the US and abroad will continue to increase through late September as the film gets closer to being available for home viewing.

14. ‘Weapons’ (2025)

The new horror film New Line/Warner Bros.’, written and directed by Zach Cregger, premiered in U.S. cinemas on August 8th. It has a runtime of 2 hours and 8 minutes and tells a complex story about a group of people who vanish in a small town. The film features a cast including Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, among others. Details about the release, including running time and who made the movie, are available on official ticket websites, movie databases, and in trailers.

News about home media suggests a 4K UHD version will be available on October 14th, following a release for digital platforms. Additionally, recent interviews have confirmed that work is underway on a prequel focusing on Aunt Gladys, indicating the franchise is growing. Overall, reviews continue to be largely favorable, as seen on various review websites.

13. ‘The Senior’ (2025)

As a huge movie fan, I’m really excited about the new sports drama from Angel Studios! It’s directed by Rod Lurie and tells the incredible true story of Mike Flynt, who went back to playing college football years after leaving his team. I checked out their official page, and it says it’s coming out nationwide on September 19th – they’ve got the story details and who worked on the film listed there too. I first heard about Angel picking up this project and setting a release date from some industry news earlier this summer. It sounds amazing and I’m definitely planning to see it! I love a good comeback story.

The movie is designed to reach both faith-based and sports-loving groups through special showings and local collaborations. It will also have a normal cinema release, followed by availability on-demand, similar to how Angel Studios has released films recently.

12. ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ (2025)

Kogonada’s new romantic fantasy film-featuring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell-is being distributed by Columbia/Sony and runs for 109 minutes. The film’s creative team includes Benjamin Loeb as the cinematographer, Susan E. Kim and Jonathan Alberts handling the editing, and Joe Hisaishi composing the original score. According to the official site, tickets for U.S. showings will be available starting September 19.

As a huge fan of film scores, I was thrilled to see that Joe Hisaishi, the legendary composer, did the music for this movie! It’s his first time scoring a Western live-action film, which is really exciting. The soundtrack is already out on all the major streaming platforms, and I’ve been listening to it non-stop. Plus, it’s still playing in a lot of theaters – you can find it in both specialty cinemas and nationwide multiplexes, which is great for those who want to experience it on the big screen!

11. ‘Eleanor the Great’ (2025)

Scarlett Johansson makes her debut as a feature film director with a story penned by Tory Kamen. The movie features June Squibb alongside Erin Kellyman, Jessica Hecht, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Sony Pictures Classics is distributing the film in North America, and you can find tickets and showtimes there. It first premiered at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard earlier this year.

The film had a special release in North America on September 26, and will be available internationally through TriStar in select regions. Reports indicate it will eventually be available for streaming as part of a Pay-1 window, following the pattern of Sony’s recent SPC releases.

10. ‘Dead of Winter’ (2025)

Vertical Entertainment has announced the release of the suspenseful survival-thriller ‘Dead of Winter’. Their official website confirms the film will hit theaters on September 26th, with nationwide showtimes available. The story follows a woman who unexpectedly discovers a kidnapping while in northern Minnesota, and finds herself compelled to carry out a dangerous rescue mission with no help nearby.

The film debuted in select theaters with carefully planned bookings and a marketing campaign in late September that focused on releasing trailers and expanding to different areas. Movie theaters are offering typical showings, and it’s likely the film will be available for PVOD (Premium Video on Demand) soon after, following the pattern Vertical Entertainment has used recently.

9. ‘Spider-Man’/‘Spider-Man 2.1’/‘Spider-Man 3’ (2002–2007)

Fathom Entertainment brought Sam Raimi’s classic Spider-Man trilogy back to the big screen, in partnership with Sony. This included the first-ever theatrical release of the extended version, Spider-Man 2.1, in stunning 4K. Participating theaters showed Spider-Man on September 26th & October 3rd, Spider-Man 2.1 on September 27th & October 4th, and Spider-Man 3 on September 28th & October 5th.

Most major movie theater chains showed how long each film would play and when, and websites like Fandango and the theaters themselves sold the tickets. Reviews and industry news described the event as a way to celebrate the films starring Tobey Maguire, and it included a few extra showings the next weekend. It was geared towards fans.

8. ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ (2025)

The third and final ‘Downton Abbey’ movie, from Focus Features, is directed by Simon Curtis and based on a script by Julian Fellowes. The film brings back familiar faces like Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, and Jim Carter, and also features Paul Giamatti and Dominic West. The movie is expected to run between 123 and 124 minutes, and will be released in the U.S. on September 12.

The movie remains in theaters with a typical release plan that favors specialty cinemas, and will probably be available on Peacock streaming soon, as the distributor has connections to that platform. However, when it becomes available for purchase or rent may differ depending on where you are. Recent reports have emphasized that this film concludes the story of the original Crawley family.

7. ‘The Long Walk’ (2025)

Francis Lawrence directed Lionsgate’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, ‘The Long Walk,’ based on a script by JT Mollner. The film will be released in U.S. theaters on September 12, and an official website provides ticketing and additional information. The cast features Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill, among other talented actors.

Critics are responding well to the film, as shown by positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and in other media coverage. It’s currently playing in many theaters, and industry experts expect it to be available for rental on demand (PVOD) through Lionsgate shortly after its theatrical run-usually within a few weeks, though this isn’t officially confirmed yet. The film is also scheduled to be the closing film at the Sitges Film Festival in October.

6. ‘Him’ (2025)

Universal’s horror-drama, directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, features Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, and Tim Heidecker. The film runs for approximately 96 minutes. Official listings highlight that although it’s set against the world of sports, it isn’t a typical sports movie.

The film experienced a significant decrease in ticket sales during its second weekend following a broad release, with total domestic earnings reaching the low $20 million range, according to publicly available data. The marketing campaign focused on the film’s psychological horror aspects and highlighted its status as a new, original story within Universal’s autumn lineup.

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

Crunchyroll’s new movie is based on the “Infinity Castle” story arc from Koyoharu Gotouge’s popular series. The official website has announced it will open in the U.S. on September 12, with tickets available nationwide. This brings the series back to big screens in certain cities, and it will continue offering both dubbed and subtitled versions to reach as many fans as possible. More details are available on the official site.

Following a quick opening showcasing typical anime-style visuals, the movie continued to play in thousands of theaters this weekend, with access to premium formats differing depending on the location. The film is capitalizing on the established global popularity of the series and its previous successful releases in North American cinemas.

4. ‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’ (2025)

The follow-up film in Renny Harlin’s ‘Strangers’ series, from Lionsgate, features Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso, and Ema Horvath. It’s approximately 98 minutes long and was made with a budget of under $10 million. The movie had its first showing in Hollywood on September 16th and released nationally in the U.S. on September 26th, picking up where ‘Chapter 1’, released in 2024, left off – continuing the story of the masked stalkers.

Initial weekend estimates suggest a typical opening for this film series. The Numbers reports approximately $6 million earned globally, stemming from its release across the U.S. and initial showings in select international markets before a wider international release.

3. ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ (2025)

The newest installment in the New Line/Warner Bros.series brings back Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren. Michael Chaves directed the film, and Benjamin Wallfisch created the music. The screenplay was written by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. According to the studio, the movie will be released in U.S. theaters on September 5, with showings also available in IMAX. It’s expected to run for more than 2 hours.

Okay, so I’ve been keeping an eye on this movie, and it’s still doing *really* well in theaters – both here and overseas! According to the numbers I’m seeing, it’s already made over $400 million worldwide, which is amazing. It’s quickly becoming one of the biggest horror hits of the year. I think a lot of it has to do with people wanting to see it in the best possible format – like IMAX or 3D – and, of course, everyone already knowing and loving the franchise. That’s helped it stay strong even after several weeks in release, which isn’t always easy for a horror film. Box-office trackers are really impressed!

2. ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie’ (2025)

DreamWorks Animation is bringing its popular preschool show to the big screen with a new movie directed by Ryan Crego and distributed by Universal. Laila Lockhart Kraner is among the actors providing voices for the characters. The film is described as a musical comedy with fantastical elements, building on the Netflix series created by Traci Paige Johnson and Jennifer Twomey. You can find ticket information and showtimes on the official website.

Early reports estimated the film’s opening weekend in the U.S. to be in the $15 million range, while international markets began with around $18 million. Family showings and translated versions helped boost numbers overseas. The studio is now concentrating on extending the film’s run during school breaks and selling related merchandise, which is standard practice for this franchise.

1. ‘One Battle After Another’ (2025)

Paul Thomas Anderson’s film is a darkly funny and thrilling political story, produced by Ghoulardi Film Company and released by Warner Bros. Pictures. The talented team behind the camera includes cinematographer Michael Bauman, editor Andy Jurgensen, and composer Jonny Greenwood. The film stars a fantastic cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, and Teyana Taylor. The story was inspired by themes found in Thomas Pynchon’s ‘Vineland’, and it was shown in high-quality formats like 70mm and IMAX at certain theaters. Different reports indicate the film is between 160 and 170 minutes long.

Early numbers suggest the film earned $22.4 million domestically and around $26 million internationally, totaling a global opening of $48.5 million. IMAX screenings were a significant contributor to these numbers. The film’s production cost is estimated to be between $130 million and $175 million. The international release will continue into early October, followed by a push for awards consideration.

I’m really curious – I’d love to hear which of these titles you checked out! Could you share in the comments what particularly caught your eye about this weekend’s selection? I’m eager to know what stood out to you!

2025-09-30 07:48